77 Physical Therapy Paper Topics & Essay Sample For 2023

A physical therapy essay may not be your usual college or university assignment. As such, writing may pose a challenge to many students. Nonetheless, we strive to give students the best assistance they need in cracking such papers and scoring impressive grades? Do you want to excel like that top student in your class? Read this article to the end and discover the latest tips and tricks in excelling.

What Are Physical Therapy Papers?

They are academic writing tasks that deal with managing patients who are victims of serious injuries or illnesses. Such people often face difficulties with movement and pain management and thus need someone to help them. That is where physical therapy comes to the rescue.

A research paper on physical therapy focuses on how to help the patient recover or go through a problematic situation painstakingly. These will include various interventions such as focused exercise plans and individual attention. All these are crucial in helping the patients restore their range of motion, improve flexibility, and manage pain easily.

Physical therapy research papers will incorporate various concepts learned in medical school. However, being a doctor is not necessary for you to handle questions or problems in physical therapy. With professional assistance, you will note that such a task is easy, and you can complete it fast on your own.

You can also use an online sample to ace your physical therapy research paper. Some of the roles of physical therapists include:

Hands-on therapy

Performing stretching exercises to patients

Facilitating health and wellness among patients

It is important to note that a physical therapy paper will demand more than theoretical knowledge on the part of the student. They have to know the practical implications of various physical therapies. Here’s how a typical physical therapy essay looks like:

The History of Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a well-known and respected field in medicine in today’s scientific community, but it grew over time and with the need of society. The use of exercise, massage, heat, cold, water and electricity are common modalities in physical therapy today, but their foundations begun hundreds of years ago. Hippocrates is known as the father of Western medicine, and he used massage techniques on his patients in ancient Greece. Hector used hydrotherapy in 460 B.C. (Eugene Physical Therapy, 2014) From the 1500s to 1700s, European doctors treated muscle and bone problems and disabilities with these modalities as well. The 1800s saw an advancement in the practices of exercise and re-education of the muscles. (Network Synergy Group, 2014) The 1800s saw organization of physical therapy. In 1813 Sweden, the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics was founded and later renamed “Medical Gymnastics.” Patient records indicated that conditions were tracked; manipulative therapy techniques combined with exercise were utilized to help heal problems and injuries. Records also used illustrations depicting some of the same manipulations used today such as the “pubic symphysis manipulation.” Research also suggests that a group of English professional nurses formed the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in 1894. (Eugene Physical Therapy, 2014)

One of the most significant advances in physical therapy came thanks to the polio epidemic of the early 1900s. The epidemic became widespread in the America in 1916. There was a need for educated individuals to help patients. Muscle testing and muscle re-education, in order to restore significant functionality, was in high demand. (Network Synergy Group, 2014)

Soon after the polio epidemic began so did World War I. As soldiers came home from war injured, the need for rehabilitation grew dramatically. The Army recognized the need and the Medical Department’s special unit, the Division of Special Hospitals and Physical Reconstruction created 15 programs to train “reconstruction aides.” This was the first official training program that prepared students for a career in physical therapy. (Network Synergy Group, 2014) The first of the 15 programs is still in existence today at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Northeastern University mentions “three groups of students were trained in six-week courses prior to their deployment. These “war courses” trained women who were then known as medical therapists, and this curriculum would form the foundation of what would later be known as physiotherapy.” (Northeaster University, 2011)

The 1920s saw more advancement in the world of physical therapy. The medical and surgical communities sought out the advice and use of physical therapists to assist with their patients and the general public recognized and validated their work. (Network Synergy Group, 2014)

The polio epidemic continued to affect people through the 1930s. World War II sent more injured soldiers home. Network Synergy Group notes “Wounded veterans who returned home with amputations, burns, fractures, and nerve/spinal cord injuries required the attention of physical therapists.” (Network Synergy Group, 2014)

An act of Congress even helped create the physical therapy profession. The Hill Burton Act of 1946 aimed to build access to public health care facilities by constructing hospitals across the country. By building more hospitals, there were more hospital-based opportunities for the physical therapist and a larger demand for their services. (Network Synergy Group, 2014)

In the 1950s, the profession of physical therapy gained independence, professionalism and autonomy within the medical community. The American Physical Therapy Association requested that its state chapters to seek licensure through their individual states instead of through the American Medical Association. The first national exam was created in 1954 and by the end of the decade 45 states had particular licensure regulations for physical therapists. (Network Synergy Group, 2014)

Physical therapy moved beyond musculature and orthopedic disorders in the 1960s. Neuromuscular disorders such as stroke, cerebral palsy, and other disorders of the central nervous system were treated with new techniques. Open heart surgery and other advancements in medicine promoted cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation. Total joint replacements and other advances in orthopedic medicine advanced postoperative rehabilitation. (Network Synergy Group, 2014)

The role of the physical therapist saw the most change between 1950 and 2000. New testing methods were developed as technology grew. These testing methods allowed for better measurement of outcomes and more options to improve body function. New methodologies allowed physical therapists to help more patients with a larger array of diseases and conditions. (Network Synergy Group, 2014)

In 1975 congress passed the Education of All Handicapped Children Act. This piece of legislation, which latter was renamed to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, created new positions for physical therapists in public schools. (Network Synergy Group, 2014)

The country’s health care system changed throughout the 1990s, and those changes are still seen today. According to Network Synergy Group, “Managed care, the role of insurers in determining care, corporate and physician ownership of physical therapy services, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS), and the Medicare cap on physical therapy services implemented in 1999 challenged and continue to challenge physical therapists to provide quality services to patients.” These changes helped guide the usage of physical therapists across the country. (Network Synergy Group, 2014)

Physical therapy had its foundations in ancient Greece but since the 1800s has grown by leaps and bounds. Thanks to the devastating effects of polio and war, the need for people who can rehabilitate patients with many different conditions and diseases grew. As medicine and technology changed so did the field of physical therapy. Physical therapy developed over time and with the need of society.

Here are examples of physical therapy essay ideas:

Interesting Writing Ideas For Physical Therapy Essay Examples

Discuss the essence of anatomy as a prerequisite for physical therapists
Should physical therapists complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program?
The role of a clinical internship for a physical therapist
Evaluate the part of acute care with supervised experience
Analyze the effectiveness of physical therapy licensing bodies
Discuss the part of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
What are the essence of a law exam and a criminal background check for physical therapists?
Evaluate the effectiveness of a clinical residency program
Discuss the relevance of the various degree options for physical therapists
The impact of coronavirus on the practice of physical therapy
Are online courses on biological treatment practical?