The Physical Therapist Scope of Practice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       Physical therapy is a dynamic profession with an established theoretical and scientific base and widespread clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function. Physical therapists are health care professionals who help individuals maintain, restore, and improve movement, activity, and functioning, thereby enabling optimal performance and enhancing health, well-being, and quality of life. Their services prevent, minimize, or eliminateimpairments of body functions and structures, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Physical therapy is provided for individuals of all ages who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to (1) conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems or (2) the negative effects attributable to unique personal and environmental factors as they relate to human performance.

Physical therapists play vital roles in today's health care environment and are recognized as essential providers of rehabilitation and habilitation, performance enhancement, and prevention and risk-reduction services. Physical therapists also play important roles both in developing standards for physical therapist practice and in developing health care policy to ensure availability, accessibility, and optimal provision of physical therapy.

The scope of practice for physical therapists is dynamic, evolving with evidence, education, and societal needs, and has 3 components:

• Professional,

• Jurisdictional, and

• Personal

The following resources provide a foundation for understanding each of these scope of practice areas, as well as links to additional resources.

 

• Professional Scope of Physical Therapist Practice

  The professional scope of practice of physical therapy is defined as practice that is grounded in the profession’s unique body of knowledge, supported by educational preparation, based on a body of evidence, and linked to existing or emerging practice frameworks.

• Jurisdictional (Legal) Scope of Physical Therapist Practice

  The jurisdictional (i.e. legal) scope of practice is established by a state's practice act governing the specific physical therapist’s license, and the rules adopted pursuant to that act.

• Personal Scope of Physical Therapist Practice

  The personal scope of practice consists of activities undertaken by an individual physical therapist that are situated within a physical therapist’s unique body of knowledge where the individual is educated, trained, and competent to perform that activity.