A physical therapist, or PT, is a clinical practitioner who uses physical methods such as exercise, manipulation, and physical therapy to treat and prevent disease; a physical therapist maximizes, maintains, and rebuilds any movement and function in a patient.
Physical therapists first determine a physical diagnosis that differs from the physician's clinical diagnosis based on signs, symptoms, assessment scales, and evidence from testing instruments, then prescribe physical therapy in conjunction with the patient's or family's wishes, and finally, with the patient's active participation*** treat the injury in the same manner as the patient to alleviate symptoms, restore movement and mobility, rebuild the ability to carry out daily activities, and improve the quality of life and return to family and society.
Extended Information
Since mainland China does not yet have a licensing examination system like that of doctors, therapists (including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and prosthetic-orthopedic therapists, etc.) must sit for the National Qualification Examination for Rehabilitation Therapy Techniques (NQTRT), which is divided into three grades from the lowest to the highest, namely, sergeant, division and middle.
A landmark event for the development of the physical therapy industry took place on March 7, 2014, when the "China Physical Therapist Qualification Examination Expert Committee" and the "Physical Therapist Qualification Supervision Expert Committee " were established, and these two committees are considered to be the cornerstones of the Chinese Physical Therapist Qualification Certification.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Physical Therapist