Physical therapists assist patients with debilitating conditions such as back pain, arthritis, fractures, sports injuries, head injuries, strokes, and cerebral palsy. They provide therapeutic services to improve a patient’s mobility, alleviate pain, and help them cope with permanent physical disabilities. They teach patients how to do exercises to improve their physical health. Physical therapists practice in many areas that can include outpatient clinics or offices, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, extended care facilities, private homes, and hospices. They are usually part of a health care team that creates programs for patients based on their particular needs and condition. They can also teach patients and their families how to use such medical devices as wheelchairs, braces, canes and crutches, and artificial limbs. Typical duties can include measuring a patient’s motor function, balance and coordination, muscle strength and performance, range of motion, creating and implementing treatment plans, assessing a patient’s ability to function independently, and writing progress reports for doctors.

The primary duties of physical therapists include studying the medical history of patients and examining and measuring their strength, balance and physical coordination, posture, functioning of the muscles, respiration and motor functions. They formulate strategies which depict treatments and their expected results. Such interventions mostly include physical exercises for individuals who are immobilized or deficient in flexibility, strength, or endurance. Physical therapists may introduce therapies which better the flexibility of motion of the patient's muscles. The main aim of these therapies is to improve the basic physical functioning of the individual, so that he is able to carry out his daily activities with optimum balance and coordination and power to withstand hardship or stress.

Physical therapists work with physicians and health care professionals to restore motor skills, balance, coordination and overall endurance and physical fitness of people who have met with an accident or are suffering from a congenital disease. Their aim is to restore proper motor control and relieve any pain or discomfort that the patient may be suffering due to injury. They first diagnose the cause and type of injury that the patient suffered, and understand the treatment that the patient has undergone. They may also require to refer to the medical history of the patient. Depending upon the findings and understanding of the case at hand, a physical therapist plans out a treatment regime for the patient. Needless to say, treatment for each patient is unique as per the need.