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DPT — Doctor of Physical Therapy at Upstate
Entry Level Doctoral Program
This graduate program takes three years and begins in the summer. Clinical assignments are often available outside the Syracuse area, and are scheduled during the summer after the first and second years and during the spring semester of the third year.
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| Transitional Doctoral Program
This program is for U.S. licensed PTs. The core portion of the
program is completed in 7 weekends throughout 12 months. Next program
begins Summer 2006. Application Deadline is April 1, 2006.
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About this Career
Physical therapists work directly with people to enhance movement and foster optimal health and functional ability. Patients include those who have sustained injury or illness, have developmental deficits, have age-related problems, or need preventive care.
 Physical therapists examine and evaluate patients to determine functional abilities such as walking, work capacity and community activities. They may examine and evaluate strength, sensation, joint mobility, endurance, pain, reflexes and movement skill of patients.
They plan therapy programs that may include exercises to improve functional abilities by increasing strength, endurance, balance, coordination and range of motion.
Interventions also include:
- massage
- traction
- ultrasound
- water
- heat
- electricity
- joint mobilizations.
Physical therapists work with all systems of the body, including:
- muscular
- skeletal
- circulatory
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- respiratory
- nervous systems.
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Physical therapists work as members of health care teams in a variety of settings, including:
- hospitals
- rehabilitation centers
- private practices
- home-care agencies
- schools
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- research centers
- universities
- extended care facilities
- corporate or industrial health centers
- sports medicine centers.
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Advanced expertise leads to work in administration, consulting, research and education.
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