Dear Hogayoga,
According to the BLS:
"Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow much faster
than the average for all occupations through 2014. The impact of
proposed Federal legislation imposing limits on reimbursement for
therapy services may adversely affect the short-term job outlook for
physical therapists. However, over the long run, the demand for
physical therapists should continue to rise as growth in the number of
individuals with disabilities or limited function spurs demand for
therapy services. Job opportunities should be particularly good in
acute hospital, rehabilitation, and orthopedic settings, because the
elderly receive the most treatment in these settings. The growing
elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and
debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services. Also, the
baby-boom generation is entering the prime age for heart attacks and
strokes, increasing the demand for cardiac and physical
rehabilitation. Further, young people will need physical therapy as
technological advances save the lives of a larger proportion of
newborns with severe birth defects.
Future medical developments also should permit a higher percentage of
trauma victims to survive, creating additional demand for
rehabilitative care. In addition, growth may result from advances in
medical technology that could permit the treatment of more disabling
conditions.
Widespread interest in health promotion also should increase demand
for physical therapy services. A growing number of employers are using
physical therapists to evaluate worksites, develop exercise programs,
and teach safe work habits to employees in the hope of reducing
injuries in the workplace."
(SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Physical Therapists,
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos080.htm (visited
September 26, 2006).
Before 2000
===========
1986 - 65,890
http://darwin.nap.edu/openbook/0309038960/html/300.html
"According to the American Physical Therapy Association APTA
Background Sheet 1998, there were no more than 90,000 physical
therapists practicing in the U.S. in 1998, treating nearly one million
people each day." (SOURCE: The PT Group - Physical Therapy,
<http://www.theptgroup.com/Services/PT/pt.htm>).
2000
====
"Physical therapists held about 132,000 jobs in 2000; about 1 in 4
worked part time. The number of jobs is greater than the number of
practicing physical therapists because some physical therapists hold
two or more jobs. For example, some may work in a private practice,
but also work part time in another health facility.
About two-thirds of physical therapists were employed in either
hospitals or offices of physical therapists. Other jobs were in home
health agencies, outpatient rehabilitation centers, offices and
clinics of physicians, and nursing homes. Some physical therapists are
self-employed in private practices. They may provide services to
individual patients or contract to provide services in hospitals,
rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, adult
daycare programs, and schools. They may be in solo practice or be part
of a consulting group. Physical therapists also teach in academic
institutions and conduct research."
(SOURCE: World Wide Learn, Physical Therapist,
<http://www.career-planning-education.com/health-sciences/physical-therapists.htm>,
quoting official BLS information).
" Of the approximately 90,000 active physical therapists in the United
States, three percent are employed by schools."
(SOURCE: <http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Career_Center1&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2111#search=%22%22physical%20therapists%20in%20the%20United%20States%22%22>).
2001
====
126,450, according to :
2001 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
<http://www.bls.gov/oes/2001/oes291123.htm>
According to :
Scott, Ron JD, MSPT, OCS, "Pro Bono Health Service Delivery to the
Indigent: Legal and Ethical Issues." Topics in Geriatric
Rehabilitation. 16(4):45-49, June 2001, there are "80000 licensed
physical therapists in the United States" in 2001. Full text of the
article is available only for a fee/subscription at
<http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/tgr/abstract.00013614-200106000-00006.htm;jsessionid=FY9C4g2LnbGzzcCNxBGJ4r6xWJssjnwH5p2W8PTQ2pTgYs9XphTK!1513079044!-949856145!8091!-1>
According to :
Karpman, Robert R. MD, MBA "Musculoskeletal Disease in the United
States: Who Provides the Care? ", Clinical Orthopaedics & Related
Research. 385:52-56, April 2001.:
"There are 77600 practicing physical therapists in the United States
with an expected growth of 76% by 2005. "
again - full version available only for a fee, at
<http://www.corronline.com/pt/re/corr/abstract.00003086-200104000-00010.htm;jsessionid=FY9LW687mxLRFQK3hVqRfTVLhv06dy1ynYXyV299VHWc2q51Ss4m!1513079044!-949856145!8091!-1>
2002
====
" Physical therapists held about 137,000 jobs in 2002. Some physical
therapists held two or more jobs. Most PTs work in hospitals or in
offices of other health practitioners."
(Career Planning, About.com,
<http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/p/phys_therapist.htm>).
Here I have to apologise. I know that the 2002 information is less
than perfect, but despite my best efforts, I couldn't find a source
reporting what were the actual numbers of licensed PTs.
2003
====
"The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
estimates that physical therapists held about 137,370 jobs as of
November 2003, and notes that
the number of jobs is greater than the number of practitioners because
many physical therapists hold two or more jobs." (SOURCE:
<http://www.flbog.org/BOG/Meetings/2005_03_24/UF_Brief.pdf>).
"There are currently more than 85,000 Physical Therapists in the
United States and its territories."
(SOURCE: Gruen, Silveira Pass Boards, Become the Only Orthopaedic
Certified Specialists in Two Counties, July 17, 2003,
<http://www.hanfordhealth.com/redesign/pages/news/2003/071703-orthopaedic.php>).
2004
====
Regarding employment, they say:
"Physical therapists held about 155,000 jobs in 2004. The number of
jobs is greater than the number of practicing physical therapists,
because some physical therapists hold two or more jobs. For example,
some may work in a private practice, but also work part time in
another health care facility.
Nearly 6 out of 10 physical therapists worked in hospitals or in
offices of physical therapists. Other jobs were in home health care
services, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers, and
offices of physicians.
Some physical therapists were self-employed in private practices,
seeing individual patients and contracting to provide services in
hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing care facilities, home
health care agencies, adult day care programs, and schools. Physical
therapists also teach in academic institutions and conduct research."
(BLS, ibid).
"[...] out of 100,000 practicing physical therapists nationally"
(SOURCE: University of Nebraska Medical Centre,
<http://webmedia.unmc.edu/alliedhealth/images/AHNewsletter.pdf>).
2005
====
"Physical therapists held about 155,000 jobs in 2005. About 60% of
physical therapists were employed in hospitals or private practice.
Other jobs were in home health agencies, outpatient rehabilitation
centers, offices and clinics of physicians and nursing homes.
Self-employed physical therapists may provide services to individual
patients or contract with hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing
homes, home health agencies, adult day care programs and schools. They
may establish a solo practice or join a consulting group. Physical
therapists also teach in academic institutions and conduct research."
(SOURCE: Mayo Clinic, <http://www.mayo.edu/mshs/pt-career.html>)
"There are more than 120,000 physical therapists in the United States,
many of whom provide services to Medicare beneficiaries and would be
able to provide useful information regarding appropriate quality
measures for physical therapy services. " (SOURCE: "Statement of the
American Physical Therapy Association, Alexandria, Virginia",
Committee on Ways & Means, U.S. House of Representatives, February
2005, <http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=4349>).
(the same figure also appears on
<http://209.85.129.104/search?q=cache:ICLkFENsqXgJ:www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm%3FSection%3DSearch%26template%3D/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm%26ContentID%3D25980+site:www.apta.org+APTA+Background+Sheet,&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5>).
2006
====
No BLS statistics yet, but:
"More than 150,000 physical therapists are licensed in the U.S. today. "
(APTA Background Sheet 2006,
<http://www.apta.org/AM/PrinterTemplate.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=29384>).
Additional Information
======================
You may want to contact APTA, the American Physical Therapy Association
APTA
<http://www.apta.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home>
especially their statistics pages:
<http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Surveys_and_Stats2&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=149&ContentID=28380>
Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy - Data Request
http://www.fsbpt.org/about/DataRequests.asp
In addition, here are some gender-lreated statistics:
Men in Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy
<http://beckerexhibits.wustl.edu/mowihsp/stats/men.htm>
I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any
further clarification on this answer before you rate it |
Clarification of Answer by
politicalguru-ga
on
26 Sep 2006 10:49 PDT
Dear Hoga Yoga,
Thank you for the rating and the tip!
I think that one of my colleagues attends to your question as we
speak, but if they don't, I will try to have a look.
Hoga Yoga and usrhlp,
Yes, I am supposed to post my search strategy, I have no idea how I
forgot it. Basically, I've looked for terms that are likely to appear
in documents discussing these figures:
, 2002 "physical therapists" "united states", "practicing physical
therapists" 2002, "physical therapists * licensed" 2002,
site:www.fsbpt.org " Licensure and Disciplinary Database" , "
Licensure and Disciplinary Database" , The Licensure and Disciplinary
Database, "physical therapists are licensed, 2004 "physical
therapists" "united states", "practicing physical therapists" 2004,
"physical therapists in the United States", "APTA Background Sheet"
2004, "APTA Background Sheet" 2002, "physical therapists in the United
States", 2002 "physical therapists" "united states", Statement of the
American Physical Therapy Association, Alexandr ..., "practicing
physical therapists" 2001, APTA Background Sheet,, "physical
therapists are licensed, site:www.apta.org APTA Background Sheet,,
2001 "physical therapists" "united states", "practicing physical
therapists", "There are * practicing physical therapists", "active
physical therapists" 2001, site:www.llu.edu "active physical
therapists" 2001, There are 75,000 practicing physical therapists in
the United St ..., 2003 "physical therapists" "united states", 2000
"physical therapists" "united states", 2003 "physical therapists"
"united states", "Physical therapists held about" , kinderpass berlin,
kinderpass, 2002 "physical therapists" "united states",
site:www.umsl.edu "Physical therapists held about" , 2001 "physical
therapists" "united states", Physical therapists held about 132,000
jobs in 2000, 2000 "physical therapists" "united states", physical
therapists in the United States
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