Physical therapists (PTs) work with patients during their recovery process after surgery or injury. By earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), you will learn how to help individuals regain or maintain mobility through treatments such as strength and stretching exercises, electrical stimulation and manual therapy techniques.
To be successful, you should consciously cultivate several skills needed to be a physical therapist. Let’s review the essential qualities of a physical therapist and how working to develop these physical therapist skills can help you advance in your physical therapy career.
What Skills Do You Need to Be a Physical Therapist?
1. Be Realistic
Some conditions, such as chronic musculoskeletal disorders, are challenging to treat. Others, such as Parkinson’s disease, don’t have a cure.1
It’s important to stay practical about what your patients can achieve—it’s better for you and them in the long run. One of the most critical skills for physical therapists is managing expectations—avoiding the creation or encouragement of unrealistic ones is essential.
2. Be Patient
Next on the list of physical therapist skills is patience. PTs should remain calm and composed during treatment and when working with challenging patients.
Treatment timelines depend not only on the patient’s specific condition but also on their level of motivation, physical capacity and more.
3. Be Collaborative
One of the essential characteristics of a physical therapist is collaboration. The best physical therapists recognize this, even if in a virtual environment.
You and your patients are on the same team and should ultimately have the same goals for their PT treatment plan. Encourage an open dialogue and reflect on the feedback you receive from patients and peers.
Cultivate a collaborative mindset about working with your colleagues in PT and other healthcare disciplines. Working on a team with others is a great way to learn and grow the skills to be a physical therapist, and interprofessional collaboration improves patient satisfaction ratings and health outcomes.2
4. Be Determined
Prepare to take on challenging cases and stay motivated. When patients feel like giving up, one of the most valuable traits of a physical therapist is to remain focused on the process.
Encourage patients to stay committed and determined as they work toward healing. Inspiring perseverance in your patients is one of the main characteristics of a physical therapist.
5. Be Resilient
Another one of the most critical qualities of a physical therapist is resilience. Like most things in life, progress in physical therapy is not always a straight path.
Your patients will likely experience ups and downs. A resilient physical therapist can adapt and respond positively to change and adversity.
6. Be Compassionate
To work in patient care, you need compassion, as patients might feel anxious about their treatment. Empathy and a kind bedside manner are some of the most notable characteristics of a physical therapist, as they inspire comfort in patients.
Another one of the skills needed to be a physical therapist is empathy. Successful physical therapists care about the well-being of their patients. They ask the right questions to determine the appropriate treatment goals for each patient.
7. Be Knowledgeable
Individuals with a wide range of conditions, from joint injuries to neurological diseases, seek treatment from physical therapists. As far as physical therapist skills are concerned, you need a broad knowledge to draw from.
This is one of the primary qualities of a physical therapist to cultivate, even if you ultimately decide to specialize in a particular area, such as geriatrics or oncology. A great PT is constantly learning and staying current with the latest advancements and best practices.3
8. Have Integrity
Be open and honest with your patients and do what you say you will do. Integrity is one of the skills needed to be a physical therapist because it helps foster a healthy relationship built on trust between you and your patients.
Excellent PTs consistently demonstrate professionalism and have strong ethics. These qualities of a physical therapist are reflected in actions such as protecting patient privacy and consistently acting in patients’ best interests.
9. Be Respectful
Another one of the most important characteristics of a physical therapist is respect. The top PT professionals honor the wishes of their patients. Regardless of what you determine to be the best course of action, your patients will decide whether or not they will pursue the treatment options you recommend.
You can offer your professional opinion, but ultimately you must acknowledge and accept the patient’s decision. In your therapy practice, you will treat patients of all ages and body types, from all walks of life. As one of the skills needed to be a physical therapist, it’s important to address your patients with equal respect.
10. Be Communicative
Before evaluating your patient and developing a treatment plan, you will speak with the patient about their acute symptoms and current and aspirational levels of fitness and health.
Effective communication is one of the most essential physical therapist skills to develop. A patient who understands their care plan is more likely to succeed.4 PTs should aim to educate patients using clear language and ask questions to explore patient needs so communication flows in both directions.
11. Be Astute
Attention to detail is one of the most critical skills needed to be a physical therapist. Doing so will help you detect any changes in the patient’s abilities.
Patients with the same injury can respond differently to treatment, so it’s best to closely observe each patient’s progress and adjust your care plan accordingly, regardless of your expectations. Remaining astute will help you determine the patient’s individual and evolving needs.
12. Be Positive
Working with people who are in pain and suffering can be emotionally taxing. Having the capacity to remain positive, upbeat and open-minded are great qualities of a physical therapist. Learning to turn negatives into positives and combat negative self-talk, will help you succeed.
Developing the characteristics of a physical therapist outlined above will help you succeed as a physical therapist. Are you compassionate, communicative and interested in helping people regain mobility and quality of life? A career in physical therapy may be right for you. The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) offers a graduate physical therapy program that prepares you to work collaboratively with your colleagues and deliver optimal care.
The largest PT school in the United States*, the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) offers a hands-on graduate physical therapy program. Practice with mock and real patients in our state-of-the-art simulation centers and learn anatomy with our high-tech tools. Prepare for clinical practice with a wide range of patients, as well as advanced roles in research, practice leadership and policymaking. Residential and Flex formats are available.
*Based on total DPT degrees conferred during 2020-2022, as reported by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data is captured by IPEDS through interrelated surveys conducted annually by the Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES).
Sources:
- Mayo Clinic, “Parkinson’s disease,” Mayo Clinic, September 27, 2024, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376062.
- Jordan Utley, Cindy Mathena, Tina Gunaldo., Interprofessional Education and Collaboration: An Evidence-Based Approach to Optimizing Health Care, Human Kinetics, February 7, 2020, https://us.humankinetics.com/products/interprofessional-education-and-collaboration?srsltid=AfmBOoo2u2Pja_0YLeSn8utkG-wkIRI6cJJdEBh9Wd-m8j7UwwGjoCiE.
- Will Hicklen, “10 Qualities of a Successful Physical Therapist,” ANKOTA, January 1, 2021, https://www.ankota.com/blog/bid/91998/10-qualities-of-a-successful-physical-therapist.
- Apollo Team, “10 Qualities of a Successful Physical Therapist,” Apollo, October 15, 2016, https://www.apollopracticemanagement.com/10-qualities-successful-physical-therapist/.
