Physical Therapy
View the DPT Commencement Ceremony (January 19, 2013)
Arcadia's Physical Therapy graduates are leaders—expert clinicians, educators, researchers, practice owners/managers, authors and legislative liaisons—maintaining the integrity of the profession, advancing knowledge and impacting rehabilitation and wellness.
Arcadia is ranked 14th among the 211 accredited graduate PT programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and is the first program in Pennsylvania to offer both the entry-level and transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. Arcadia Physical Therapy programs offer:
The Profession
Physical therapy is a health care profession whose practitioners evaluate, treat and instruct individuals in order to prevent or overcome the effects of disease or injury. Physical therapists work in a variety of settings, including acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient centers, individual homes, skilled nursing facilities and the public school system. Patients of all ages, from newborn to elderly, encounteredreceive and benefit from the treatment efforts of physical therapists. Physical therapists also work as educators, researchers and consultants.
Physical therapy is an integral part of today’s changing health-care system. Practitioners serve in a range of capacities—they may be a patient’s entry point into the health-care system as they conduct appropriate screening and examination techniques and make professional assessments. Clinical practice is based on theory and/or evidence.
Physical therapy is a profession that offers a lifetime of satisfaction in helping people function more effectively. Each patient presents a new challenge, and the constantly changing clinical situations provide for a stimulating and exciting career.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy is to prepare physical therapists to excel in evidence-based practice, discover and disseminate new knowledge, assume leadership roles, work collaboratively with other professions, and optimize global health. To accomplish this mission, the faculty pursues and models scholarship, best practice, and leadership.
