Welcome to Physical Therapy

Dear Visitor,

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Physical Therapy. You are considering a rewarding and exciting career that challenges you to promote health through the prevention, diagnosis, and ultimately the treatment of disease.

To prepare our students to face these challenges, our program at UTMB incorporates interactive discussions and laboratories, research, and clinical training.

Physical therapists (PTs) provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Their patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.

Therapists examine patients’ medical histories and then test and measure the patients’ strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function. They also determine patients’ ability to be independent and reintegrate into the community or workplace after injury or illness. Next, physical therapists develop treatment plans describing a treatment strategy, its purpose, and its anticipated outcome. Physical therapist assistants, under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist, may be involved in implementing treatment plans with patients. Physical therapist aides perform routine support tasks, as directed by the therapist.

We are always excited to serve prospective students and look forward to meeting you soon. Come discover at UTMB why we are "Here for the Health of Texas."

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Protas, PT, PhD
Interim Dean