Began with ancient roots in manual therapy but was formally established in the early 20th century, driven by the need to rehabilitate wounded soldiers during World War I and children affected by the polio epidemics.
It began during WWI with female "reconstruction aides" rehabilitating soldiers, and it officially became a profession in 1921. These women pioneered the industry and did a lot of research that we still use today. Without these early female pioneers, we would still have a lot of work to do. To this day Women dominate in the Physical Therapy industry making up to 70% of all workers. It doesn’t look like this statistic is going to change any time soon either, as multiple studies show that women are more trusted in a nurturing role, and undergoing Physical Therapy requires showing vulnerability.
It is a very satisfying job, watching others recover from injuries and helping them heal. You get to know people on a very personal level. There is high job security with a major projected growth of 15% in the next decade. The pay is reliably good, around 101k dollars median salary per year. This is a job that does not easily become automated, so the likelihood of being replaced is very low. There is a requirement to feel connected and comfortable with those treating you, and people just don’t bond well with computers. Beyond this, because treatment is very personalized, there is no effective way to automate this.
If you choose to work in a hospital, this perk may not apply to you. Additionally, if you work in a high volume practice, your days will likely be busier and longer. You tend to be emotionally attached to your work, so when patients fail to meet goals it is easy to feel some level of guilt. Many healthcare practitioners require strong support networks, and the odd hours can put stress on a family if it isn’t addressed.