Physical therapy is a dynamic health profession that develops, coordinates, and utilizes selected knowledge, skills, and techniques in planning, organizing, and directing programs for the care of individuals whose ability to function is impaired or threatened by disease or injury. This therapy includes examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and analysis of outcomes. It provides services to patients/clients who have impairments of body function and structure, activity limitations, participation restrictions, disabilities, or changes in physical function and health status resulting from injury, disease, or other causes. Physical therapists also must be able to collaborate with a variety of professionals, address risk factors to health, be leaders and providers in the areas of prevention and promoting health, wellness and fitness, serve as educators, consultants, administrators and advocates, utilize critical inquiry skills and direct and supervise the provision of therapy services.

Some examples of diagnoses of individuals who might be seen by a physical therapist include stroke, low back pain, neck pain, ACL knee injury, Parkinson's Disease, spinal cord injury, amputation, heart attack, athletic injury, arthritis, cerebral palsy, rotator cuff (shoulder) injury, total or partial joint replacement, spina bifida, general health and personal training, congestive heart failure, emphysema, cancer, head injury, multiple sclerosis, learning disabilities, speed and agility training, and many more.