Official Therapist Blog

Therapy Career Resources for Foreign PTs—your Go-To Guide

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 07.23.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, How To's, How to Tips, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapist Jobs, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, physical therapist licensing, physical therapy, physical therapy job questions

Foreign PT License Requirements and FAQ’s you should bookmark!

Were you trained for a physical therapy career outside of the United States, and looking for a therapy job here? If yes, welcome to our Go-To guide, featuring information on the Top 10 states for physical therapy careers, as well as direct links to state licensure applications.

Top 10 States for PTs
You’ll note some states’ pages for foreign PTs answer frequently asked questions, while others route the foreign trained physical therapist directly to an online application, instructions for obtaining licensure or all of the above. Every state is slightly different in its approach, but the bottom line is the same: qualified applicants who meet state licensing authority criteria enjoy rewarding and high paying physical therapy careers!

California: The Physical Therapy Board of California assists foreign educated Physical Therapist graduates from accredited and non-accredited programs. You’ll note that this state’s page gives a shortlist of what you’ll need to get in order before you apply, plus a direct link to an online application.

Colorado: The Colorado Division of Registrations provides an online application and instructions on how to take the NPTE exam; it also lists basic requirements for foreign trained Physical Therapist licensure.

Florida: The Florida Department of Health answers FAQs for Foreign Trained Applicants and an “Apply for a license” link that helps you get started.

Iowa: The Iowa Department of Public Health’s Physical Therapist licensure information is the same for foreign and domestic applicants on the online application.

Illinois: The Division for Professional Registration handles licensure for all applicants, both domestic and foreign trained in physical therapy careers; this site does not provide a specific page intended for foreign trained PTs; however, they do provide contact information for sources who can answer your questions.

Massachusetts: The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation states that graduates of foreign physical therapy programs may be eligible for licensure in MA, but that the Board accepts only the evaluations prepared by the FCCPT

Maryland: The Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners provides detailed instructions for foreign trained Physical Therapist applicants; you’ll notice two different licensure links for foreign PTs; one for “Licensure by Examination” and one for “Licensure by Endorsement”. You will also note this state accepts evaluation credentials sent by the FCCPT.

Ohio: The Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers Board provides an online application for licensure as a PT or PTA, with instructions for foreign applicants on the PT applicant page.

Texas:  The Executive Council of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Examiners provides instructions for foreign trained physical therapist applicants; they provide, on this page, an “Apply for a License Now” link.

Washington:  The Washington State Department of Health reviews all applications for Physical Therapist licensure, domestic and foreign trained, and provides a “packet” of all the materials you will need to work in Washington physical therapy jobs.

Working in Physical Therapy Assistant Jobs
For foreign students of physical therapy, the process of obtaining licensure is more difficult for PTAs (physical therapy assistants) than it is PTs—we covered the reason in a related press release, but you’ll want to read on for direct links to therapy career resources that exist to help you transcend this minor obstacle. Just do the following, in the following order, and you’ll soon be working in physical therapy assistant jobs:

Complete all educational requirements to become a Physical Therapist Assistant

• Apply for the National Physical Therapy Assistant Examination (NPTAE), pass it, then successfully take the National Physical Therapy Examination

Or

• Apply for a student visa (F1 Visa) and then apply to accredited Physical Therapist Schools; Canadian physical therapists can work on a non-immigrant NAFTA Professional (TN) visa
• After you complete your education and prior to graduation, apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows you to work in the U.S. for up to one year.

Commonalities Shared by State Licensing Boards
Foreign trained applicants should have the following items in order before applying for state licensure:

• Social Security Numbers: you can apply for licensure and take the exam prior to getting a social security number; however, you will need the S-S-N prior to receiving your license.
• iBT TOEFL: a passing score on this test proves you are proficient in English. Minimum score required is 89, as well as accompanying minimum scores in the test’s four components: 24 in writing; 26 in speaking; 21 in reading comprehension; and 18 in listening comprehension
• A letter: from the applicant’s university stating that at the time the student received their first degree the language of instruction was English.
• Requirements for Credential Evaluations: Once you pass the NPTE exam, you must prove your education is on par with state standards.
• The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT): This non-profit organization assists many foreign trained PTs in showing their educational credentials are equivalent to current standards in the United States. See if your state board of physical therapy will work with them.

Remember that using therapy career resources, like each relevant link in this blog, can help you get to work fast!  For the foreign trained, as well as every professional working in travel physical therapy jobs, we wish you great luck in your new home!

Footnote: Some online physical therapy career resources cited here were taken from The Rehab License Network, which was created with the goal of making allied healthcare licensing information easier to obtain and/or maintain for rehab professionals.

Physical Therapy Career Advancement Tips

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 06.10.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, How to Tips, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapist Jobs, Respiratory Therapy, Speech Language Pathologist, Therapist Jobs, Therapist Jobs Postings, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Travel physical therapy jobs, physical therapist licensing, physical therapy, physical therapy job questions, rehabilitation therapy

How to activate your job search

Physical therapy careers come in all shapes and sizes; some PTs travel from one assignment to the next, while others hold permanent positions. There are seasoned therapists earning close to—or topping—six figure salaries, and others just beginning a physical therapy career with nowhere to go but up.

No matter where you are in your physical therapy career, the job search is everything—particularly if you’re looking to make a positive change. Travel Force offers therapy career resources that help you launch the ideal job search, matching your career skills and education to the very best physical therapy jobs.

Our physical therapy network can supply the perfect job match. Search from the best allied healthcare careers America has to offer by clicking on the Activate your Job Search Agent for the fastest results.

By activating a job search, you can choose from existing positions and get your first pick of well-paid, highly compensated physical therapy jobs, virtually anywhere and everywhere in North America. You specify the city, whether your interest is in a permanent and/or travel physical therapist job and take your pick among a wide variety of possibilities. If a job is not available in the exact location you wish, we will seek out a plum position on your behalf to meet your job requests in the next best location.

The Job Search Agent is for  physical therapy careers and allied healthcare jobs in all professions:

• Physical Therapy
• Physical Therapy Assistant
• Occupational Therapy
• COTA
• Pulmonary
• Respiratory Therapy
• Polysomnographer
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Medical Laboratory
• Radiation Oncology

Get started today and we will have you on the road to professional and financial success! The great thing about letting a #1 therapist staffing agency help you advance in your physical therapy career is that you’ll be working in an expert allied healthcare staffing organization. We comply with Joint Commission policies that ensure the education, licensing, training and work experience of our team has been verified inside and out.

Our expertise is  anticipating  every possible question regarding physical therapy careers; check out this link and physical therapy job questions about what to expect straight out of school with a DPT.

We cover these topics regarding successful physical therapy careers as well:

• Top Physical Therapy Certifications by Specialty
• Physical Therapy Job FAQs every working and/or aspiring PT should know
• Therapy career resources -get links to licensing boards, blogs, social media sites and more

As a physical therapist, you’ve worked hard to stay current on the latest technologies, marked your calendar with events that help you network (i.e. the APTA Conference), and absorbed Top 40 PT career tips that let you connect with your patients in ways that benefit them beyond recovering independence and mobility.

The great thing about a physical therapy career—deemed not just a job, but a lifestyle—is that career advancement doesn’t stop once you’re hired. Our therapy career resources place no limits on how high your star might rise professionally—look to Travel Force for all your physical therapy career advancement and career planning needs.

We’ve got you covered from the time you first sit down to interview, from the time you sit down to enjoy your retirement!

Physical Therapy Jokes: Join the Humor-in-Hospitals Movement!

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 05.25.2010 | Category Career Tips, How To's, How to Tips, Physical Therapist Jobs, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, humor-in-hospitals movement, physical therapy, physical therapy humor, rehabilitation therapy

Physical therapists are devoted to improving their patients’ quality of life, which means that professionals trained to succeed in their physical therapy jobs must possess the ability to empathize and sympathize; basically, to connect with patients on an emotional level. Since physical therapist jobs are fun and hands on, the sheer nature of the job—how it lends itself to social discussions as you work one-on-one with patients—puts you more than half way there when it comes to establishing rapport.

The good news is you don’t have to perfect your stand-up routine to utilize humor with patients. We have tips for jumping on the Humor-in Hospitals band wagon (cart) even if you’re missing the actual humor cart some medical facilities are using.  Click here for advice on how to create a hospital humor cart of your own.

Cart or no cart, physical therapy jokes don’t have to be jokes at all; they can be funny stories or even observations about what’s on TV—so long as you show your patients you share a mutual interest, hobby, or have something small in common, the potential for laughter is there—as well as the invaluable assurance that patients look forward to seeing you when you’re on call.

And why would physical therapy jokes or attempts at physical therapist/patient warmth qualify as a valuable career resource?

Because it’s the responsibility of physical therapists to provide pain management that lessons the patient’s discomfort. Laughter won’t alleviate pain, but it will provide the temporary benefit of distraction while physical therapists get pain management under control.

It’s true that the clinical skills and knowledge you learned in physical therapy schools are the biggest piece of the puzzle in improving patient mobility and independent function, but the ability to create warmth in doctor/patient rapport is important too; having realized this, more and more hospitals are filling humor and “ha-ha carts” with magazines, funny props—even water pistols.

The medical community has yet to produce definitive research that laughter is literally the best medicine, but studies—like one conducted by the University of Maryland—did discover laughter has some positive physiological benefits.  A good long laugh is equivalent to a couple minutes of cardiovascular exercise. Our pulse and blood pressure go up, we stretch muscles throughout our bodies and we breathe faster—sending more oxygen to our tissues. So bring on the funny jokes and funny stories in your physical therapy jobs!

The bottom line? Laughter is harmless. Physical therapists should hone their sense of humor, beef up their funny stories and funny jokes repertoire and make brightening a patient’s day part of their everyday work detail. When a patient smiles, it’s proof that their quality of life—what physical therapists help give back—is returning!

Footnote:

Interested in learning more from experts on how to use humor for your personal and/or career development? Click on the Humor Project to find pubic speaking events, featuring topics like humor in chronic illness, team building with humor, and the mirthful approach to excellence on the job. There’s no reason why the effort couldn’t translate into excellence in your physical therapy jobs too!

Top 40 Tips for Physical Therapy Career Success

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 04.06.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, How To's, How to Tips, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

The Physical Therapist’s Top 40 Countdown to Career Success and Financial Bliss

If your licensure is fairly new or you’re well on your way to passing the state exam, Kudos to you! Qualified physical therapists are highly compensated, always in demand, and guaranteed a job in just about any healthcare facility. In this article, experts share the tips you need to know on what it takes to get your physical therapy career off the ground and running in high gear.

Staying current with healthcare therapy news feeds is just a small part of being the best; before you know it, you’ll rub shoulders with talented physical therapists from education programs similar to the one you’re in right now—or—if you’ve not yet applied to a program, we deliver a state by state resource guide to physical therapy schools approved by The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)—we’re also counting down to banner personality traits that translate into rockin’ & rollin’ your way down the physical therapist career path.

With a full work or course load, not to mention your continuing education, downtime is scarce, but in the rare event you indulge in iTunes and websurfing, we’re kickin’ it old school with a leisurely Casey Kasem inspired Top 40 countdown of tips travel PTs use in their physical therapy jobs.

So, from #40 on the list to the most important tip at all, remember these facts and therapy career resources, and be #1—oh, and don’t forget the drum roll as we make our way to…budumbumbum…“The Top Tip”!

Salary and Financial Stability:

#40: Salary Surveys reveal that advanced degrees and training are well worth the effort. Physical therapists benefit from dramatic increases in salary after just five years of practice.
#39: PTs don’t have to worry about a recession affecting their careers; as the general population ages and athletes continue to get injured, physical therapy becomes ever more popular.
#38: Rehab therapists may work long hours, but it translates into well compensated overtime pay.
#37: Therapist staffing agencies offer bonus referral programs.
#36: PT salaries vary by state, but the good news is, in physical therapy careers, you can work anywhere! See Physical Therapist salary by  state chart at the end of this post.

A Career with Superb Benefits:

#35: Physical therapy jobs come with stellar medical and dental benefits.
#34: Rehabilitation therapy jobs offer attractive retirement benefits, like 401(k) savings and tax advantage plans
#33: Free private housing in luxury accommodations is available through companies like Travel Force.
#32: Most physical therapists receive free life insurance.
#31: Plenty of employers offer physical therapists licensure reimbursement to practice in the state of their choosing.

Career Advancements & Education:

#30: PT staffing agencies are quick to offer free Continuing Education online courses.
#29: Your physical therapy job provides additional travel reimbursements and road savvy info that help you enjoy your adventures to the fullest.
#28: Physical therapists gain employment with ease through therapist recruitment.
#27: “I can’t get no satisfaction” is a song you’ll never hear on this Top 40 countdown. Job satisfaction among physical therapists is documented in the APTA media room as second in the Top 5 careers for job satisfaction.
#26: You’ll never stop advancing in your physical therapy career unless you want to.

Work In Diverse Healthcare Settings:

#25: Working on the road means physical therapists steer clear of the blahs—nationwide assignments have plenty of flexibility; work as little as 8 weeks or as long as 8 months.
#24: You’ll enjoy lots of variety in travel physical therapy jobs; you can work in hospitals, clinics, offices, schools, home health, rehab centers and more.
#23: You’ll never be bored. Physical therapy jobs are among the most intellectually stimulating careers on the planet. Click here to watch an inspiring 10 minute video about physical therapists, talking about the analytical aspects of their jobs and more.
#22: Physical therapists will not be replaced by computers, and as there is a need for them in every health facility, qualified PT’s are guaranteed a job.
#21: Every day is different for physical therapists, keeping things fresh and exciting; keep up with PT news and learn how to make your therapist career better.

Making a Difference:

#20: You need compassion and humanity! As we get closer to the #1 tip, it becomes more evident physical therapy jobs require giving your whole self over to the profession; that means heart and soul, as well as your mind.
#19: You can become more than a caregiver. Long term care takes a personal turn when you work with patients you care about.
#18: Your work as an educator is paramount. Much of your job as a physical therapist will be educating patients, their families, and the general public.
#17: Cherish a connection to your colleagues? Good. You will interact with lots of other health professionals as a physical therapist.
#16: Physical therapy allows you to mentor patients, families, and other PTs.

Friendships for a Lifetime:

#15: If you hate to be isolated, physical therapy provides quite the opposite experience; in this career no man is an island—to help the patient, you and other members of the rehab team must pull together.
#14: As a physical therapist, you’ll be able to improve the morale of patients and their families.
#13: You can be a giver of hope to your patients
#12: Physical therapy works toward healing, putting an end to pain and suffering experienced by others.
#11: As a physical therapist, your work matters to your patients and their families.
#10: You care about your fellow man, and want to make a positive impact on peoples’ lives.

Get those drums ready! We are getting into the last 10 in the countdown, focusing on the personal traits that make the top earning, top achieving physical therapists.

Resilience & Teamwork:

#9: Physical Therapists need to be able to deal with doctors, patients, and coworkers in a tactful way.
#8: Physical Therapy is rewarding, but nevertheless, hard work—if you’re highly skilled and willing to work hard, this job’s for you.
#7: As a physical therapist, you’ll care for people every day, so empathy is a must.
#6: Physical therapists are constantly learning, so if you love to learn, a physical therapy career is a great option.

Dedication has its Rewards:

#5: Physical Therapists often work on their feet all day with minimal breaks; therefore, physical stamina is important. Stay healthy!
#4: Every day will be different, so being able to adapt is essential for physical therapists.
#3: If you have the ability to communicate and instill trust in people, you have the basic skills for becoming a physical therapist.
#2: You must be able to remember, write a lot, and be organized as a PT.

And let the drums roll, please!…………..

#1: You must be 110% dedicated! Physical Therapy is not just a job—it’s a lifestyle.

Physical Therapist Median Salary by State

Have an Appetite for Fun Food? Check our Therapist Deal’s Guide

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 03.17.2010 | Category Good restaurants nationwide, How to Tips, Locations, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Traveling Therapist, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

Rehabilitation therapy jobs can create an appetite for fun food; read on to find some great deals ….

In physical therapy jobs, PTs and likeminded colleagues are bound to ask upon arrival in a new city: “So, is there a good place to eat around here?”

Any foodie worth his salt, especially a local one, is happy to answer this question, plugging local cuisine that lends the cities your Rehabilitation Therapy Jobs take place in, character…a la mode.

Yep, it’s the locals who recommend great vegetarian venue guides, like happycow.net, which puts veggie loving therapists in touch with the nearest organic restaurants and health food stores—with any luck, word spreads there’s an alternative to meat lover’s pizza at the next Occupational Therapy Jobs roundup.

Herbivore or meat loving, the locals know where it’s at; that’s why sites like Where the locals eat are worthy bookmarks in the months you work in physical therapist jobs away from home.

Food for thought: When physical therapy jobs mean you’re often too busy to cook, eatin’ good in the neighborhood—at restaurants that come highly recommended—means you’re twice as likely to extend your assignment.

Click on Applebee’s as proof that signing up to receive e-mails at your favorite franchises is a great way to save. Have OT Jobs and physical therapist jobs starved you for time to surf restaurants? Applebee’s sign-up page removes the guess work, and the good news is its simple steps to free membership are very similar to tasty competitors, i.e. Red Lobster’s Fresh Catch Club.

When restaurants like these are running a sale on surf or turf, you’ll be the first PT to know. Check in at all your favorite franchise websites to see what we mean.

You may already be a smart phone enthusiast working in travel therapist jobs whose restaurant app on the ol’ mobile quite capably makes your dining decisions for you, but that hardly means PTs and OTs aren’t interested in deep discounts available in the 2010 Entertainment Book. If you haven’t heard about it already, we’ve got the 411! This huge volume of coupons provides an online membership, where additional (printable) discounts are available just by typing your current zip code; you can also apply for an Entertainment Card, designed for discretion when the bill arrives.

Whether you find the perfect bargain or not, PTs, OTs and the medical professionals in between, gotta eat! Find out on the Travel Force therapy career resources page if you’re destined to work in one of the top 5 travel therapy spots.

Once you get there, make sure to ask: “So, is there a good place to eat around here?”

Cover letter tips for landing your first physical therapist job

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 02.17.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Career Tips, How to Tips, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapist Jobs, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapist licensing, physical therapy

If you recently graduated from a therapy program or expect to graduate soon, there’s good news – and bad news – on the job front.  Though you’ve chosen a career with great growth, there’s still plenty of competition out there – meaning it’s imperative to have a great physical therapy resume that is accompanied by an even stronger physical therapist cover letter.

As we’ve reported, the need for PTs is on the rise, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Demand is strong; new grads are encouraged to apply today to Travel Force and start reaping the rewards and benefits of travel therapy jobs!

But, it’s up to you to present yourself as the strongest candidate possible for those physical therapist jobs.  That means having a resume that includes all of your skills and experience learned in school and during internships and the like.

In addition,  it also means creating a cover letter that sings your praises – loudly. This document needs to be a persuasive marketing tool that highlights your strongest points and reiterates why the employer should consider you for that physical therapist job.

Here are some tips on writing a great cover letter for a physical therapy job:

• Highlight key professional skills developed throughout your career (school and otherwise). Did you develop some sort of “specialty” while in school — a skill you were known to be particularly good at? Mention it!
• Emphasize your knowledge of pertinent technologies; the more cutting-edge, the better.
• Cite evidence of leadership abilities. For instance, if you led a research team, discuss how you motivated your team to accomplish the project
• Discuss your academic achievements as proof of your intelligence and competence.
• Relate your skills, experience, and interests to the employer’s needs. (Do some research on the company or facility: Go online, or ask your Travel Force Consultant for tips and insights.)

For more guidelines, see the APTA’s Guide to the Cover Letter.

And, once you’ve gotten that all-important physical therapist job interview, prepare by reviewing our Interview tips for travel therapists.

Want a rewarding career in Physical Therapy? Read on for cutting edge credentialing and licensure info

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 02.15.2010 | Category How to Tips, Ongoing Education, Physical Therapist Jobs, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Top Therapy Blogs, physical therapist licensing, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

As a dedicated PT, you spend your days restoring, maintaining and promoting the overall fitness of your patients; chances are you’re just as invested in doing the same with your career. Whether you’re a practicing Physical Therapist, PT Assistant, a recent graduate preparing for the NPTE Exam, or just beginning to consider accredited physical therapy schools, we have career resource tools to benefit you greatly.

In traveling physical therapy jobs, you can expect to work in one or more locations (of your choosing) per year, and see a six-figure ceiling in earning potential, a nice return on your investment after graduating with a master’s or doctoral degree from a PT educational program. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) lists accredited schools in every state in the U.S. –just click here to check them out—you’ll also find links to APTA, and other benchmarks in physical therapy, on our therapist career resources page.

As for recent PT grads, you’re eager to practice your affinity for therapeutic procedures and examination techniques! Your next step is licensure within the state you wish to practice. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (see the FSBPT website) has all the information you need on registering for state licensing exams and learning more about mandatory continuing education; every PT should book mark FSBPT for its state-by-state licensing authorities.

Almost every job posting for a PT position requires, in addition to state licensure, a completion card from a 4 ½ hour Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) course. PTs are expected to recognize life-threatening emergencies and respond with the right maneuver, i.e., CPR, Heimlich or through use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

Physical Therapy Assistants (PTAs) can get a high octane career off to a great start by getting involved in the Recognition Program, which honors advanced proficiency in a specified area of work – such as, Musculoskeletal, Neuromuscular, Geriatric, Pediatric, Cardiovascular/Pulmonary, and/or Integumentary. You’ll need to create a user name and password on the APTA website if you’re interested in downloading an online application.

Best wishes in your continuing education!

Physical Therapists Are Pet Owners Too: How to find a dog-friendly assignment

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 01.21.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, How to Tips, Occupational Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

Here’s a fun fact: according to recent census data on pets, almost 46 million households own a dog. If you and a special furry someone fall into that category, you wouldn’t dream of leaving Honeybee behind to take a job. With therapy job benefits tailored to your specific needs—those being, especially, pets and children of all ages and sizes—this is of no concern to you; the only thing you need to worry about is finding an assignment that meets your pet lover’s criteria.

If you haven’t heard of DogFriendly.com, you need to visit the site and bookmark it immediately; it provides highway guides, rest stop and park reviews, outdoor dining info and more—all with dog accompanied travelers in mind.

Top dogs in pet related businesses recommend the following geographical criteria for raising a happy pooch:

• The city should be welcoming of dogs on public transportation
• The city should not unreasonably regulate dogs if they are leashed
• The city should have a wide variety of vets to choose from
• The city should feature parks, open to the public and ideal for dogs to roam

In a feature article by Forbes Magazine entitled: In Pictures: America’s Most Pet Friendly Cities, physical therapists with dogs will be inspired to check out Colorado Springs, touted by Forbes as the best place in America to enjoy your pets.

PTs, who just happen to be traveling with their dogs, might also try Seattle Physical Therapy jobs since The Emerald City, as the Washington city is known, offers dog-walking parks galore. Have fun “sniffing around” the possibilities!

How to Train for a Marathon - Valuable Tips from a Physical Therapist

Author Ellen Bloome - PT | 01.19.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Ellen Bloome-PT, How to Tips, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Top Rehab Careers, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

As a marathoner and a Physical Therapist, I would like to share some tips for training and conditioning for a first marathon…

First, it’s a good idea build up to being able to run 15-25 miles a week…(that’s running 3 -5 days) before beginning your marathon training program. If you already run 2 -3 miles a day, you have the basis to start preparing for your first marathon!

This base is important both physically and psychologically, because you can anticipate about 18 weeks of training. Here’s a a god tip: follow the ten percent rule for mileage building. Increasing your weekly mileage more than 10% from the previous week can cause injury and lead to burnout. So if you begin your program running 3.0 miles, 3-5 times a week, week 2 you might increase that to 3.3 miles each day you run. Week 3 would be 3.63 per day and so on.

To find more marathon training tips and to connect with other expert runners interested in running marathons go to www.runningtimes.com

4  Tips from a Physical Therapist & Avid Runner that focus the Mental Preparation:

1. Setting an appropriate time goal is important. Training at goal pace is the best way to run that pace in the latter part of your training. Most first time marathoners are looking to finish the race and enjoy the journey. Setting an unattainable goal will render that journey disappointing.
2. Visualization; another excellent tool. You can see the finish line, or what you will be feeling at mile 20… When you are out on the course, that déjà-vu helps! There is comfort in familiarity.
3. Joining a marathon training group will give you specific guidance from seasoned marathoners, and having a social peer group will increase the likelihood that you won’t skip those long runs……
4. Finally, and possibly most importantly…determination and discipline are part and parcel to successful training and performance. Be sure to bring them along as you lace up those running shoes.

If you have additional comments or suggestions, we would love to hear them! Running for fun and fitness is fantastic by itself and also a popular means to enjoy travel therapy jobs no matter where you are currently working!

Happy Running!