The older people get, the more likely they are to suffer from pronounced health problems, such as hearing, vision or digestion problems. These can be dealt with by regular visits to their general care practitioner or family doctor, just as they are with someone of any age. But some serious problems that occur with age, such as falling and injuring a bone or muscle, may require specialized care from a geriatric physical therapist.

A geriatric physical therapist is trained to evaluate patients and create a customized exercise routine that will take into account the limitations of age while helping them stay fit and mobile for as long as possible.

Geriatric therapists are trained to help their patients with the most useful physical therapy positions to use as they recover from painful procedures such as hip replacement and repairs to the spine. They also treat problems that show up as adults age, including problems with balance, osteoporosis, arthritis and incontinence. A good physical therapist is constantly evaluating the patient and making alterations to the routine as needed.

Physical therapists licensed in the US are required to go to a four-year undergraduate college to earn their degree. Then they must complete a residency program before taking their state’s licensing exam to become a physical therapist. Classes are heavy in science, mathematics and biology, and competition is stiff for getting into a college offering a physical therapy degree. A grade point average of 3.0 or above and extras like a foreign language or volunteer work in a medical field will help the applicant to be accepted.

There are many physical therapy specialties, but some of the most gratifying are in the geriatric field. A little extra attention and moral support can drastically improve the quality of an elderly person’s life—and that is a wonderful feeling.