A statistical profile of physical therapists, 1980 and 1990

To plan for future needs, human resource analysts require demographic data. In this research, US census data were used to develop a profile of physical therapists.

Data were extracted from the Public Use Microdata Samples of the US censuses of population from 1980 and 1990. Samples of 3,112 physical therapists from 1990 and 1,530 therapists from 1980 were obtained.

A profile was generated by use of descriptive statistics to examine geographic distribution, social characteristics, employment characteristics, and income. Linear regression was used to determine factors that influence income.

During the 1980s, physical therapy demonstrated remarkable growth, with trends in physical therapist location, gender, age, and place of employment. Even as the profession aged, it stayed an occupation composed predominantly of women, but one less concentrated in hospitals. Geographically, physical therapists remained clustered in the Northeast and along the Pacific Coast. Income generated by physical therapists was predicted by social and geographic characteristics.

This study presents a new data source to examine physical therapist characteristics. It provides information necessary for health care planners and analysts to better understand the nature of the profession and those who practice.