Is working out a requirement for physical therapy school?

Is working out a requirement for physical therapy school? I had no impression that physical therapists had to be uber fit or had to go to the gym regularly. I volunteered at a community hospital and a sub-acute rehab center. The therapists were average, not fat, but not super fit...definitely some bellies. Basically I had no impression that I had to go to the gym as a requirement to be a physical therapist. Then I arrived at DPT school.... During the first week, my professor wanted to show us something cool so he asked for a volunteer. My classmate goes to the front of the room, takes his t-shirt off and I swear I gasped. His abs were so ripped, it looked like a xylophone. I joked with my girlfriends at home that his abs were so rock solid, it would ting if I hit it with a drum stick. You bet your bottom everyone started hitting the gym hard after that day. Me included.

With all that said, nope, I don't think you need to go to the gum regularly in order to be a PT. But in PT school, you better be confident with your body image because I spend at least 1 class a week in a skimpy tank top and shorts. Sometimes, I'm required to wear a bikini top. Ugh. No exceptions except for religious reasons.

Once you get past school, then it's just good ol' body mechanics. Making sure you are not using your arms and back when you should be using your body to work with the patient. Getting down to your patients level so you are not lifting from the back but rather those legs and core. I remember asking one of the working PTs, if she works out. She laughed at me and said "...with what time or energy."

Up to you to decide if the gym is your thing.

Photo of woman from Sydney Morning Herald.

Photo of xylophone from this site.