Healthcare systems face rising levels of occupational stress. Increasing patient demand,
workforce shortages, financial pressures, and rapid technological change drive this stress.
For physical therapy professionals, these stressors contribute to challenges - including
compassion fatigue, moral distress, moral injury, and burnout.
The World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) defines
burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been
successfully managed. Burnout has three dimensions:
These conditions are associated with diminished quality of care, poorer patient outcomes,
decreased satisfaction, and higher turnover. Evidence suggests that physical therapists at
earlier career stages may be at greater risk. Contributing factors include high workload,
inadequate resources, limited support, and strained workplace relationships. Monitoring
provider well-being is increasingly recognized as a regulatory priority because of the
implications for patient safety and workforce stability.
The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) developed tools to support
clinician well-being and retention. The Healthy Practice Resource is a free and anonymous
self-assessment platform launched in 2025. This tool helps you evaluate personal and
workplace factors across domains such as emotional health, work environment, and
professional support. It links you to targeted resources.
Research supports that interventions like this, alongside organizational support, can
improve well-being and reduce intent to leave the profession. Additional FSBPT resources
address licensure considerations, including guidance for clinicians contemplating leaving
practice and protocols for re-entry.
Regulatory boards play a critical role in promoting these tools and fostering environments
that support clinician resilience. This helps ensure the delivery of safe and effective
physical therapy care to the public.
Venturini, Enrico, Ugolini, Alessandro, Bianchi, Lapo, Di Bari, Mauro, and Paci, Matteo.
"Prevalence of burnout among physiotherapists: a systematic review and meta-analysis."
Physiotherapy 124 (2024): 164-179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2024.01.007.
Burri, Sabrina D., Kaleigh M. Smyrk, Mostafa S. Melegy, Melanie M. Kessler, Nadim I.
Hussein, Brandi D. Tuttle, and Derek J. Clewley. "Risk factors associated with physical
therapist burnout: a systematic review." Physiotherapy 116 (February 5, 2022): 9-24.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2022.01.005.