If you go to dinonline.org there’s a shailah on there about someone who wants to become a physical therapist and is he allowed to touch women for it. This was cut and pasted from there.
A student of mine (22 y/o male) would like to become a physical therapist. However, this may entail touching women both during school and while practicing as one. Is this permitted?
Answer:
It is fine to become a physical therapist. There is a preference not to treat women, but where there is a need it is permitted.
Sources:
Based on the same principles, it would be permitted to practice medical techniques, including physical therapy (which is a recognized technique) on women. A further reason for leniency is that the Gemara (Avodah Zarah 20) teaches that a person at work does is not inclined to have forbidden thoughts, though some question the application of this principle to scenarios of directly touching women.
Yet, there is a difference between physical therapy and taking a pulse, and there is more room for concern concerning prolonged treatments than for short checks. Therefore, although it is permitted, it is better to avoid the situation, where possible.