Particularly, physiotherapy as a career to understand is a healthcare profession that aims at maximizing the physical potential of humans. So, it focuses on human function and movement.
According to WHO, physiotherapists are likely concerned with assessing, planning, and implanting rehabilitation programs that additionally aim at improving or restoring motor functions, relieving pain, maximizing movement ability, and also treating or prevent physical challenges due to injury, impairment, or diseases as well.
Physical approaches are without a doubt used in physiotherapy to promote maintain and restore overall health status. Moreover, it is a science-based profession. In addition to this, there is no single definition of physiotherapy, the ‘movement’ is the core expertise of the field.
Finally, the ultimate aim of any physiotherapy treatment program is to improve the quality of life and then enabling the patient to reach his or her optimum functioning potential.
Roles And Responsibilities Of A Physiotherapist
Physiotherapists attend to every type of patient ranging from infants to senior citizens, and with every patient they have different responsibilities. As a matter of fact, Some of them are:
- Assessing, diagnosing, and managing the movement and other dysfunctions
- Enhancing and Maintaining functional abilities of the patient
- Preventing the progression of impairments and disabilities
- Preventing and Managing the secondary complications in a patient
- Maintaining overall physical function, wellness, and fitness
- Address disorders of a sedentary lifestyle
- Giving postural and ergonomic advice
- As well as Prescribing exercises
- Evaluating- muscle strength and functional level
- Using various interventions as per the patient’s need- electrotherapy modalities, exercises, manual therapy, or functional training, etc.
- Of course “Evidence-based Practice” only!
- Following up on the patient regularly to check for progress
- Modifying the treatment plan through different phases of the disorder
- Giving counseling to the patient and family members or caretaker
- In addition, Prescribing necessary orthotics and ambulatory aids
- Doing home and workplace evaluation to look for barriers and prescribing changes
- Addressing the balance issues of patient
- Undoubtedly, Improving the quality of life
- Setting up realistic goals for every patient
- Clearly communicating about the severity of the condition and probable prognosis to the patient and family
- Surely, improving the cardiopulmonary status of patients
Indeed, the above list may look a lot but this is just the crux. Once you enter the field of physiotherapy you learn in-depth about all your roles and responsibilities.
Scope And Salary Of A Physiotherapist
In India, for becoming a physiotherapist, you without a doubt will have to complete a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) (Particularly, which is a 4.5 years course in addition to a compulsory 6 months internship) from a recognized Institute or University. After graduating, there are nevertheless several options for you to choose from.
Higher Education Opportunity In Physiotherapy
Subsequently, graduates in physiotherapy are eligible to pursue courses like:
1. Masters of Physiotherapy (MPT)- 2 years
Furthermore, Specializations (include the link to ‘Types of Physiotherapy’ here) in MPT include:
- Orthopedics
- Neurology
- Sports
- Cardiopulmonary
- Obstetrics & Genecology
- Pediatrics
- Musculoskeletal
- Exercise Physiology
- Geriatrics
- Biomechanics
- Hand Biomechanics
- Oncology
- Public Health
- Post Operative Physiotherapy
2. MBA (Hospital Administration)
3. Ph.D. (after completing post-graduation)
Career Options In Physiotherapy
A physiotherapy career can rise to a spread of challenging and interesting jobs within the health care system. Some of the work areas are:
- Critical care physiotherapist
- Consultant physiotherapist at hospitals, healthcare centers, and NGOs
- Outpatient clinics
- Rehabilitation hospitals
- Multinational companies
- Clinical research
- Wellness and fitness centers
- Sports rehabilitation center
- Home health care
- Lecturer
- Guest Faculty
- Private practice
- Ergonomic advisor
- Special schools for physically challenged children
- Old age homes
Also, there is a wide range of career options and higher education abroad.
The starting salary for freshly graduate and post-graduate students lies around 2-5 lakhs per annum. The starting package also depends on the institution from where the degree has been earned and the hiring organization. Your salary will increase as you gain experience and enhance your knowledge and skills.
Why Physiotherapy?
If you are a person who loves helping others, cares for people, and is good at communication, then physiotherapy is the right field for you. Apart from having in-depth knowledge of subjects and practical skills, you must have these skills:
- Soft skills
- Leadership quality
- Ability to work in a team
- Ability to work under stress
- Administrative skills
- Listening skills
- Patience
- Good communication skills
- Being empathetic to other’s pain and not sympathetic
Remember, you should be interested in the job profile and not just the course curriculum before deciding on this field as your career. So, as long as you love the work and are interested in treating dysfunctions and people’s pain, this is the right choice for you!
Physiotherapy is a highly reputed profession and has something for everyone! So, you will never be sitting idle if you have great skills. Choosing this field will not only prove to be great for you but will also add value to the lives of hundreds of people you will help.
Further Reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_therapy
