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About Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy refers to the physiotherapeutic system of medicine which includes assessment, treatment, instructions and advice to any person using physical agents including mobilisation, exercise, mechanical and electrotherapy, manipulation, activity and diagnosis or devices.

Physiotherapists (PTs) are trained to use physical examination and an individual's history in diagnosis and treatment. As and when required, these professionals may also incorporate the results of imaging and laboratory studies, as well as electro diagnostic testing (e.g. nerve conduction velocity testing and electromyograms).

As the domain of physical therapy is quite large, many PTs specialise in a particular clinical area, which may include:

  • Clinical Electrophysiology
  • Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
  • Integumentary
  • Geriatrics
  • Orthopaedics
  • Neurology
  • Sports Physical Therapy
  • Paediatrics
  • Women's health

By improving the functional ability and mobility of their patients, physiotherapists enhance their quality of life. Several practitioners also use other physical therapeutic methods like osteopathic medicines and chiropractic techniques.

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Since this healthcare profession can involve anything from a simple massage to a complex range of therapies, it becomes important to study a course that prepares you to face the challenges of the real world skilfully.

If you want to become an adept physiotherapist, here are some of the best countries and colleges where you can pursue a course in physiotherapy:

USA

Columbia University | Central Michigan University | New York University | Clarkson University

UK

Brunel University | St George's University | University of East Anglia

INDIA

Tilak Maharashtra University | Dr NTR University of Health Sciences | Sree Balaji College of Physiotherapy

Career Prospects

After completing a course in physiotherapy, you can:

  • work as a self-employed physical therapist to offer services to individual patients
  • work as a physical therapist with hospitals, health agencies, nursing homes, home adult day care programs, and rehabilitation centres on a contract basis.
  • establish a solo practice
  • join a consulting group
  • take up research work
  • teach in academic institutions

With an increased demand for therapeutic services to deal with vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions in the elderly, as well as to treat several lifestyle diseases, it shouldn’t be an uphill task for a physiotherapist to find a well paid job or set up his/her own clinic.

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Jobs & Salary

A majority of physiotherapists find work with

  • Hospitals
  • Medical groups
  • Community care
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Taking up faculty positions in schools of physical therapy is also a good choice, especially if you are interested in imparting knowledge of the medical sciences and would love to hone the skills of the young generation.

Physiotherapists may also work in wide areas like sports, women's health, care of the elderly, mental illness, stroke patients, orthopaedics, occupational health, learning difficulties, paediatrics etc. In a nation of sports lovers like India, an increasing number of sports injuries, especially among the wannabe sports stars, have triggered a great demand for Sports Physiotherapists.

Physiotherapy treatment can also offer good results for children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) as well as in helping women who are going through prenatal and postnatal stages. So, depending on your specialisation, you can select the areas of treatment and choose your job setting accordingly.

Depending on the core area of specialisation and experience, the earnings of physiotherapists can vary significantly. Statistics show that while those working with state or public hospitals earn the most, those with NGOs and doing their own practice usually are at the lower rungs.

Pros & Cons

Though many consider a physiotherapist’s job to be much less attractive than that of a medical science graduate or a software engineer, it does offer you job satisfaction and better people’s lives. So, if you love working with people and change their life for the better, opting for a physiotherapist’s job could be a good choice. But like every other job, it too has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages.

Here are some of the advantages of making a career in the field of physiotherapy:

  • Flexible working conditions
  • Chances of continued education in most cases
  • Variety of tasks and specialisation to choose from
  • A strong sense of satisfaction from helping people
  • Social prestige

However, the flip side of this field includes:

  • Erratic and long hours at times
  • Stress
  • Unsocial hours, especially when you are travelling with sports quads for competition and camps
  • Spending a lot of time away from family and friends
  • Missing out on family and social occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, festivals etc)

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