Physiotherapist Career Information
Physiotherapy is basically a form of treatment using physical exercises. It is a preventive and remedial procedure that is very often used as a supplement with oral medicines. Besides, physiotherapy helps in optimal functioning of the body. It involves assessing, treating and preventing disorders of human movement, e.g. fractures, spastics, spondylysis, etc. If you wish to become a physiotherapist, you need to know all these facts.
What a Physiotherapist does
Physiotherapy is a science that seeks to alleviate movement disorders. A physiotherapist's help is specially recommended for the physically challenged, sportsman, people with degenerative disorders and those afflicted with arthritis, neurological dysfunction and so on. It could also include heat radiation, water therapy, massages, diathermy, traction and other procedures.
A physiotherapist works in areas such as pediatrics, exercise and sport, ergonomic and occupational health, accident and rehabilitation, illness and disease, women's health including preparation for pregnancy and birth and in geriatrics.
Physiotherapy is defined as the assessment, evaluation and treatment, prevention of physical disability, movement dysfunction and pain resulting from injury, disease, disability, or other health related conditions.
A physiotherapist diagnoses and treats movement dysfunction, which can occur at any time during a person's life span. A physiotherapist screens people for potential risk for movement dysfunction in order to prevent impairment and disability and generate data for analysis and research.
A physiotherapist is qualified to perform physical examination, conduct assessments to determine diagnosis, select appropriate physical therapy procedures to treat the dysfunction and monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
A physiotherapist works with people injured in accidents, crippled children, people with genetic physiological aberration, people with neurological and orthopedic problems, disabled elderly patients, people with cardiac problems and even patients with burn injuries.
A physiotherapist's main job involves helping people recover and/or rehabilitate them from a state of been incapacitated. The incapacity may be due to a genetic defect or the result of an accident or illness. It is a physiotherapist's responsibility to help restore the patient's body to its optimal functioning level, of course with the patient's co-operation.
As a physiotherapist, you will work with a wide range of people from the old and elderly suffering from ailments like arthritis, to polio affected children, athletes and sports persons, industrial workers and so on. Sometimes, even heart patients are referred to physiotherapists for therapy.
Your main task as a physiotherapist will be helping patients with physical exercises and with procedures like heat therapy, massages, water therapy, electric therapy, etc. Pregnant women and women who have just delivered are also referred for breathing exercises and prenatal and antenatal exercises.
Job Opportunities:
Physiotherapists find opportunities in:
• Government hospitals, corporate hospitals and also in specialised departments such as cardiac, neurological, orthopedic, etc.
• Polyclinics and health centre
• Physiotherapy clinics
• Rehabilitation centre run by the government or NGOs
• Schools and facilities for the physically handicapped
There are also ample of opportunities for private practice as well. You can also be engaged in teaching and research.
Career Prospects:
Physiotherapists are in high demand in India and abroad. Physiotherapy is one of the fastest-growing allied health professions all over the world involving rehabilitation of handicapped individuals with a movement disorder. The boom will increase the demand for all kinds medical and paramedical service professionals. Physiotherapists are included in this picture.
Almost all orthopedic surgeons these days recommend patients to physiotherapists for recovery from injuries. Apart from orthopedics, other medical specialists like cardiologists, general surgeons, and neurologists also recommend physiotherapist during recovery period after an operation.
Abilities & Traits Required
If you want to be a physiotherapist, you got to have a positive attitude to life and possess oodles of confidence. You should be able to instill confidence and motivate patients to positively contribute to his/her recovery or rehabilitation.
Needless to say, you also need to have an interest in medicine, science and an empathetic attitude to people. Other attributes include good observation skills and ability to work in a team. As a Physiotherapist you should be patient and understanding and possess an ability to generate confidence in others.
Qualifications
To become a practicing physiotherapist or be employed as a professional in a hospital or clinic, you need to have completed your BSc or diploma in Physiotherapy.
If you have completed seventeen years of age and HSc with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, you are eligible for the degree or diploma course in Physiotherapy.
There are many institutes that offer short-term courses (of 3-4 months' duration) in physiotherapy. There are degree and diploma courses offered by reputed universities and institutes.
Admissions to most of the Physiotherapy courses is based on a entrance examination conducted by the individual institutions/universities.
Salary
In government hospitals, polyclinics, health centre and healthcare facilities, your starting salary as a Physiotherapist will be in the range of Rs 30000-40000 or more per month.
A postgraduate degree in physiotherapy can earn you a salary in the range of Rs 35000 to 45000 p.m.
Private and corporate hospitals usually start at Rs 45000 and go upto Rs 55000 per month.
As an experienced independent physiotherapist you may earn anything between Rs 500 – 750 per visit.
As a lecturer you will be paid in the range of Rs 45000- Rs 55000.
Private practitioners can hope to make ten times more in a month.
But for that you have to make a lot of investment in terms of space, equipment and so on.