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Who is a Physiotherapist?
Physical therapists work with you today so that you can do it tomorrow on your own ~ Anonymous
A physiotherapist is an individual who helps people affected by injury, illness, or disability through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education, and advice. Several people go through some unforeseen times in their lives. It can affect their physical ability to do several things from day-to-day tasks. He or she helps in restoring someone’s ability to walk or to move, being able to function properly.
A career in physiotherapy can bring about immense mental satisfaction. Physiotherapists are qualified to perform a physical examination and conduct assessments to detect a diagnosis process. Students can pursue Physiotherapy courses to become physiotherapists. Individuals who opt for a career as a physiotherapist can also have their own clinic or they could attend to their patients by visiting them at their residence.
Quick Facts for Physiotherapist
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Industry
Healthcare
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Average Salary in India
₹27500
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Suitable for
Male, Female
The career as physiotherapist is considered to be a feminine profession. Although the female-dominated professions in health care are not as powerful as the male-dominated medical profession. Research also suggests that the key factor in shaping the discrepancies in pay, status, and power between medicine and female-dominated professions is gender.
Table of Contents for Physiotherapist
What is the role of Physiotherapist?
A physiotherapy career is a treatment to restore, maintain, and make the most of a patient's mobility, function, and well-being. Physiotherapy helps through physical rehabilitation, injury prevention, and health and fitness. In the career of a physiotherapist, professionals get you involved in your own recovery.
As a physiotherapist, one can work in nursing homes, hospitals, health centres, polyclinics, medical colleges, research institutions or even have their own practice. Read the complete article to know about how to become a physiotherapist after 10th and how to become a physiotherapist in AIIMS.
As a physiotherapist, it is important that a person has a full understanding of his or her patient’s medical history which includes an examination of strength, reflexes, sensation, movement patterns, and as well as pain patterns .
He or she formulates a treatment plan that should include personal information about the client, diagnosis, and the basic outline of the ongoing treatment.
He or she conducts complex mobilisation techniques that can help the patient correct his or her difficulty or disability in mobilising.
The role of physiotherapist is to assess trauma patients on how to walk again and get back to lead a normal life. They help the patients in recovering from deep wounds using plenty of different techniques including stretches, occupational therapies, and exercises.
A physiotherapist may refer his or her patients to doctors and other medical practitioners. Physiotherapists use many different techniques to help their patients in recovering from mental illness, if not fulfilled, they refer the patient to some other specialist.
A physiotherapist has to plan as well as organise physiotherapy and fitness programs. Physiotherapists have a lot of patients, they need to give space and time to every patient and plan things accordingly.
Types of a Physiotherapist
When it comes to a career as a physiotherapist, there are several options to choose from. Some of the Physiotherapist career options or types of Physiotherapist after physiotherapy degrees are mentioned below:
Musculoskeletal physiotherapist: A musculoskeletal physiotherapist is required to treat issues such as strains, sprains, back pain as well as posture problems. He or she is required to diagnose the patients with appropriate technical equipment and tests while proceeding with the treatment. He or she is responsible for managing the postoperative medication and ensuring the patients are not infected.
Cardiorespiratory physiotherapist: A cardiorespiratory physiotherapist is an individual whose therapy aims at preventing or improving the symptoms of conditions including asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other cardio-respiratory disorders. He or she is required to design, coordinate, and deliver an effective and efficient Physiotherapy Cardio-Respiratory Service, in collaboration with the other ward seniors, based on the assessment of needs.
Neurological physiotherapist: A neurological physiotherapist targets disorders affecting the nervous system, including Parkinson's, strokes, and brain injuries. He or she is required to provide physiotherapy input into the management of clients with highly complex needs, to monitor, evaluate, and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure the effectiveness of the intervention, to provide physiotherapy input into the comprehensive interdisciplinary assessment.
Geriatric physiotherapist: A geriatric physiotherapist is the one who focuses on the complex movement needs of older adults. He or she helps elderly patients achieve or maintain high levels of physical health as they age by focusing on problems such as arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, and joint soreness.
Paediatric physiotherapist: A paediatric physiotherapist is responsible for rehabilitating children after diseases or injuries. He or she is required to assess and treat infants, children, and teenagers with developmental, congenital, and neuromuscular disorders as well as those recovering from injury. He or she is responsible for treating children with poor coordination, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, autism, and many other diagnoses.
Sports physiotherapist: The physiotherapist works to reduce pain and reintroduce a range of movement after sports injuries. They perform all standard duties of a Sports Physiotherapist for outpatient care according to proper current ethical and industry standards. They also design and deliver tailored treatments and programs, including return-to-play preparation, exercise testing. Sports physiotherapists effectively communicate and collaborate with the rest of the team to ensure complete and quality treatment for each patient.
Women's health specialist: A Women's health specialist focuses on treating conditions related to the female reproductive system, childbirth, prenatal and postnatal care. He or she is responsible for expert treatment of complex medical diagnostics tests and services to both healthcare professionals as well as diverse laboratory customers. He or she utilises his or her healthcare knowledge to develop sales plans in order to achieve financial goals and business objectives.
Rehabilitation and pain management specialist: These physiotherapists are responsible for introducing exercises to reduce and manage pain following surgery, injury, or illness. Their major responsibilities include providing direct patient care, assessing the patient and gathering information about the patient’s medical history to help make a diagnosis about the cause of the pain. They assess the patient’s neurological status by assessing capabilities such as sensation, reflexes, balance, gait, muscle strength, and muscle tone.
What is the workplace/work environment of Physiotherapist like?
In a career as a physiotherapist, individuals work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centres, and private offices that have specially equipped facilities. An Individual who opts for a career as a physiotherapist has a physically demanding job because, often, he or she has to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for extended periods.
Does Physiotherapist require travelling?
Not Likely
In a career as a physiotherapist, individuals may or may not have to travel. It depends on who he or she works for. One may travel in order to meet client requirements but that’s not something that happens on a regular basis.
Employment Shifts
Full Time
It is a full-time job. In the career of physiotherapists, individuals may have to work on weekends or in the evenings depending on the patient’s requirements. Individuals who opt for a career as a physiotherapist need to be physically present with the patient in order to help them recover. So, there is no scope for working from home.
Employment Nature
Permanent
In a career as a physiotherapist, an individual's employment is permanent most of the time. However, in the case of a sports physiotherapist, the employment may be contractual in nature. Individuals in the career of a physiotherapist after gaining experience of a couple of years start working on their own and become their own bosses.
Presence in Geographical Area
Rural, Semi-urban, Urban
In ideal situations, in a career as a physiotherapist, one must be available in all kinds of geographical locations. But, they are majorly clustered in urban settings. The reason is higher pay as well as higher demand. There is still a significant number of physiotherapists in semi-urban locations but when it comes to rural areas there is hardly any presence. People do not want to work in rural settings because of lifestyle reasons as well as the pay is quite low.
Time Pressure
Likely
Time pressure is moderate in a career as a physiotherapist. Individuals who opt for a career as a physiotherapist work on weekends as well as in the evening hours. A lot of physiotherapists also do part-time work. In a career as a physiotherapist, individuals operate approximately forty-five hours a week while physiotherapists who are self-employed work more than this per week. So the time pressure for physiotherapists is more when working independently.
Overtime Details
In a career as a physiotherapist, individuals work about eight to nine hours per day and up to twelve hours when required. While several physiotherapists work independently, some individuals work for reputed companies or medical institutions as part of a team.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 36 Hours
Individuals who opt for a career as a physiotherapist generally work 36-38 hours per week, which may include evenings and weekends. As a physiotherapist, one will be based in a hospital or healthcare centre or if he or she is a solo practitioner then the work hours depend on client requirements. As a sports physiotherapist, one will often work at the weekends, when sports fixtures are on.
How to become a Physiotherapist?
Steps to become a Physiotherapist
If you are someone interested in improving the health and quality of life of others through various exercises or hands-on care or educating them about the same. In that case, a career as a Physiotherapist is one of the best career options for you. We have mentioned below the steps for how to become a Physiotherapist. Read the complete article to know What is a Physiotherapist and how to become a Physiotherapist in India or how to become a Physiotherapist after 12th in India.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Physiotherapist?
Do you want to know what the physiotherapist's requirements are? So, in this section, we will be answering the most commonly asked question that how to become a physiotherapist. In order to make a career as a physiotherapist one must possess some skills. Some skills that are important for a physiotherapy career are mentioned below:
Communication Skills: In order to have a career as a physiotherapist, one must be able to communicate well. Physiotherapists need to give clear instructions and form trusting relationships with patients to encourage them to work towards recovery. They may also need to explain complex medical issues in ways that patients can easily understand. They also have to communicate clearly with other healthcare workers, relatives, and careers.
Teamwork: Effective teamwork skills are particularly important to involve supporting and encouraging, convincing, collaborating freely and voluntarily, becoming an active participant, being versatile, and showing dedication in a career as a physiotherapist. Individuals who opt for a career as a physiotherapist will have to work with healthcare professionals who belong to other fields such as doctors, nurses as well as occupational therapists.
Time Management: The purpose of time management is to have ample opportunity for therapists to treat patients, enhance the functioning of the clinic and physiotherapy services and attend to several other activities that would have been profitable to the profession. They need to keep track of appointments. Individuals in their career as physiotherapists also need to effectively document each patient’s target and progress.
Problem-Solving Ability: The ability to adapt and problem recognition have always been components of the problem-solving skills which a physiotherapist needs to ensure that patients are treated in a proper way. An aspiring physiotherapist must have problem-solving abilities. In a career as a physiotherapist, individuals will need to use their knowledge to develop treatment plans and exercises to best improve patients' health.
Patience: Many patients who would go to a physiotherapist for therapy must be aware of the fact that it is a long process which implies that it requires patience for both the patients and the physiotherapist. Individuals who opt for a career as a physiotherapist must be patient with their patients. Not all of them will recover according to the plan.
Physical Strength: The physical therapist also makes use of the muscle strength rating scale to identify how well a muscle or group of muscles functions. Many of these tests can measure motion, posture, stability, flexibility, endurance, and energy even for all of these. A physiotherapy career often involves physical work and a physiotherapist will need to lead by example by living a healthy lifestyle and keeping fit.
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Physiotherapist?
Along with the degree requirement one must have a strong foundation on physiotherapist principles to work effectively in this profession. We have mentioned below various certifications that Physiotherapists can opt to upgrade their skills.
Internship Availability
An internship is an integral part of the physiotherapy career. It helps the individual in having practical work experience. A physiotherapist intern performs routine physical therapy treatments according to patient treatment plans under the direction of a licensed physical therapist. A physical therapist intern evaluates and treats patients with a wide variety of disabilities in-patient as well as out-patient settings.
The internship is compulsory in the physiotherapy career. It is six months long in duration. It is followed by a bachelor’s in Physiotherapy. An internship helps in making contacts in the industry. One can find relevant internships by exploring different prominent websites like indeed, naukri, and linkedin.
Physiotherapist Jobs and Salaries
Junior Physiotherapist
- Average Salary 23000
Job Description
The Junior Physiotherapist job description includes helping people to restore their physical abilities to move or do daily tasks. A Junior Physiotherapist assesses, examines the patients and checks their history and writes the reports or records of the current treatment.
Salary Description
An entry-level Physiotherapist's salary in India ranges between Rs 0.2 Lakhs to Rs 4.4 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 2.8 Lakhs per annum. Junior Physiotherapist salary in India may vary depending on the various job factors like skills and experience of the candidates, job location, and others.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
Senior Physiotherapist
- Average Salary 32000
Job Description
The Senior Physiotherapist's job description includes examining the patients and designing the treatment plans and provides treatment accordingly. A Senior Physiotherapist suggests excerise to the patients, educates the prevention of injuries and a healthy lifestyle, and refers them to other doctors or medical practioners if required.
Salary Description
The estimated Physiotherapist salary in India ranges from Rs 1.6 Lakhs to Rs 9.6 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 3.9 Lakhs per annum. Senior Physiotherapist salary may vary depending on the various job factors.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
What is the job outlook for Physiotherapist?
As various health centres, fitness centres, wellness centres, and spas are coming up in a big way, the prospects of a physiotherapy career path seem positive. Major recruiters are hospitals that try to offer alternative medical services and physiotherapy careers. Candidates with excellent research skills can opt for research and development works in various pharmaceutical companies and institutional laboratories.
Aspirants willing to opt for teaching have the option of teaching at various universities abroad. Then there are schools for mentally retarded and physically disabled children, defence medical establishments, and rehabilitation centres for the handicapped which offer attractive venues for Indian students with a qualification in physiotherapy degree.
Frequently Asked Questions for Physiotherapist
Que. What are the best colleges to make a career as physiotherapist?
Ans.The best colleges to make a career as a physiotherapist are: Christian medical college - [CMC], Vellore, Madras medical college - [MMC], Chennai, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Seth GS medical college - [GSMC], Mumbai, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research - [IPGMER], Kolkata, Manipal University - [MU], Manipal, Hamdard Institute of medical sciences and research - [HIMSR], New Delhi.
Que. How to become physiotherapist in indian army?
Ans.To become a Physiotherapist you can apply for the job position to the vacancies or advertisement for defence recruitment in employment newspaper or on the job portals. Write a CDS exam.
Que. Can a physiotherapist diagnose?
Ans.Diagnosis. Both physiotherapists and doctors are able to diagnose your injury. Like doctors, physiotherapists are “first contact” practitioners so they do not need a referral from a doctor in order to examine, diagnose and treat injuries.
Que. What is the future of physiotherapy?
Ans.There is a very good scope in physiotherapy in the upcoming years. The physiotherapy career path can lead to a variety of interesting and challenging jobs in the healthcare system. In career as physiotherapist, individuals get specialisations in the areas such as Pediatrics, geriatrics, neurology, cardiorespiratory, and Orthopedics.
Que. Which country is best for a physiotherapist?
Ans.The demand has increased significantly over the years, but when it comes to the best country for Physiotherapists, the answer is arguably the 'Land of Endless Opportunities', Canada.
Que. What is the work of physiotherapist?
Ans.A physiotherapy career is a treatment to restore, maintain, and make the most of a patient's mobility, function, and well-being. Physiotherapy helps through physical rehabilitation, injury prevention, and health and fitness. In the career of a physiotherapist, professionals get you involved in your own recovery.
Que. What is a Physiotherapist?
Ans.A Physiotherapist helps to heal people who are affected by injury, illness or disability through exercise, therapies and evaluates the balance in neurologically affected patients and trains wheelchairs and gait.
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Questions related to Physiotherapist
name the book for BPT 1st year students for the subject pharmacology . Which would be better among these three books k.d tripathi or padmaja udaykumar or kk sharma . Want a book with easy language and good content for exams .
Hello aspirant!
For studying pharmacology the best book you can go for is kd tripati.
The book has a better and easy understandable content which you can refer easily and grasp it accordingly.
Thank you!
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