<p>How about a career which is built around helping patients restore their body functions through physical interventions? Physiotherapy, which deals with these techniques, is a flourishing career option these days, basically because of increasing awareness about its benefits. <br /><br />It is, in fact, a science that seeks to improve movement dysfunction and functions of the body. It involves assessment, maintenance and restoration of the physical function and is generally meant for people with degenerative disorders, the physically challenged and the sportsmen.<br /><br />Areas of practice in Physiotherapy<br /><br />There are many areas where professionals can practice and they are:<br /><br />Sports Physiotherapy: This is one of the most demanding specialisations concerned with sports-related injury, maintenance of fitness as well as improvement of sports strategy. Sports physio-therapists are in great demand in countries like the US, Canada and Australia.<br /><br />This specialisation covers topics related to sports, muscu-loskeletal, kinesiology and biomechanics, emphasising on special techniques like sports taping and splinting, and on-field management of injury.<br /><br />Musculoskeletal Physio-therapy (Orthopaedics): This is the most common area of specialisation, concerned with muscles, bones and joints. It involves treating acute or chronic conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, spasms, sprains, strains and tendonitis, and improved rehabilitation following injury or surgery. <br /><br />Orthopaedic physiotherapists diagnose, manage and treat disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system as well as rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgery. Joint mobilisations, strength training, hot/cold packs, wax bath, electrotherapy modalities like electrical stimulation, ultrasound, IFT, TENS, SWD are often used to expedite recovery in the orthopedic setting.<br /><br />Cardiopulmonary Physio-therapy: This area of specialisation is concerned mainly with the function of the cardiorespiratory system. Primary goals of this specialty include increasing endurance and functional independence. Manual therapy and nebulisers are utilised in this field to assist in clearing lung secretions experienced with various cardio-respiratory disorders. Cardiothoracic physio-therapists mainly work in hospitals or rehabilitation clinics, treating patients with chronic obstructive diseases of the airways (such as asthma, chronic bronchitis). <br /><br />Neurological Physiotherapy: These therapists assess the impact of neurological conditions and neurological trauma on patients’ normal bodily functions and movements. Common symptoms of neurological disorders include paralysis, vision impairment, poor balance, inability to ambulate, and loss of functional independence. Therapists work to improve these areas of dysfunction.<br /><br />Geriatric Physiotherapy: It is usually focused on elders. There are many conditions that affect people as they grow older and they include arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, hip and joint replacement, balance disorders, incontinence, etc. <br />Pediatric Physiotherapy: These therapists are specialised in the diagnosis, treatment and management of infants, children, and adolescents with a variety of congenital, developmental, neuro-muscular, skeletal, or acquired disorders/diseases. <br /><br />Academic background<br />The minimum qualification required for the Bachelor’s course is a 10+2 in the Science stream followed by the relevant state entrance exam which is common for MBBS as well as Physiotherapy.<br /><br />In India, several kinds of courses are available with different durations: <br /><br />* Diploma in Physiotherapy (DPT) of two-and-a-half years’ duration<br /><br />*Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) of four-and-a-half years’ duration<br /><br />*Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) of two years’ duration <br /><br />*PhD in Physiotherapy of three years’ duration <br /><br />The Bachelor’s degree program in Physiotherapy includes some major subjects like anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, medicine, orthopedics, neurology, pathology, psychology, biomechanics, exercise therapy and electrotherapy.<br /><br />Colleges offering courses in Physiotherapy For Bachelor’s and Master’s degree:<br /><br />*Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and Allied Sciences, New Delhi<br /><br />*Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Jamia Hamdar University, New Delhi<br /><br />*Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Ahmedanagar, Maharashtra<br /><br />*Dr D Y Patil University, Pune<br /><br />*K J Somaiya College of Physiotherapy, Mumbai <br /><br />*Garden City College of Physiotherapy, Bengaluru<br /><br />*Kempegowda Institute of Physiotherapy, Bengaluru.<br /><br />Career avenues <br /><br />A therapist can work:<br /><br />*As an independent therapist in a clinic<br /><br />*In an hospital set-up with a team <br /><br />*In physiotherapy/ rehabilitation clinics<br /><br />* In NGOs for differently abled children <br /><br />* In nursing homes<br /><br />*In gyms and spas/ fitness centres<br /><br />* As corporate counsellors/ ergonomic advisors in MNCs<br /><br />Treatment/ Management<br /><br />Plan treatment programmes which include education, to restore movement and reduce pain. Provide individualised treatment of an injury or disability based on scientific knowledge, a thorough assessment of the condition, environmental factors and lifestyle.<br />Provide treatment which can include an individualised exercise programme, manual therapy, modalities, as well as patient and family education and home exercise prescription.<br /><br />Education/ Advocacy: Educate to restore movement and reduce pain. Promote independence and facilitate patients assuming responsibility for their rehabilitation and self-care.<br /><br />Career growth<br /><br />Career growth in this field depends on experience and how it can be applied for treatment. To begin with, the remuneration is around 4-5 lakh per annum.<br />According to Dr Priya Dewnani, a Mumbai-based physiotherapist, “Value addition comes in at a much later stage and after years of experience. <br /><br />After therapists decide which line of specialisation is best suited for them, they can go ahead and do super specialisation and certification in that domain. Physiotherapists must continue to update their skills through continuous learning and by attending seminars and workshops on the subject.”<br /><br />Physiotherapists can diversify in their domain in other alternative treatments like Accupuncture, Accu-pressure and Pilates, giving combined services to their patients for better results.</p>
<p>How about a career which is built around helping patients restore their body functions through physical interventions? Physiotherapy, which deals with these techniques, is a flourishing career option these days, basically because of increasing awareness about its benefits. <br /><br />It is, in fact, a science that seeks to improve movement dysfunction and functions of the body. It involves assessment, maintenance and restoration of the physical function and is generally meant for people with degenerative disorders, the physically challenged and the sportsmen.<br /><br />Areas of practice in Physiotherapy<br /><br />There are many areas where professionals can practice and they are:<br /><br />Sports Physiotherapy: This is one of the most demanding specialisations concerned with sports-related injury, maintenance of fitness as well as improvement of sports strategy. Sports physio-therapists are in great demand in countries like the US, Canada and Australia.<br /><br />This specialisation covers topics related to sports, muscu-loskeletal, kinesiology and biomechanics, emphasising on special techniques like sports taping and splinting, and on-field management of injury.<br /><br />Musculoskeletal Physio-therapy (Orthopaedics): This is the most common area of specialisation, concerned with muscles, bones and joints. It involves treating acute or chronic conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, spasms, sprains, strains and tendonitis, and improved rehabilitation following injury or surgery. <br /><br />Orthopaedic physiotherapists diagnose, manage and treat disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system as well as rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgery. Joint mobilisations, strength training, hot/cold packs, wax bath, electrotherapy modalities like electrical stimulation, ultrasound, IFT, TENS, SWD are often used to expedite recovery in the orthopedic setting.<br /><br />Cardiopulmonary Physio-therapy: This area of specialisation is concerned mainly with the function of the cardiorespiratory system. Primary goals of this specialty include increasing endurance and functional independence. Manual therapy and nebulisers are utilised in this field to assist in clearing lung secretions experienced with various cardio-respiratory disorders. Cardiothoracic physio-therapists mainly work in hospitals or rehabilitation clinics, treating patients with chronic obstructive diseases of the airways (such as asthma, chronic bronchitis). <br /><br />Neurological Physiotherapy: These therapists assess the impact of neurological conditions and neurological trauma on patients’ normal bodily functions and movements. Common symptoms of neurological disorders include paralysis, vision impairment, poor balance, inability to ambulate, and loss of functional independence. Therapists work to improve these areas of dysfunction.<br /><br />Geriatric Physiotherapy: It is usually focused on elders. There are many conditions that affect people as they grow older and they include arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, hip and joint replacement, balance disorders, incontinence, etc. <br />Pediatric Physiotherapy: These therapists are specialised in the diagnosis, treatment and management of infants, children, and adolescents with a variety of congenital, developmental, neuro-muscular, skeletal, or acquired disorders/diseases. <br /><br />Academic background<br />The minimum qualification required for the Bachelor’s course is a 10+2 in the Science stream followed by the relevant state entrance exam which is common for MBBS as well as Physiotherapy.<br /><br />In India, several kinds of courses are available with different durations: <br /><br />* Diploma in Physiotherapy (DPT) of two-and-a-half years’ duration<br /><br />*Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) of four-and-a-half years’ duration<br /><br />*Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) of two years’ duration <br /><br />*PhD in Physiotherapy of three years’ duration <br /><br />The Bachelor’s degree program in Physiotherapy includes some major subjects like anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, medicine, orthopedics, neurology, pathology, psychology, biomechanics, exercise therapy and electrotherapy.<br /><br />Colleges offering courses in Physiotherapy For Bachelor’s and Master’s degree:<br /><br />*Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and Allied Sciences, New Delhi<br /><br />*Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Jamia Hamdar University, New Delhi<br /><br />*Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Ahmedanagar, Maharashtra<br /><br />*Dr D Y Patil University, Pune<br /><br />*K J Somaiya College of Physiotherapy, Mumbai <br /><br />*Garden City College of Physiotherapy, Bengaluru<br /><br />*Kempegowda Institute of Physiotherapy, Bengaluru.<br /><br />Career avenues <br /><br />A therapist can work:<br /><br />*As an independent therapist in a clinic<br /><br />*In an hospital set-up with a team <br /><br />*In physiotherapy/ rehabilitation clinics<br /><br />* In NGOs for differently abled children <br /><br />* In nursing homes<br /><br />*In gyms and spas/ fitness centres<br /><br />* As corporate counsellors/ ergonomic advisors in MNCs<br /><br />Treatment/ Management<br /><br />Plan treatment programmes which include education, to restore movement and reduce pain. Provide individualised treatment of an injury or disability based on scientific knowledge, a thorough assessment of the condition, environmental factors and lifestyle.<br />Provide treatment which can include an individualised exercise programme, manual therapy, modalities, as well as patient and family education and home exercise prescription.<br /><br />Education/ Advocacy: Educate to restore movement and reduce pain. Promote independence and facilitate patients assuming responsibility for their rehabilitation and self-care.<br /><br />Career growth<br /><br />Career growth in this field depends on experience and how it can be applied for treatment. To begin with, the remuneration is around 4-5 lakh per annum.<br />According to Dr Priya Dewnani, a Mumbai-based physiotherapist, “Value addition comes in at a much later stage and after years of experience. <br /><br />After therapists decide which line of specialisation is best suited for them, they can go ahead and do super specialisation and certification in that domain. Physiotherapists must continue to update their skills through continuous learning and by attending seminars and workshops on the subject.”<br /><br />Physiotherapists can diversify in their domain in other alternative treatments like Accupuncture, Accu-pressure and Pilates, giving combined services to their patients for better results.</p>
