Physiotherapy is essential for maintaining health and well-being. The role of the profession has also changed over time, with the importance of rehabilitation and prevention being highlighted more than ever.
However, despite this, physiotherapy remains an essential part of any treatment plan. Find out what you need to know about the different roles that can play in your life.
What Is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is the treatment of abnormal or dysfunctional movement due to disease or disuse. It can also refer to the use of techniques to overcome these causes.
Some people may find that they are more suited to one type of physiotherapy than another. This is called trainability and is influenced by the number of years in training, experience, and also the availability of training facilities and practitioners.
There are many types of physiotherapy and each has different goals. Depending on the patient’s goals and needs, physical therapy can be divided into occupational, recreational, and medical subcategories. A physical trainer has to learn all types of methodologies so they can help their patients in all aspects. Now there is physical therapy shadowing program where students can connect with healthcare professionals online.
What is the Difference Between Vocational and Academic Rehabilitation?
Most people have heard of vocational or academic rehabilitation, but what exactly is it and why is it beneficial? Vocational rehabilitation is designed to improve skills and knowledge so that the individual can find successful employment or further their education. Individualized training or programming is used to address the needs of each patient.
This can be based on age, skill level, and ability. Most services are designed to help people with work-related challenges achieve a healthy and safe work environment. Some programs also incorporate training to improve communication and reading skills, as well as math and science skills.
What Do Rehabilitationists Do?
When people think of rehabilitation, they usually imagine a facility where people go to be fixed. However, rehabilitation can also be practiced at home, in a clinic, or at a specialized facility. When people participate in rehabilitation, they are aiming to:
- Reduce pain and increase mobility
- Improve the quality of life
- Increase independence
- Help prevent diseases
- Treat illness
- Change behaviors/attitudes
- Improve school performance
- Overcome obstacles
Rehabilitation and Health Disparities
Despite its importance, physiotherapy is under-appreciated and under-recognized. This is due in large part to the fact that the field of rehabilitation is often categorized under the broader field of health promotion.
The most popular of these is physical fitness, which is used to target a wide range of issues including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Audiences also tend to focus on negative aspects of the field, such as the costs of treatments, rather than its benefits.
Furthermore, people often have misconceptions about physiotherapy, both in relation to its role in illness prevention and in relation to rehabilitation. For example, many people believe that physiotherapy is for children only, or that it only concerns children with mobility and sensory issues.
How to Become a Physiotherapist
To become a physiotherapist, you’ll need to complete an undergraduate degree with a Bachelor of Science in physical therapy or a related field. You’ll also need to complete a postgraduate course, such as a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy.
Some specialty programs, such as physical and occupational therapy, may require additional study and certification before they’re allowed to issue a physiotherapy degree. You’ll also need to pass rigorous national and/or international exams, as well as a state-specific certification and licensure process.
Physiotherapy Careers: Top Tips for Success
While you may be excited to start your career in this exciting new profession, it’s important to remember that it’s not an immediate or easy path to success. To have a chance at success, you’ll need to work hard, be persistent, and be able to adapt to change. These are some of the top tips that successful physiotherapists have discovered:
Find a mentor – Mentor-mentee relationships are key to success in this profession. Having a colleague who you can lean on as you pursue your career can be invaluable.
Keep learning – new skills, techniques, and concepts are essential to success in this field. It can be easy to get discouraged when you’re new to the game, but it’s important to persevere.
Be patient – It can take time to learn new skills and gain confidence in yourself. It’s also important to be patient when you’re learning new skills, as you’ll likely grow frustrated at times.
Key Takeaways
Physical therapy is the treatment of patients who have injuries, diseases, or deformities that prevent them from being able to perform activities that once caused them pain. People who participate in physical therapy have different types of injuries, including burns, sprains, strains, muscle spasms, and more. Physical therapy can also refer to the use of techniques to overcome these causes. Some of the different roles that physical therapy can play in a patient’s life include:
Rehabilitation: The process of helping patients get the most out of their limited resources by correcting faulty movement and making healthy choices
Preventive Care: The practice of managing risk for disease so that it is limited to the point of being negligible
Medical: The use of manual or mechanical manipulation or intervention to treat disease or improve function
Quality of Life: The ability to function independently, participate in social activities, and maintain a healthy weight
