Bachelors in Physiotherapy (Physical Therapy)
In addition to clinical practice in Physical Therapy , other activities encompassed in the physical therapy profession include research, education, consultation, and administration. Definitions and licensing requirements in the United States vary among jurisdictions, as each state has enacted its own physical therapy practice act defining the profession within its jurisdiction, but the American Physical Therapy Association (A P T A) has also drafted a model definition in order to limit this variation, and the A P T A is also responsible for accrediting physical therapy education curricula throughout the United States of America. In many settings, physical therapy services may be provided alongside, or in conjunction with, other medical or rehabilitation services.
Trends :
There are several new goals and modifications to existing physical therapy trends that have been proposed by American Physical Therapy Association (A P T A) under its Vision 2020 strategy.
For instance, one of the tenets of Vision 2020 is autonomous practice. The A P T A Board has said that autonomous practice applies to all physical therapists regardless of their practice setting or business arrangement. Autonomous practice means that a physical therapist is entitled to independent and professional judgment within the scope of her practice and in the patient’s best interest. The therapist has to take responsibility and accept the risks for all aspects of physical therapy patient management. Physical therapists have the right to collaborate with other health care providers to provide value-additions to the services to their clients. At the same time, they are committed to using the best available scientific evidence for client management. All therapists need to adhere to applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
A P T A has issued specific guidelines relating to the physical therapy trends of ‘telehealth’. “Telehealth” is defined as the “use of electronic communication to provide and deliver a host of health-related information and health care services, including, but not limited to, physical therapy-related information and services over large and small distances”. In this definition, examples of electronic communication include text messaging, e-mailing, faxing, using such devices as cell phones, fax machines, and the Internet.
As per the directives, services provided via telehealth must adhere to the basics of professional health care in accordance with APTA standards. They must also ensure that the patient is as safe as she would have been if the physical therapist had been there to advise her in person.
A P T A plans to post resources on their website for members to understand the various aspects of telehealth for physical therapy. Women’s heath has been voted as a specialty area for physical therapy by the A P T A Board. These physical therapy trends have major implications for setting up physical therapy clinics specifically catering to women.
The A P T A Board has made every physical therapist responsible for contributing patient data to support that she practices physical therapy. The data should be collected in such a way that it can be collectively analyzed when required.
Each of these goals will definitely impact physical therapy businesses in making them more evidence-based. Each of these physical therapy trends will help to make physical therapy as a practice, more independent and autonomous.
Skill Required :
- social skills.
- patience.
- genuine interest in people.
- good health.
- physically fit.
Personal Qualities :
Therapists require good communication skills to establish and maintain helping relationships with patients and their caregivers. These skills also enable them to work effectively with the healthcare team. Resourcefulness, compassion and patience are the other qualities that are essential in this professional healthcare area.
Scope
Higher studies: The completion of B P T opens up multiple avenues for further studies / UG students are eligible for Masters in Physiotherapy in India and abroad. The Masters students are eligible to complete their Doctorate. Students can also pursue varied streams like M.Sc Anatomy, Physiology, Hospital Administration, PG Diploma in Sports Science. For Practice of physiotherapy in India, first contact and referral is possible. The Investment needed to set up basic Physiotherapy clinic is meager but has a very huge potential which would enable the professional to lead a comfortable life. The course is recognized by various international credentialing agencies, which makes the students competent to work in countries abroad.
Courses Offered :
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy (B.P.T).
- Master of Physiotherapy (M.P.T).
- Post Graduate Certificate Course in Sports Physiotherapy (P.G.C.S.P).
Subject / Syllabus :
Physiotherapy is an allied health care profession and physiotherapists themselves are concerned with human function and movement. Physical approaches are used to prevent and treat many disabilities and diseases, but physiotherapy can also be used to help people gain strength and mobility after an illness or hospital stay.
Physiotherapy has it roots in ancient times. The Chinese in around 2500BC used massage as a treatment and Hippocrates described massage and hydrotherapy in 460BC. Since then the list of conditions that physiotherapy can have a part to play in their treatment has grown and grown. The modern practice of physiotherapy is thought to have come into being during the nineteenth century with the overseeing professional body, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy being set up in 1920.
Physiotherapy is now used to treat conditions such as asthma, back pain, cerebral palsy, tinnitus, heart disease, osteoarthritis, mental health, strokes and ulcers. Some of these may seem a little unusual but physiotherapy can be broken down into different areas such as cardiovascular and respiratory physiotherapy, musculoskeletal physiotherapy and neurological physiotherapy so may ‘systems’ in the body can be treated.
Eligibility & Admission Process :
Should have passed Senior Secondary (12th Standard / Intermediate) examination with Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Mathematics from Central Board of Secondary Education or any other examination recognized by R G U H S as equivalent.
Students with a science background can opt for a career in physiotherapy. To become a practicing physiotherapist or be employed as a professional in a hospital or clinic, one should have a B.Sc. degree . One could also go in for post-graduation.
The basic eligibility for courses in physiotherapy is 10+2 passed or equivalent examination with physics, chemistry, biology and English. At least 50% of marks should be secured in each of these subjects. Age limit for the candidates is 17 years.
Lateral Entry
Candidates who have secured a diploma in Physiotherapy from a board recognized by the Government or any other equivalent authority can gain entry to second year of the course.
Selection Process
The admission to institutes is through entrance examination. There is a Common Entrance Test (CET) for the course in Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT). Admission is based mainly on CET scores.
Academic Year Commencement
August – September.
Course Duration
4 yrs & 6 months.
Colleges :
- Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Institute for Physically Handicapped.
- School of Physiotherapy, S S G Hospital.
- Apollo College of Physiotherapy.
- Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences.
- Indian Institute of Health Education & Research.
- Patna Medical College.
- Amar Jyoti Institute of Physiotherapy.
- National Institute of Health Education & Research.
- National Institute of Physiotherapy & Communication Disorders.
Job Prospects & Salaries :
Employment opportunities for physiotherapists are tremendous as it is a career where the demand exceeds supply. A physiotherapist could be employed in the rehabilitation departments, municipal corporations and private bodies. Their demand in medical institutions is increasing since physiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of patients with muscular and cerebral problems. Like all other medical and paramedical professionals, physiotherapists can work in hospitals, orthopedic departments, rehabilitation centers for the handicapped, schools for the mentally retarded and physically disabled children, health institutions and defense medical establishments. Physiotherapists can also opt for teaching, while those with adequate capital can establish private clinics of their own.
The demand for physiotherapists in the country as well as abroad is immense. They are in great demand in USA, Canada and Australia.
Remuneration :
The initial remuneration of physiotherapists in government hospitals varies between Rs. 5000 to 7000. But the private hospitals offer a relatively better package. Most well-run private hospitals offer a starting salary around Rs 9,500 which could go up to Rs 12,000 per month. The remuneration for established private practitioners can be almost Rs 20,000 to 40,000 per month.
Some hospitals also pay the physiotherapists according to the number of patients he/she sees. Most physiotherapists, after gaining an experience of around could start their own practices, in which case, they charge according to the number of hours given to individual patients, usually around Rs. 500 to 800 per sitting.
To Employers :
The majority of physiotherapists in the UK are employed within acute and primary care trusts of The National Health Service (NHS) .
Other opportunities exist in local authorities and the private sector such as:
- private hospitals.
- GP practices and health centers.
- schools and children’s centers.
- residential homes and day centers for elderly people.
- charities and voluntary organisations, particularly those serving people with disabilities.
- sports clinics, professional sports clubs, gyms and leisure centers.
- the armed services.
Some physiotherapists work in a variety of settings. For example, they might work part time at a sports injury clinic and have another part-time post with an N.H.S or private hospital.
