Physiotherapist as a Career Option

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Physiotherapy is a medical treatment for problems of the joints, muscles, or nerves, which involves doing exercises or having part of your body massaged or warmed.

Physiotherapy has become one of the top-rated health restoring activity these days and even conventional doctors, mostly orthopaedics, seek the assistance of the physiotherapists to speed up the healing process of a patient. Physiotherapy can be an ideal career for people who are interested in health and healing, however, do not want to pursue heavy courses like MBBS.

What is the role of a Physiotherapist?

Yesterday while playing football in the rain, my opponent accidentally kicked me from the back while I was trying to score a goal. I fell on my face and felt an excruciating pain erupting from my right knee. I was immediately taken to a doctor, upon examining it was found that my knee got dislocated. I was advised to reduce my corporal actions and visit a Physiotherapist regularly until I recover.

A physiotherapist rehabilitates patients by helping them enhance their physical development. They treat individuals who are harmed or crippled to recoup full capacity and development. It requires an in-depth anatomical and musculoskeletal knowledge to bring about a cure in the patient.

How can you become a Physiotherapist?

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) is a 4-year undergraduate course, including compulsory 6 months of clinical internship, and involving the science of physical movement aimed at preventing disease and disability.

Eligibility for admission: Candidates over 17 years of age are eligible to apply. The candidate must have passed 10+2, A Level, IB, American 12th Grade or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, English and Biology with a minimum of 50% marks taken together in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Duration: 4 years 6 months inclusive of 6 months of compulsory internship.

Physiotherapy colleges generally offer the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT). Hospitals prefer BPT graduates to B.Sc. graduates for this field; the former is a more in-depth and pertinent course. A one-year Diploma in Physiotherapy (DPT) will also grant access to BPT physiotherapy courses. Further studies involve the two-year Master of Physiotherapy (MPT).

Top 10 Institutes in India for pursuing a course in Physiotherapy-

1. Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore

1. Madras Medical College (MMC), Chennai

1. Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai

1. Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College (LTMMC), Mumbai

1. Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER), Kolkata  

1. Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur  

1. Topiwala National Medical College (TNMC), Mumbai

1. PT Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMES), Rohtak

1. M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore

1. Maharajah’s Institute of Medical Science, Vizianagaram

Some of the important topics that are covered in the 4-year term of the course are Anatomy, Physiology, Clinical Biochemistry, General Psychology, Basic Nursing & First Aid, Ethics in physiotherapy practice, Biomechanics & Kinesiology, Exercise therapy, Electrotherapy, Medical Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology etc. along with a plethora of practical sessions.

Career Scope

Physiotherapy is getting very popular these days and it offers a larger scope in the career. There is a very high demand for a good therapist.

Physiotherapist are commonly employed in-

• Sports Injury centres

• Rehabilitation centres

• Hospitals and Nursing homes

• Fitness centres

• Mental Health centres,

• Community Health Centres

• Defence establishments

• Teaching establishments

Apart from these a Physiotherapist can start their own clinic and offer his or her services.

A Day in the life of a Physiotherapist

I am Naina Upreti, a Physiotherapist and run my at Greenpark, Delhi, here I will provide you with brief detail on what my work entails.

@6:15 AM- I wake up and after drinking a few glasses of water, get ready for some jogging and yoga. I visit the nearby Deer Park and spend about 1 hour and return home to resume with the business of the day. Maintaining physical fitness is very must for every therapist, as our fitness can bring motivation in our clients and we need to be agile and flexible to do our work properly.

@9:00 AM- After finishing with breakfast and other morning chores, I leave for work.

@9:15 AM- I have reached my clinic and my assistant is already ready with the list of appointments for today. Most of my clients are of the middle and old age group who have mobility issues due to varying reasons, but most commonly accident or fracture-related issues.

@10:00 AM- My first client Mr Vinod arrives, he is in his 60’s and had a knee operation a decade ago due to a car accident, however, the operation has left behind certain complications plus he is obese.

Since the issue is bit critical and he cannot do much of the physical exercises, I am using Electrical stimulation and TENS (transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation) to reduce pain around injured tissue on his knee.

After 20 mins he feels quite a lot better and I suggested him to visit daily till he recovers.

Much of the day goes this way treating patients recuperating from injury and accidents or young sportsmen who have got injured in the field.

People from all walks of life come to the clinic to get treated. Most of the critical treatments are take care by me, however, I have two interns and one junior assistant who takes care of the rest.

@8:00 PM- I close the clinic and leave for home.

This is how my day ends and it is similar for most of the Physiotherapist who runs their own clinics. This is a very noble profession as help someone to live a normal life after having fatally injured due to an untoward incident.