How to be a Successful Physiotherapist

Physiotherapy is a type of ancient treatment for pain and movement disorders that occur due to injury and operation. It demands a thorough understanding of body posture, balance, and movement.

Who are Physiotherapists?

Physiotherapists are skilled professionals who rehabilitate and improve the physical well beings of the patients suffering from back pain, joint pain, spinal problems, and other physical dysfunctions. The job of the physiotherapists urges them to attend the problems of the patients through certain exercise, massage and techniques. Thus, they help patients suffering from physical problems due to injury, disease, illness, and ageing to live a normal life. Their methods of treatment not only alleviate pain but also restore the function of different body parts and retain their agility. Again, in case of permanent injury or disease, the physiotherapists’ task is to lessen the effects of dysfunction of any body part.

Courses to Pursue to be a Physiotherapist

To be a successful physiotherapist, one needs to pursue the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in physiotherapy. These courses are known as Bachelor’s in Physiotherapy (BPT) and Masters in Physiotherapy (MPT). Besides, there are doctoral programmes in physiotherapy too. Some candidates also pursue Diploma in Physiotherapy (DPT).

Eligibility Criteria to be a Physiotherapist

To pursue the undergraduate programme in Physiotherapy, the candidates are required to pass 10+2 board examination securing 50% marks in aggregate with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as subjects. Further, for admission to a college to study four and a half years’ BPT programme, they would have to sit for Common Entrance Test (CET) and All India Medical Entrance Examination (AIMEE). Some medical Universities and unaided medical colleges conduct their own entrance examinations for BPT programmes.

To do specialization in physiotherapy, the candidates may pursue MPT. So, to pursue two years’ postgraduate programme in Physiotherapy, the candidates would require to complete BPT from any recognised university. They further, need to appear for CET, JIPMER and GGS Indraprastha University Examination.

Here, we have endeavoured to present the entrance examination to pursue physiotherapy and the eligibility criteria:

Name of the course	Name of the Examination	Eligibility
BPT	CET, AIMEE	Passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as subjects and 50% marks in the aggregate
MPT	CET, JIPMER, GGS Indraprastha University	Completed BPT from a recognised university under Indian Association of Physiotherapy

However, to secure a berth in a reputed college, the candidates must score good marks in the entrance examination.

Physiotherapy Course Content

While pursuing BPT, the candidates acquire in-depth knowledge of human anatomy and special functions of the human body part. They have to undergo extensive practical classes to sharpen their skills and knowledge. We have listed down the Bachelor of Physiotherapy course content below:

• Anatomy
• Cytology
• Medical Conditions of the Human body
• Injuries and Surgery Condition
• Training on the procedures of therapy
• Pharmacology
• Pathology
• Disability prevention and rehabilitation

At the end of four years’ course, the students undergo six months’ internship programmes also.

MPT is a specialized programme that focuses on different branches of Physiotherapy. During the postgraduate programme, the students can pursue Orthopaedic Physiotherapy, Neurological Physiotherapy, Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy, Paediatric Physiotherapy, Obstetric Physiotherapy, Sports Physiotherapy, Geriatric Physiotherapist, and Physiotherapy in Hand Condition.

After completing the course, the students must obtain their professional certificate from the registered organization, so that they can carry on with their practice successfully.

Functions of a Physiotherapist

The first and foremost job of a physiotherapist is to identify the problem and then tailor particular therapies to attend the problem. The treatment varies from patient to patient. So the physiotherapist must be very careful in selecting therapies for the patients. While carrying out a thorough check up, he must test the muscle function, strength, joint flexibility, the range of motion, balance and coordination, motor function, and postures of the patient. Then he makes the diagnosis and carries on with the therapeutic procedures. A physiotherapist generally uses these following methods for treatment:

• Massage to ease soft tissue pain
• Mobilization or manipulation of joints
• Exercises to strengthen weak areas
• Use Cold to reduce inflammation
• Use Heat to increase circulation
• Ultrasound therapy to ease muscle spasms
• Electrical stimulation to help muscles contract that cannot do so effectively on their own.

Skills required to be a Physiotherapist

The physiotherapist must possess in-depth knowledge of the subject and a clinical eye to detect and diagnose the patients’ problems. Besides, he must have immense patience and a positive attitude to life. His positivity, optimism will encourage the patients and facilitate their recovery and healing procedures. At any point in time, he must not show his frustration and irritation. Rather, a caring and loving gesture on his part will raise the confidence of the patients. Here, we have highlighted the specific skills of a physiotherapist in the form of a table

Diagnosis Skill	Ability to identify the area of pain and implement therapies accordingly
Communication Skill	Ability to communicate with the patient freely, so the patient can speak freely
Interpersonal Skill	Must have an ability to develop a relationship with the patients and build their trust
Perseverance and Endurance	Should have immense patience to listen to the patients and offer them guidance
Positive attitude	Must possess a positive frame of mind and incite a positivity among others
Time Management skill	Must be very punctual in attending the patients
Team Management skill	Ability to work with other doctors as well as with a  team
Dedication	Must be very dedicated to his job

Career prospect of a Physiotherapist

Physiotherapy offers a wide and varied career prospect. At present, a physiotherapist is in great demand since almost every people are suffering from pain and pain-related problems. A physiotherapist provides remedy and relief to all kinds of back pain, arthritis, spinal pain etc. He also helps the elderly people to retain flexibility of the muscle and enable them to lead a normal life. After, obtaining his degree as a professional, a physiotherapist may begin working in the hospitals, nursing homes, health centres and clinics, sports academy, workplaces, schools and rehabilitation centres etc. with years, he will accumulate experience and create his identity and then he can start a private practice. He may also set up his own clinic and offer treatment to people of all ages.

This way, a physiotherapist can prove his mettle and achieve success.