Job
opportunities for physiotherapists are immense especially abroad
Physiotherapy,
otherwise called physical therapy is the system of physical treatment
for disease and disability. It is an allied area of medicine and
an upcoming part in health care. It entails assessment, maintenance
and restoration of the physical function and performance of the
body. Physical therapy is usually given in conjunction with the
overall medical treatment of a patient thus playing a complementary
role.
Benefits
of Physiotherapy
Traditionally, the role of physiotherapy is seen as that of ensuring
a smooth and complication-free recovery after an operation, amputation
or an injury. It does wonders in amputee rehabilitation following
cardiac surgery and stroke rehabilitation. However, physiotherapy
can also be performed in isolation for diagnosing and treating problems
like sports injuries, paediatric, impaired mobility and geriatric
(relating to old people) problems.
According to its application, the subject physiotherapy has been
divided in to three broad areas.
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy: Deals with muscles,
bones and joints. A specialist in this area deals with back and
neck pain, stiffness, muscle strains, joint sprains, arthritis,
muscle spasm, tendonitis, rehabilitation following occupational
injury, surgery and sporting injuries. The Musculoskeletal physiotherapist
adopts a variety of different treatment methods to help speed up
the healing process and reduce the likelihood of the same happening
again.
He
is also supposed to make use of techniques like massage, joint mobilization,
electrotherapy, therapeutic exercises, correction of posture, lifting
techniques and sporting techniques.
Cardiothoracic Physiotherapy: The specialists in
this area deal primarily with the function of the cardio-respiratory
system. The problems they cure include Emphysema, Asthma and Chronic
Bronchitis. The cardiothoracic physiotherapist aims to optimize
the function of the cardiotheracic system and patient comfort, resulting
in increased exercise tolerance, a reduced chance of developing
complications such as chest infections, reduced shortness of breath,
and a reduced length of stay in hospital.
It uses breathing techniques either to reduce shortness of breath
or increase lung expansion and does sputum clearance with percussions
and vibrations.
Neurological Physiotherapy: These experts deal with the
disorders of the nervous system like brain injuries and head injuries,
brain surgery, Parkinson's diseases, multiple sclerosis, and spinal
cord injuries.The neurological physiotherapist is involved in determining
how these conditions affect the patient's movement and function
and implements strategies to regain maximum function depending on
the type of disorders.
- Job
Profile
Physiotherapists treat people who are physically or mentally
challenged or face some acute problem. They help them to get
back to a normal life. What they give their patients is relief
from pain and a functional independence.
While the physiotherapists can call themselves doctors, they
need to write 'PT' in brackets, as according to extant laws
they are not termed doctors.
-
Job Opportunity
Job opportunities for physiotherapists are immense in foreign
countries as compared to that in India. And it must be added
that opportunities are galore abroad and the chances are even
better than that of an MBBS Doctor .
If appointed in the government service one can expect a starting
monthly basic salary of Rs5,500. and together with the other
perks the total emoluments then comes to about Rs. 12,000 per
month.
But, salaries fluctuate in the private sector depending on the
individual's capabilities and may vary from Rs. 5000 to 15,000
per month. But if you are a post graduate you can find teaching
post also either at a clinic or an institute.
Another recent development is in the area of sports physiotherapy.
But Indian athlets still rely on foreign physiotherapists despite
there being a young generation of Indian sports physiotherapists
who are as qualified as their foreign counterparts. Also, the
sports institutes still stick on to the idea of having a doctor
to keep the athlets fit. The government is yet to wake up to
have a law passed that all sports institutes shall engage the
services of physiotherapists only.
- A
minus point
But there is one disappointing factor . Even though physiotherapists
treat, correct and cure many ailments, they are not treated
at par with those in the medical profession. In fact, physiotherapists
are pitted against orthopedics all the time. But the emerging
trend is that orthopedics are now realizing the worth of the
physiotherapist and are becoming more openminded.
The other career options include setting up one's own clinic.
Though this is an exciting option, one needs to invest anythng
between Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 80 lakh. And it is desirable that
the new comers acquire as much practical experience as possible.
The fact is that while a private clinic can look in to the needs
of a select few only,a hospital, cares for a large number of
people. So it is worth while to work at a big hospital rather
than go solo straight from your college.
- Course/Study
There are many institutes including medical colleges that offer
physiotherapy courses. To apply for a batchelor course the basic
qualification is 10+2 with physics, chemistry and biology. And
to go for post-graduate course you need to have passed your
batchler course in physiotherapy.
Courtesy
: Deepika Education
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