Career prospects in physiotherapy

Working with patients, you'll identify and improve their movement and function. You'll promote their health and well-being, and assist the rehabilitation process by developing and restoring body systems, in particular the neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

If you're a people person interested in improving physical health, physiotherapy could be the career for you. Physiotherapists help patients with physical difficulties resulting from illness, injury, disability or ageing. Patients can include children, the elderly, stroke patients and people with sports injuries.

As well as devising and reviewing treatment programmes comprising manual therapy, movement, therapeutic exercise and the application of technological equipment such as ultrasound, you'll also provide advice on how to avoid injury and self-manage long-term conditions.

How to become a physiotherapist
There are two levels of qualifications in physiotherapy, viz., Bachelor of Physiotherapy and Masters in Physiotherapy. While bachelor in physiotherapy has duration of four and half years (including Internship), the Masters in Physiotherapy has the duration of two years.

A person after doing +2 with biology is eligible for bachelors’ degree. For masters, a bachelor degree in physiotherapy is a must.

Doing a bachelors’ degree in physiotherapy from a top notch institute costs anywhere between 2 to 5 L in Indian currency; however, the cost can be reduced if done from Centralised Universities.

Depending upon the ranking of college or institute the fee may differ. Doing masters degree or specialization in one discipline can further the cost.

Responsibilities
As a physiotherapist, you'll need to:

work with some patients and their families over a period of weeks or months to identify and treat their physical problem;
develop and review treatment programmes, along with patients themselves, that encourage exercise and movement by the use of a range of techniques;
assist patients with joint and spinal problems, including following surgery;
help patients' rehabilitation following accidents, injury and strokes;
assist in the supervision and education of student and junior physiotherapists and physiotherapy support workers;
write patient case notes and reports and collect statistics;
educate patients and their caretakers about how to prevent and (or) improve conditions;
keep up-to-date with new techniques and technologies available for treating patients;
communicate with a wide range of patients, caretakers and health and social care team members;
liaise with other healthcare professionals to exchange information about the background and progress of patients, as well as to refer patients who require other medical attention;
be legally responsible and accountable;
be caring, compassionate and professional at all times;

Working hours
Physiotherapists typically work 37.5 hours a week, usually Monday to Friday during the day. However, you may be required to work weekends and night duty on a rotation-basis, and seven-day services are becoming more common.

What to expect

The work may be physically demanding, with busy caseloads. Although patients' problems may be complex, physiotherapy is often a very rewarding job.
As a physiotherapist, you're under contractual obligation to maintain patient’s confidentiality.
Physiotherapists working in the community may need to visit patients in their own home. Other areas of work include education, leisure and sport, and industry so you could be based in a variety of settings including schools, nursing homes or sports centres.
Self-employment and private practice work is possible.
Working abroad is a popular option, with more than 1,000 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) members currently working in another country to further their experience. When going abroad, do your research and check whether registration is in operation in the country you want to work in.

Skills
When applying for jobs and courses, you'll need to show an evidence of:
excellent communication skills;
interpersonal skills to establish a rapport with patients and their families;
team working skills to work with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and social workers;
problem-solving ability;
tolerance, patience, sensitivity and tact;
organisational and administrative skills;
a firm but encouraging and empathetic attitude;
a genuine concern for the well-being and health of patients;
a real interest in anatomy and physiology;
the ability to work under pressure and manage your time effectively.

Work experience

Employers want to see that you've researched the profession and have a good understanding of the role. Try to visit a local physiotherapy department and ask to work shadow a physiotherapist to get an idea of what the work is like and whether it would suit you.

It's also useful to get some voluntary or paid experience in a health or care setting to show your interest in the area. There may be opportunities with private physiotherapy clinics, sports clinics, football clubs, special schools and units, and nursing homes.

Voluntary work for charities such as the British Red Cross or St John Ambulance may also be valuable. This experience will help when applying for jobs. Working as a physiotherapy support worker provides a valuable insight into the role and shows your commitment.

Top companies
All major top order hospitals and health centers offer attractive jobs to physiotherapists. Some top notch fitness centers in India such as Talwalkars Pantaloon Fitness Pvt Ltd and Intellectual Resource Training Private Limited attract the best in the industry talent. HelpAge India, Medybiz Pvt Ltd, Hosmat Hospital, Apollo Hospital, Fortis Hospital, etc. too are offering physiotherapy services with the help of trained physiotherapists.

Tips for getting hired
Physiotherapy job requires lots of practical aspect, therefore, show your credentials that you have lots of practical exposure in to various arenas of physiotherapy;
Getting ready for a job, the candidate should be 100% buttoned up and allow his resume speak for him;
Showing detailed information about the work experience, highlighting accomplishment during the course and/or during the job will have positive influence;
It would be better if the candidate tells a compelling story which shows that he is worth hiring; however, the narrative should be credible and should be visible through work history, experience and skills, etc.

International focus
Candidates with excellent research skills can opt for research and development works in various pharmaceutical companies and institutional laboratories located in the USA, UK, Canada and European countries. Aspirants willing to opt for teaching have option of teaching at various universities abroad.

Then there are schools for mentally retarded and physically disabled children, defense medical establishments and rehabilitation centers for the handicapped which offer attractive venues for Indian students with qualification in physiotherapy.

Physiotherapists have better scope internationally than India as the market for it is more expanded in developed countries where it is accepted as an effective method to cure various ailments and health problems.

Even compensation packages for physiotherapists are more attractive in the USA, UK, Australia, Canada than in India and that may be a reason why many successful physiotherapists start their profession or start working with health solution providers in these countries and earn attractive salaries.

Types of physiotherapist

Physiotherapists can work in a wide range of community and hospital settings. Hospital departments include:
geriatric medicine;
intensive care;
mental health;
occupational health;
outpatients' departments;
orthopaedics;
paediatrics;
stroke services;
womens' health.

Institutes

India houses a number of physiotherapy colleges and institutes which offer bachelors and masters degree. Top 10 physiotherapy colleges in India are as follows:

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