Now, what exactly is Physiotherapy? 

For those of you who don’t know, have some idea or might be confused, physiotherapy is all about treating and managing physical injuries and other chronic ailments by using medically prescribed techniques and exercises which target and strengthen specific parts of the body. 

An important note here is that it mainly focuses on physical healing and doesn’t include, but mostly compliments medication and any other occupational treatments patients may be receiving. 

To bring it all together, physiotherapy is a profession that helps people recover, move better and very importantly, work on living pain-free. 

So then, let’s break down how you can become a physiotherapist! 

If you’re interested in pursuing the subject in your higher-education, you can start by including the sciences in your school subject choices and maintaining your grades in them so you develop a strong foundation in understanding how the human body works! 

Next, if you’re based in India, to practice physiotherapy, you will need to register with the State Medical Council. This process includes 3 main steps - 

1. Earning a master’s degree in physical therapy from a credited university/college. 

2. Completing a full-year clinical internship and 

3. Passing the State Medical Faculty’s Licensing exam! 

A few top colleges for a Bachelor’s in Physiotherapy include Apollo College in Hyderabad, PGIMER in Chandigarh and Christian Medical College in Vellore! In other countries, such as the  U.S., UK and Australia, a BSc (Bachelors of Science) in Physiotherapy is offered at universities like the University of Southern California, University of Delaware, University of Essex and the University of Southern Queensland - all known to be excellent choices! 

Now, while we’ve established how studying science in high school is beneficial, if you’re wondering what you will be studying in college if you choose physiotherapy, I’ve got you covered. 

Subjects you’ll be exploring include human anatomy, biomechanics, kinesiology (or the study of movement) and a variety of therapeutic exercises. 

Physiotherapy also offers different specializations to suit your interests like - 

1. Sports physiotherapy (which caters to treating athletes and very active individuals)

2. Neurology (which focuses on treating physical conditions that result from nervous or spinal system difficulties)

3. Orthopedics (related to muscles and the skeletal system) 

4. Cardiopulmonary care (focused on physical health and the heart) and even 

5. Pediatrics (which specifically focuses on physical therapy for children). 

Sounds super fascinating right? What’s more is that many programs also include internships so you can gain hands-on experience in clinical settings and interact with doctors and patients before you start practicing yourself! 

In the U.S., a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is often required to practice professionally. As one needs to pass the State Medical Exam in India, in countries like the U.S., you’ll most likely need to pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE). 

Licensing and employment 

Once you’ve completed your studies and received the country-specific licensing requirements, you can choose to practice in many areas. Today, physiotherapists are in high demand within both public and private sectors all over the world, be it at government hospitals, rehabilitation or fitness/gym centres, private doctors’ clinics, hospitals or even as hired professionals for sports teams, the options are endless; and once you have a few years of experience and client relations under your belt, you can always work towards setting up your own clinic or practice. 

What lies ahead? 

With constant advances in technologies like robots, AI and virtual reality, how they can be applied to physiotherapy is evolving as well! 

So, whether you dream of working with athletes, helping children that have developmental challenges or innovate new treatment techniques that heal people, physiotherapy is a career that combines science and physical health with compassion and real-life impact. 

Sources: 

1. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nU9GnD6E6E1ixsTP5HJ83nE2GS_33m93jS7zxqulwnE/edit?tab=t.0

2. https://www.shiksha.com/medicine-health-sciences/physiotherapy/colleges/colleges-india 

3. https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/chs/departments/pt/ 

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4sLgZ65wzk&t=423 

5. https://www.apta.org/your-practice/licensure/national-physical-therapy-examination#:~:text=You%20must%20pass%20NPTE%20if,State%20Boards%20of%20Physical%20Therapy