Physiotherapist

Help people who've been affected by injury, illness or disability. Some of the tactics they use include: movement and exercise – taking into account a person's current level of health and their specific necessities.

They maintain health for people of all ages, helping patients to manage pain and prevent disease.

Although they're often thought of as just dealing with musculo-skeletal problems, physiotherapists are trained healthcare professionals who work in many areas, including:

• Intensive care
• Mental health
• Neurology (including stroke)
• Long-term conditions
• Breathing problems
• Men's and women's health (including incontinence)
• Recovery after major surgery
• Orthopedics and trauma
• Sports
• Workplace health
• Pediatrics (children)
• Care of the elderly
• Education and health promotion

Many physiotherapists work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. They works in hospitals, community based organizations, private hospitals and clinics, sports clubs, charities and workplace.

What is physiotherapy?

The profession helps to encourage development and facilitate recovery, enabling people to stay in work while helping them to remain independent for as long as possible. It takes a holistic approach that involves the patient directly in their own care.

Physiotherapy is a science-based profession and takes a ‘whole person’ approach to health and well being, which includes the patient’s general lifestyle.

At the core is the patient’s involvement in their own care, through education, awareness, empowerment and participation in their treatment.

You can benefit from physiotherapy at any time in your life. Physiotherapy helps with back pain or sudden injury, managing long-term medical condition such as asthma, and in preparing for childbirth or a sporting event.

Physiotherapy is a degree-based healthcare profession. Physios use their knowledge and skills to improve a range of conditions associated with different systems of the body, such as:

• Neurological (stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's)
• Neuromusculoskeletal (back pain, whiplash associated disorder, sports injuries, arthritis)
• Cardiovascular (chronic heart disease, rehabilitation after heart attack)
• Respiratory (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis).

Physiotherapists work in a variety of specialisms in health and social care. Additionally, some physiotherapists are involved in education, research and service management.