How to become a Physiotherapist / Physical Therapist

Physiotherapists use a range of holistic procedures to promote movement to people who are injured or suffering from long-term conditions. They can work in a range of settings and must often collaborate with other medical staff.

Being a physiotherapist is rewarding and challenging. It involves treating people who are suffering from injuries or conditions and helping them improve through movement, and promoting their general health and wellbeing. Physiotherapists don’t prescribe medicine; they treat all of their clients through forms of exercise. 

The people that physiotherapists treat are varied. Often they look after those with injuries, however, physiotherapists also work with people with nervous system problems such as multiple sclerosis, brain conditions like Parkinson’s disease, heart issues, and lung problems such as cystic fibrosis. The conditions that physiotherapists see are varied, but they are all things that can affect movement.

A physiotherapist will often be with the client from the diagnostic stage where they may suggest at-home exercises, through manual therapy where the physiotherapist will help them perform exercises, to rehabilitation and managing long-term conditions. Physiotherapists will sometimes need to refer a patient to other medical professionals, and will often work alongside doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and social workers. 

Physiotherapists might work in hospitals, GP surgeries, sports clubs, or specific physiotherapy centres. Their duties will often differ depending on where they are working; in hospitals they may work in rehabilitation or in intensive care units, whereas in sports clubs they will be dealing with sports injuries. Some physiotherapists also work with hydrotherapy (movement in water) and acupuncture. Many physiotherapists choose a specialist field while training.

Qualifications to become a physiotherapist are specific. Everybody who is starting a career in this field must have a qualification in physiotherapy, whether this be a degree or a formal apprenticeship and study programme.

Work experience can be difficult to find due to the nature of the job, but any relevant experience in the healthcare sector can be beneficial. A candidate should demonstrate that they are able to communicate and help people of all ages, that they have problem solving skills and that they can be empathetic yet practical.