Adrian, what country areyou from? Physio courses vary greatly depending on what country one is talking about.
I think you are being quite realistic in hoping to relieve pain, increase function, and enhance lifestyle. Like all professions, you would lose some and win some. Being a physio in Oz means:
1) 20% manual therapy (no massage)
2) 20% hard slogginng with stroke/trauma/amputees
3) 30% social working, counselling, educating, reassuring
4) 20% specialised respiratory therapy
5) 10% all groups paediatrics
Oz physios do not massage, that is done by masseurs.
Courses are highly competitive, require the equivalent of entry score into medicine, and last four years.
Physios are a widely travelled, well educated, reasonably well-rounded in knowledge. We learn extensive physiology, anatomy, biomechanics, chemistry, etc but in the end, the cynical would say:
Regardless of WHAT you know, in the end you perform the following tasks with astounding repetition in the hospital environment:
respiratory education, secretion management techniques
check mobility in a hurry because the hospital wants to send them home
supply walking aids and send them home.
The nice thing about Oz physios is you can do exactly what you want, regardless of what the doctor thinks you should do. Exception is post orthopaedic surgery.
Physio has its downside, and can be most frustrating.
But ut is a key to good money (private), reasonable status (somewhere between cleaners and doctors) and exceelnt travel ticket.