Some Information for someone Interested in becoming a Physiotherapist.

[mr_jim]

I found this forum A couple of days ago and I've been reading a few thread's and I have found some really good information so I thought that I would submit a question about being a physiotherapist as I'm interested in becoming one. I’m interested in helping people who have had physical injury’s like a broken arm or someone who’s been shot, I just find It fascinating learning about physical injuries like trauma and being able to determine the effects of someone who’s say been hit by a car and how this would damage their body and from that what the best way to treat them would be. As a physiotherapist would it be beneficial to learn and have information on how the body reacts to trauma as this is what I'm interested in as well as creating recovery plans for patients. I mainly curious as to weather someone could specialize in trauma and orthopaedics within physiotherapy.

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[Fyzzio]

Hi,
yes, you can specialise in Trauma Orthopaedics as a Physio. As a matter of fact, this is most common area that Physios specialise in.
It's done postgraduate through courses or a Masters degree.
Cheers,
Fyzzio

[mr_jim]

Thanks for your replay Fyzzio, Also if a physiotherapist works in a clinic, medical center or in A and E would they be the first people to treat patients with injuries like broken arms. I'm just asking because a couple of years ago I fractured my arm and I went to a medical center and the guy who saw me looked at my arm and referred me to A and E, he said that he could of taken an x ray of my arm but because it was after a certain time he couldn't. Would this have been a physiotherapist,I thought that Physiotherapist only treated people after they had been treated in hospital.

[Fyzzio]

Hi,

I thought that Physiotherapist only treated people after they had been treated in hospital.

Nope. We are often the first point of contact, especially in regards to Trauma/ Orthopaedics.
E.g. if you injure yourself, you can go into a Physio practice and get an assessment. If we come to the conclusion that something might be broken, we will send you for an X-Ray. And the outcome of the X-Ray will then determine who you see next. We can also refer for an Ultrsound, do Acupuncture and there are e.g. certificates after which we can do joint injections, but again these are special certificates. We do work closely with the Orthopaedic Consultants and refer to each other for assessments etc.. Although, I should say that this is not generally the case for all Physios - it depends on the country in which you are getting your Physio education.

The first contact in hospital or 'triage' is usually done by Nurses or you get to see a Doctor straight away. Am not sure whether they all use Physios for that, but I have not come across a medical centre or hospital that does so. Physios in those centres usually receive referrals for assessments.

To get some more ideas about what Physios do and what is integrated in the undergraduate degree, have a look here:
Physiotherapy degrees | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Careers questions | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Cheers,
Fyzzio

[mr_jim]

If I were to work in a private practice would I still have to diagnose patients or would I already know what's wrong with them if they've been referred to the practice by a doctor. What I mean is it seems like a physio who works in a clinic or medical centre would deal with people who come off the street with injuries (like a broken arm) and the physio would have to figure out what's wrong with them, but would this be the same in private practice or would all of the patients be referrals from doctors. I really like the aspect of having a patient come in with an injury and having to try and figure out what's wrong, but then I like the fact that if you set up your own clinic you get to have more control over your working hours.

[Fyzzio]

Hi,
sorry, I think you got it all mixed up:

Emergency Clinic: you go to Triage - then see the Doctor - then possible referral to Physio.

Private Physio practice: doctors referral and/ or people walk in from the street with a problem and ask you "What is wrong and how can I get better."

At least in NZ and Australia you do not need a doctor's referral to see a Physio and I believe this is the same for the UK.

Your correct, you have good control over your working hours when you run a private practice - you usually work twice as much as anyone else and during hours where everyone else is at home (unless you are on the on-call rota in a hospital )
I have got far more control being an employee.

Cheers, Fyzzio

[fisiofisio]

hi, my greetings from indonesia. Please read until finish. Enjoy

Physiotherapy is a profession which served to assist patients in the recovery of activities. Physiotherapist should be able to decide the target activity can be achieved. For example in the case of muscle trauma, the physiotherapist should be able to determine the activities that can be achieved by adjusting its role in society or work. From the description above, we can know that the task is quite different from a doctor, physician focus and contribute significantly to the muscle recovery process, although physiotherapist also contribute to muscle recovery with some modalities are used, but not so much.

The role of the physiotherapist is so big on the achievement of individual activities that can not be given and offered from other medical procedures. If in recovery, the muscle can not recover to a normal the condition, the physiotherapist plays a major role in restoring the activity of the appropriate level of muscle the condition although the condition does not allow the muscles to recover completely. If necessary, the physiotherapist can work with occupational therapists.

Other physiotherapist role is to provide training in accordance with the profession and its role in society and the family. For example, a physiotherapist may not provide the same training targets for office workers and athletes, although both were diagnosed with fractures. physiotherapist may not provide the same training targets in children and adults, although both of them were diagnosed with fractures. Physiotherapist may also not provide the same training targets on a worker and retiree, although with the same medical diagnosis.

Some information for someone interested in becoming a physiotherapist.