A fit choice
Usha Albuquerque

Sachin Tendulkar has one, so does Saurav Ganguly. Suneil Shetty also has one. We’re not talking cricket or Bollywood. It’s physiotherapists that are among the most wanted people today, particularly for those who want to stay fit and in good health.

Physiotherapy, as a profession, may briefly be defined as a science that seeks to alleviate movement dysfunction, and to promote optimal health and functions of the human body.

It involves the assessment, maintenance, restoration of the physical function and performance of the body and is strongly recommended for people with degenerative disorders, the physically challenged, sportspeople and those suffering from diseases such as arthritis and neurological disorders.

The job of a physiotherapist is preventive, restorative and rehabilitative. They are qualified to perform a history and physical examination, conduct assessments to determine a diagnosis process, select appropriate physical therapy interventions to treat the dysfunction, and monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

This preventive and remedial procedure is very often used as a supplement with oral medicines. Physiotherapy is used in conjunction with every stream of medicine. A variety of tools and modalities like heat, electricity, hydrotherapy and exercise are combined and used to treat patients. This involves treatment of patients through exercise therapy and other therapeutic agents, including heat radiations, electricity, sound, water and massage, and is used to cure weak muscles, limitations of movements of shoulder and knee joints, paralysis, inborn and acquired deformities, gynaecological ailments and other such disorders.

Various ailments including arthritis, spondylosis, neurological disorders and heart diseases are treated through exercises and therapy. The paralysed and handicapped patients are taught to perform basic physical exercises, to encourage the movement of their limbs and other organs.

The physiotherapists work, not for the injured alone, but for a whole range of people, including small children, polio patients, athletes, industrial workers and the elderly people, suffering from ailments such as arthritis and rheumatism. As they treat a wide range of ailments, so specialisation is possible in areas such as paediatrics, geriatrics orthopaedics, sports physical therapy, neurology, clinical electrophysiologic and cardiopulmonary therapy.

Physiotherapy also plays a significant role in training sportsmen and in the management of sports injuries, besides dealing with the preventive and remedial aspects of the disabled. An increasingly important role of the physiotherapist today is teaching people the importance of fitness and how to avoid hurting their bodies at work or play. By designing or supervising individualised conditioning programmes, physiotherapy promotes optimal physical performance and enable the health conscious, in particular, sports persons, to increase their overall fitness levels and muscular strength and endurance. It’s not surprising, therefore, that practically every major sportsperson has his/her personal physiotherapist.

Physiotherapy, thus, becomes one of the most important rehabilitative services needed in the community. It is a relatively new profession in India and the demand for physiotherapists in the country is immense, especially with the increase in the sedentary lifestyles and the lack of exercise of the urban population.

If you have completed Class XII with science you are eligible to apply for courses in physiotherapy. There are various institutes and universities in the country which offer degree and diploma courses in physiotherapy.

Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Institute for the Physically Handicapped in New Delhi, Amar Jyoti Institute of Physiotherapy, New Delhi, Institute of Public Health & Hygiene, New Delhi, and Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine & Allied Science offer courses in physiotherapy. Guru Gobind Indraprastha University, Jamia Hamdard University in New Delhi and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and PGIMER, Chandigarh, also offer a B. Sc in physiotherapy. The National Institute for Rehabilitation Training and Research, in Kolkata and Cuttack are among other institutes which offer degree and diploma courses in physiotherapy.

For admission to several of the rehabilitation programmes, a joint entrance exam is conducted by the Rehabilitation Council of India, based in New Delhi. The entrance tests are conducted at various centres in the country.

Postgraduate level courses in physiotherapy are offered at the All-India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Bombay, and at the K.E.M. Hospital, also in Mumbai. Bombay and Nagpur universities also offer Ph.D. programmes in physiotherapy.

The areas of speciality in physiotherapy are also increasing, including sports medicine, cardiac therapy, paediatric and geriatric physiotherapy. Other specialisations include chest physiotherapy, neuro-physiotherapy, ortho-physiotherapy. These are specialities that can be completed through a M.Sc. and a Ph.D in the specialised area.

As physiotherapy is a medical field, a positive attitude, patience, understanding and an ability to instil inspiration and courage in patients is important for anyone venturing into this career. You also need to be able to work in a team, have good powers of observation a calm temperament, yet firm and persuasive, manual dexterity and physical stamina.

Moreover, although trained professionals are taught to handle patients without straining themselves, the work done by physiotherapists may tend to be physically very strenuous as it involves lifting and supporting patients.

Employment opportunities for physiotherapists are tremendous as it is a career where the demand is now exceeding supply. Physiotherapists, like all other medical and paramedical professionals, can work in hospitals and can also perform private practise. Not only do they work in the orthopaedics and rehabilitation departments, but they are also increasingly employed in the Neurology, Dermatology, Paediatric, Cardio-thoracic and even in the prenatal and antenatal care departments.

Physiotherapists with some experience and adequate capital can also establish private clinics of their own. A fast upcoming option for physiotherapists is a job in a health club or fitness centre. Most sports associations and institutions employ physiotherapists for helping athletes and sports persons.

While remuneration in government hospitals, may be vary between Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 per month, in private hospitals and nursing homes, starting salaries could be in the range of Rs. 8,000 - 12,000 per month.

The writer is a noted career expert