How to become a Physiotherapist

How to become a Physiotherapist Are you a practical person who wants to help people? Are you good at giving backrubs? You should be a Physiotherapist.Physiotherapists help treat people with injuries or physical difficulties. Whether it’s to help rehabilitate someone after a sports injury, to improve the mobility of an elderly patient, or to assist someone suffering from an illness on the road to recovery, the work they do is absolutely invaluable in ensuring people are as happy and pain free as possible.Whilst day-to-day activities may vary, typical duties for a Physiotherapist could include:Collaborating with patients and their families to decide the best course of careDrawing up treatment plansEducating patients and teach techniques to help improve their mobility and alleviate painHelping people with joint, spinal or muscle problemsManaging the rehabilitation process for those with serious injuries, or following medical accidentsAdministering specialised techniques to help individual problems, including: massag e, therapeutic exercise, electrotherapy, acupuncture and hydrotherapy.Is it right for me?To be successful in this position, above all else you will need to be a caring and practical person.Physiotherapy can be a slow and painful process, with significant improvements often hindering on an immense amount of discipline and hard work from the patient. With this in mind, excellent motivational skills could also be key to your success.Other key attributes include:The ability to build rapport and absolute trust in your patientsExcellent problem solving skillsA vested interest in physiology and the human anatomySensitivity, and a reassuring and comforting approachThe ability to relate to people from all backgrounds and walks of lifeCareer Progression? Physiotherapy AssistantUp to 20,000 PhysiotherapistUp to 35,000What's it really like? I used to be a semi-professional footballer, but my career was cut short by a serious knee injury. During my rehabilitation, I got friendly with my Physiot herapist (Donald), and I began to get really interested in the science behind my injury. I decided to find out more, and I'm now a fully-qualified Sports Physiotherapist. It can be tough seeing people at their lowest point, but I love motivating people to push themselves through their recovery. Get qualifiedTo become a physiotherapist, you will either need a degree in physiotherapy, or hold a postgraduate degree which is approved by the HCPC (Health and Care Professionals Council). There may also be specialised accredited and part-time courses in physiotherapy to help you qualify.