Introduction
The hustle and bustle of everyday life takes a toll on the human body and that is where the role of physiotherapist comes into play. A Physiotherapist is responsible for rehabilitating patients back to their normal condition by the use of exercise, manual therapy, rehabilitation techniques and physical activity. There is no use of medicines in the rehabilitation process and the process is far cheaper and more beneficial than recovery by use of medicines.
If you want to facilitate someone’s recovery by helping them restore their physical dysfunctions and promoting health and fitness, then a career in physiotherapy is the right choice for you. There are many undergraduate, diploma as well as certificate courses in the field of physiotherapy, pursuing which opens the doors to many amazing career opportunities. One can pursue a postgraduate degree as well, which may cater to better earnings and job prospects in the field. Moreover, the job prospects are significantly increasing with the increase in the number of health centres, spas and fitness and wellness centres across India.
This article explores careers in the field of physiotherapy in India. Read on!
Educational Qualification Required
In India, there are primarily three types of physiotherapy programs, which are described below:
Degree Courses: Both undergraduate and postgraduate-level physiotherapy degree programs are available. The duration of these programs usually varies from 2 to 4 years.
Diploma Courses: A physiotherapy diploma course is also available which can be completed within 2 years.
Certificate Programs: Certificate programs in Physiotherapy are offered at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Their duration might range from 1 hour to 1 year.
Undergraduate Programmes
Course Name
|
Duration
|
Fees
|
B.Sc. in Physiotherapy
|
3 years
|
Rs. 100000-500000
|
BPT- Bachelor of Physio/Physical Therapy
|
4 years
|
Rs. 100000-500000
|
BOT- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
|
3-5 years
|
Rs. 400000
|
BVCs- Bachelor of Veterinary Science
|
5 years (including internship)
|
Rs. 6500- 224000
|
Source: Collegedekho
Eligibility for Undergraduate Courses
-
Students should have obtained at least 50% marks in 10+2 or equivalent examinations in the science stream (with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as compulsory subjects).
-
Students should have completed the age of 17 years at the time of admission.
-
Students should have cleared the college/University Entrance Exam (CET) for pursuing BPT and BVC while there is no entrance exam for admission to B.Sc. and BOT in this field.
Diploma Course
Course Name
|
Duration
|
Fees
|
Diploma in Physiotherapy
|
2-3 years
|
Rs. 10,000- 500000
|
PG Diploma in Sports Physiotherapy
|
1 year
|
|
Source: Collegedekho
Eligibility for Undergraduate Diploma Courses
-
Students should have obtained at least 50% marks in 10+2 or equivalent examinations in the science stream (with Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Mathematics as compulsory subjects).
-
Students should have completed the age of 17 years at the time of admission.
-
Students should have scored good marks in entrance exams (wherever required).
Eligibility for Postgraduate Diploma Course
In order to apply for the Postgraduate Diploma Course, students must have completed their graduation with the minimum percentage required by the respective college they are applying for.
Certificate Courses (Offline)
Source: Collegedunia
Certificate Courses (Online)
Certificate name
|
Provider
|
Duration
|
Fees
|
Physiotherapy Course
|
Reed (Oplex Careers)
|
70 hours
|
£299.9
|
Diploma in Physical Therapy Aide
|
Alison (SkillsCommon)
|
5-6 hours
|
Free
|
Managing your health: The role of physical therapy and exercise
|
Coursera (University of Toronto)
|
13 hours (approximately)
|
Free
|
Preventing chronic pain: A human systems approach
|
Coursera (University of Minnesota)
|
45 hours (approximately)
|
Free
|
Introduction to physical therapy aides
|
Alison (SkillsCommon)
|
1.5-3 hours
|
Free
|
PNF Approach- Clinical applications with Damian Kapturski
|
Udemy
|
2.5 hours
|
Rs. 8,640
|
Physical therapy
|
Udemy
|
2.5 hours
|
Rs. 2,240
|
Source: Collegedunia
Eligibility for certificate courses:
Certificate programs in Physiotherapy courses can be pursued online as well as offline. Most of the certification courses can be pursued by candidates after completing their 12th. However, there are some certificate programs offered by offline institutes such as the Indian Association of Chartered Physiotherapists that require the aspirants to have a degree or diploma in Physiotherapy along with relevant work experience.
Postgraduate Degree Courses
Course Name
|
Duration
|
Fees
|
Master in Physiotherapy (MPT)
|
2 years
|
Rs. 200000-700000
|
M.Sc. in Physiotherapy
|
2 years
|
Rs. 35000-250000
|
Master of (Neurology)
|
2 years
|
Rs. 30,000-500000
|
M.D. in Physiotherapy
|
3 years
|
Rs. 10,00,000-25,00,000
|
Master of Physiotherapy in Sports Physiotherapy
|
2 years
|
Rs. 200000-700000
|
Source: Collegedekho
Eligibility for postgraduate Courses
-
The candidate should have studied related subjects in graduation from a recognised university.
-
Students must have scored the minimum percentage (during graduation) required by the respective college they are applying for.
-
Students must have cleared the entrance exam for pursuing the course of their choice (wherever required).
Top Physiotherapy Colleges In India
-
Apollo College of Physiotherapy, Hyderabad
-
Institute of Physically Handicapped, New Delhi
-
Institute of Physically Handicapped, Patna
-
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai
-
Government Medical College, Nagpur
-
Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik
-
Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
-
K.J. Somaiya College of Physiotherapy & Research Centre, Mumbai
-
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh
-
GGS Indraprastha University, New Delhi
-
Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore (Tamil Nadu)
-
Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER), Kolkata
-
King George’s Medical University, Lucknow
-
Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute for the Physically Handicapped, New Delhi
Scope Of Career As A Physiotherapist
A physiotherapist can work in the community and mental health centres, nursing homes, private clinics and offices, government and private hospitals, rehabilitation centres, outpatient clinics, sports clinics, research institutions, fitness centres, defence sectors and medical colleges. Qualified candidates can also open their clinic or they could work as visiting physiotherapists.
Job profiles in Physiotherapy
Job Profiles
|
Description
|
Physiotherapist
|
A physiotherapist facilitates the recovery of patients that are impaired by physical conditions induced by disease, impairment, injury or ageing by using various methods and treatments.
|
Lecturer
|
A physiotherapy lecturer can teach undergraduate and postgraduate students in physiotherapy colleges and can actively participate in curriculum development and student involvement as well.
|
Sports Physiotherapist
|
A physiotherapist can also work in the specialised field of the sports industry and facilitate the recovery of injured athletes using a variety of physical strategies and treatments and advising them on advice on injury prevention.
|
Therapy Manager
|
By becoming a therapy manager, one gets to work closely with the assigned staff as their supervisor and direct physical therapy treatment. One also works in the leadership and management positions of the Department of Physical Therapy.
|
Researcher
|
After being academically qualified, one can also become a researcher in the field of physiotherapy. The work is to research the human body and find solutions to the problems occurring in it.
|
Rehabilitation Specialist
|
A physiotherapist can also become a rehab specialist, who focuses on restoring motor function in the body, strengthening muscles, and improving coordination, balance, endurance, and the movement of joints. The work also involves developing treatment plans which describe the treatment strategy, its purpose, and the anticipated outcome.
|
Roles And Responsibilities
-
Prescribing remedial exercises
-
Assessing patients’ medical history
-
Evaluating balance in neurologically affected patients
-
Evaluating muscle strength and quantification
-
Formulating treatment plans to address the conditions and needs of patients
-
Applying manual therapy, mobilization, manipulation of soft tissue techniques etc.
-
Aid in-home evaluation to make the environment barrier-free and accessible
-
Improving the status of patients with cardiopulmonary dysfunction
-
Conducting complex mobilization techniques that can help the patient correct his or her difficulty/disability
-
Assessing trauma patients with how to walk again and get back to lead a normal life
-
Educating patients, family members, and the community on how to prevent injuries and live a healthy lifestyle
-
Providing physical treatment by electrotherapy modalities and different therapeutic exercises by automated machines.
-
Providing wheelchair and gait training with or without ambulatory aids
Skills Required
Some basic skills to perform well in the field are compassion, empathy, friendliness, good communication, patience, teamwork, time management, problem-solving ability, empathy, motivational skills, physical strength, research and analytical skills, report writing, organizational skills, clinical expertise and administrative skills.
Expected Salary And Remuneration
A general idea of the expected salary and remuneration in the field of physiotherapy is given below:
Job Profiles
|
Average Salary
|
Physiotherapist
|
Rs. 3,00,000 p.a.
|
Lecturer
|
Rs. 3,60,000 p.a.
|
Sports Physiotherapist
|
Rs. 5,60,000 p.a.
|
Therapy Manager
|
Rs. 6,00,000 p.a.
|
Researcher
|
Rs. 300000 p.a.
|
Source: Collegedunia, Getmyuni
Note: Salary in the field may vary due to the no. of years of experience, the expertise one holds and the quality of one’s work. Further, a master’s degree may help in attracting better earning prospects.
Top Entities Hiring In This Field
-
Apollo Hospital
-
Fortis Hospital
-
Help Age India
-
Hosmat Hospital
-
Intellectual Resource Training Private Limited
-
Medybiz Pvt Ltd
-
Talwalkars Pantaloon Fitness Pvt Ltd
Conclusion
From neonatal to geriatrics, patients of all ages can make use of the healing techniques of physiotherapy. The demand for physiotherapists is highly increasing in India. Even sports players and fashion models are going for physiotherapy to be in shape and keep themselves fit. Moreover, as per the statistical data by WHO (World Health Organisation), there should be one Physiotherapist for every 10,000 citizens in India. This indicates that the employment and career prospects for physiotherapists will only increase in the near future. Overall, physiotherapy is an extremely rewarding and satisfactory career option in the field of medical science.
Medbots.in wishes you all the best!