Physiotherapy involves physical therapists assessing patients' movement abilities and creating goals in collaboration with other health professionals using skills unique to physical therapy. The field has its origins in ancient practices like massage and hydrotherapy and was institutionalized in the late 19th century. Today, physiotherapists work in hospitals, clinics, and private offices using techniques like soft tissue mobilization, strengthening exercises, and electrical stimulation to treat patients across various specialties like orthopedics, neurology, and oncology.

1. PHYSIOTHERAPYPHYSIOTHERAPY
A.THANGAMANI RAMALINGAMA.THANGAMANI RAMALINGAM
PT,MSc(PSY),MIAPPT,MSc(PSY),MIAP

2. Physical therapy involves thePhysical therapy involves the
interaction between physicalinteraction between physical
therapist, patients/clients, othertherapist, patients/clients, other
health professionals, families, carehealth professionals, families, care
givers, and communities in a processgivers, and communities in a process
where movement potential iswhere movement potential is
assessed and goals are agreedassessed and goals are agreed
upon, using knowledge and skillsupon, using knowledge and skills
unique to physical therapistsunique to physical therapists..

3. The physical therapist professionalThe physical therapist professional
curriculum includes content andcurriculum includes content and
learning experiences in the clinicallearning experiences in the clinical
sciences (e.g., content about thesciences (e.g., content about the
cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine,cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine,
metabolic, gastrointestinal,metabolic, gastrointestinal,
genitourinary, integumentary,genitourinary, integumentary,
musculoskeletal, and neuromuscularmusculoskeletal, and neuromuscular
systems and the medical and surgicalsystems and the medical and surgical
conditions frequently seen by physicalconditions frequently seen by physical
therapists)therapists)

4. Physicians likePhysicians like HippocratesHippocrates and laterand later
GalenusGalenus are believed to have been theare believed to have been the
first practitioners of physical therapy,first practitioners of physical therapy,
advocatingadvocating massagemassage,, manual therapymanual therapy
techniques andtechniques and hydrotherapyhydrotherapy to treatto treat
people in 460 B.Cpeople in 460 B.C

5. Modern physical therapy wasModern physical therapy was
established in Britain towards the endestablished in Britain towards the end
of the 19th century , promoted furtherof the 19th century , promoted further
during the Polio outbreak of 1916.during the Polio outbreak of 1916.
During the First World War womenDuring the First World War women
were recruited to work with and restorewere recruited to work with and restore
physical function to injured soldiers,physical function to injured soldiers,
and the field of physical therapy wasand the field of physical therapy was
institutionalizedinstitutionalized..

6. The first school of physical therapy wasThe first school of physical therapy was
established at Walter Reed Armyestablished at Walter Reed Army
Hospital in Washtington D.C. followingHospital in Washtington D.C. following
the outbreak of World War I. The firstthe outbreak of World War I. The first
physical therapy research wasphysical therapy research was
published in the United States in Marchpublished in the United States in March
1921 in "The PT Review." In the same1921 in "The PT Review." In the same
year, Mary McMillan organized theyear, Mary McMillan organized the
Physical Therapy Association (nowPhysical Therapy Association (now
called thecalled the
American Physical Therapy AssociationAmerican Physical Therapy Association
(APTA)(APTA)

7. What physio’s do?What physio’s do?

8. Soft Tissue MobilizationSoft Tissue Mobilization
Strengthening ExercisesStrengthening Exercises
Range of Motion (ROM) ExercisesRange of Motion (ROM) Exercises
TENSTENS
Electrical StimulationElectrical Stimulation
Heat TherapyHeat Therapy
Cold Therapy or CryotherapyCold Therapy or Cryotherapy

9. Joint MobilizationJoint Mobilization
Gait (Walking) Training / Assistive DeviceGait (Walking) Training / Assistive Device
TrainingTraining
Postural TrainingPostural Training
Ergonomic trainingErgonomic training
Balance ExercisesBalance Exercises
TractionTraction
TapingTaping
BandagingBandaging
Fitting of OrthosisFitting of Orthosis

10. Where they work?Where they work?

11. Physiotherapists work inPhysiotherapists work in
hospitals, outpatienthospitals, outpatient
clinics, rehabilitationclinics, rehabilitation
centers, and privatecenters, and private
offices that haveoffices that have
specially equippedspecially equipped
facilities.facilities.

12. Physical therapy courses willPhysical therapy courses will
include human anatomy withinclude human anatomy with
cadaver dissection, childcadaver dissection, child
development, medical lectures indevelopment, medical lectures in
many of the specialties, physicalmany of the specialties, physical
therapy procedures, andtherapy procedures, and
professional ethics. While you areprofessional ethics. While you are
in college, take all the physicalin college, take all the physical
education courses you can in folkeducation courses you can in folk
dancing, modern dance, anddancing, modern dance, and
aerobics. Corrective exerciseaerobics. Corrective exercise

13. MIAPMIAP
Member of Indian association ofMember of Indian association of
physiotherapistphysiotherapist

14. opportunities
ClinicianClinician
AcademicsAcademics
ResearchResearch
AbroadAbroad
Self-employedSelf-employed
Rehab institutes/schoolRehab institutes/school

15. ROLES
Patient evaluationPatient evaluation
TreatmentTreatment
TeachingTeaching
Research fellowshipResearch fellowship
Community therapistCommunity therapist

16. Areas of work
Obstetrics& gynecologyObstetrics& gynecology
OrthopedicsOrthopedics
NeurologyNeurology
Cardio-respiratoryCardio-respiratory
Pre & post operative carePre & post operative care
RehabilitationRehabilitation
OncologyOncology
Psychiatry, geriatrics,pediatrics etcPsychiatry, geriatrics,pediatrics etc