ABOUT Physiotherapist
- Physiotherapists constitute essential part of the Primary care services; wherein primary care refers to the work of health professionals who act as a first point of consultation for all patients within the healthcare system.
- Physiotherapist diagnoses movement dysfunctions based on skillful examination and evaluation regardless of the cause or etiology and provide skilled therapeutic intervention to foster improvement in physical functioning and maximising overall quality of life.
- Physiotherapist's role also includes that of case manager, teacher, researcher, and consultant.
- Physiotherapists practice independently and also as part of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation/ habilitation team; they prescribe and implement therapeutic programs to gain, maintain or restore optimal function and quality of life in patients/ individuals with loss and disorders of movement/ functions, after necessary assessment, evaluation and investigations.
Recognition of Title and Qualification
- Within the multidisciplinary health professionals’ team, the professional responsible for administrating Physiotherapy treatment/ management are recognized as physiotherapist. Physiotherapists at times referred as Physical therapists. The terminology Physiotherapist is an internationally adopted nomenclature and thus should also be applicable in an Indian context.
- The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) recognizes any Healthcare professional as Physiotherapist who has acquired Bachelor of Physiotherapy from recognized university/College as per the regulations of the Commission.
- The recommended title thus stands as the “Physiotherapist” with the Prefix “Dr” and suffix “PT”.
ncahp act 2021 - Physiotherapist can practice independently
Definition of Physiotherapist and ISCO of Physiotherapy
- Physiotherapist is a professional who practices physiotherapy by undertaking comprehensive examination and appropriate investigation, provides treatment and advice to any persons preparatory to or for the purpose of or in connection with movement or functional dysfunction, malfunction, disorder, disability, healing and pain from trauma and disease, using physical modalities including exercise, mobilization, manipulations, electrical and thermal agents and other electro therapeutics for prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, health promotion and fitness.
- The physiotherapist can practice independently or as a part of a multi-disciplinary team and has a minimum qualification of a baccalaureate degree. (NCAHP Act 2021)
- The International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) given by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is 2264.
ethical principles
Physiotherapists are guided by their own code of ethical principles
- Promoting the health and well-being of individuals and the general public/society, emphasising the importance of physical activity and exercises.
- Preventing impairments, activity limitations, participatory restrictions and disabilities in individuals at risk of altered movement behaviors due to health or medically related factors, socio-economic stressors, environmental factors and lifestyle factors.
- Assessing/ evaluating, prescribing necessary investigations to establish diagnosis for physical dysfunction, prescribing physiotherapeutic interventions/treatment plan to the patients/individuals seeking their opinion/guidance regarding their health issues.
- Providing interventions/treatment to restore integrity of body systems essential to movement, maximize function and recuperation, minimize incapacity, and enhance the quality of life, independent living and workability in individuals and groups of individuals with altered movement behaviors resulting from impairments, activity limitations, participatory restrictions and disabilities due to diseases, disorders and trauma.
- Modifying environmental, home and work access and barriers to ensure full participation in one’s normal and expected societal roles. Physiotherapists may also contribute to the development of local, national and international health policies and public health strategies.
