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What is a Physiotherapist?

A Physiotherapist is a specialized type of Physical Therapist. Also known as: Chartered Physiotherapist, Sport Physiotherapist, Pediatric Physiotherapist, Orthopaedic Physiotherapist, Neurological Physiotherapist, Geriatric Physiotherapist, Clinical Electrophysiotherapist, Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapist.

A physiotherapist is a health care professional who helps patients achieve maximum range of movement and physical ability, either by developing it in the first place or restoring it after loss of physical ability due to illness, injury or aging. Physiotherapists are usually called physical therapists in the United States, but the term physiotherapist is favoured in the rest of the English-speaking world.

How to Become a Physiotherapist

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What does a Physiotherapist do?

When taking on a new patient, a physiotherapist will take his/her health history and perform a physical examination. He will then develop a treatment plan tailored to the patient's needs. Some of the treatments that physiotherapists use are as follows:

  • Massage to ease soft tissue pain
  • Mobilization or manipulation of joints
  • Exercises to strengthen weak areas
  • Cold to reduce inflammation
  • Heat to increase circulation
  • Ultrasound therapy to ease muscle spasms


Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapists

Clinical Electrophysiotherapists

Geriatric Physiotherapists

Neurological Physiotherapists
- specialize in patients that could have any one of many neurological illnesses or injuries. This includes Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), stroke, or injury to the brain or spinal cord. These patients need help with things like coordination, balance, ambulation, muscle strength, or daily living skills.

Orthopaedic Physiotherapists

Pediatric Physiotherapists

Sport Physiotherapists

Women's Health Physiotherapists




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How to Become a Physiotherapist

A physiotherapist must first have a desire to help people and possess good communication skills. He/she must also have an interest in and aptitude for the medical field and in health and nutrition.

Educational requirements for this career vary greatly from country to country, but in the United States, Canada, and Europe, most physiotherapists achieve post-graduate education. In the United States, they must go through clinical rotations before graduating from a doctoral program.

What is the workplace of a Physiotherapist like?

Physiotherapists have a wide variety of employment opportunities. They may work in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, private practices, or with a sports team. They may also work for the government, in research, or they may even teach at physical therapy schools.

What is the difference between a chiropractor and a physiotherapist?


Also relevant for Chiropractor

What is the difference between a physical therapist and a physiotherapist?

Physical therapists use a holistic approach that is based on the manual treatment of soft tissue, for example, tendons, ligaments, muscles and fascia. They do not specifically treat the spine. Physical therapists complete a three year part time degree which will consist of twenty weekends per year over three years, and carry out their clinical practice in a private setting.

Physiotherapists have an extensive scientific and clinical background which helps them assess, diagnose and treat illnesses and conditions. They use electrotherapy, medical acupuncture and dry needling, manipulation, mobilization, massage, and prescriptive exercise to help their patients. Physiotherapists complete a four year full time degree, which includes one thousand hours of clinical placement in a community, primary care, or hospital setting prior to qualification.

Also relevant for Physical Therapist



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Further Reading

  • Chartered Physiotherapist Vs Physical Therapist - What's The Difference? www.mmphysiotherapy.com

    Although sometimes used interchangeably the titles 'Physiotherapist' and 'physical therapist' are actually quite distinct from each other. Inspired by a recent question from one of our clients I will share some details that should help to explain what the difference is between a Chartered Physiotherapist and a physical therapist.

  • Behind The Scenes At QPR: The Life Of A Football Physiotherapist www.airasia.com


  • A Day In The Life Of A Physiotherapist eramosaphysio.blogspot.ca

    As a physiotherapist, I find the most exciting time with a patient to be the day that I get to discharge them. It’s not that I do not enjoying seeing my patients, I do, but discharge means that patient has reached their goals and that is why I am a physiotherapist.

  • The Physiotherapist: Lovely Bones www.theguardian.com

    Helping people to regain movement in their bodies can be slow and frustrating – but, Robert Goddard tells Leo Benedictus, the rewards are immense.

  • What Is Physiotherapy? www.csp.org.uk


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