Physiotherapy: A noble profession that adds quality to life

Physiotherapy is one of those fields which has been gaining a lot of importance recently.

An autonomous health profession, a physiotherapist works to minimize or reduce dysfunction among people. It deals with movement sciences and bodily functions.

You need a science background to study physiotherapy and a strong foundation in English, mathematics, biology, physics, health sciences will definitely help. You need to pursue a Bachelor in Physiotherapy after Std XII followed by masters in the same to become a qualified physio.

Umanjali Damke, principal of Government Medical College (Physiotherapy), said she describes it as a noble profession. “A physio brings the patient out of pain. Today, people are leading a mechanized life which results in increase in physical problems. The number of physios required is increasing which makes it a promising career option,” she says.

A physiotherapist is the ultimate need of sportspersons, pregnant women, gynaecologists and even at gyms.

Professional physiotherapist Madhura Kale says, “It takes a lot of time but the scope is ever increasing as you can branch out to various specializations. Physiotherapy is one of the preventive and curative sciences.”

Different branches of physiotherapy include paediatrics, geriatrics, neurology, cardiorespiratory, and orthopaedics.

Senior consultant physiotherapist Meenakshi Wankhede says, “Physiotherapy is a field concerned with all medical fields. Based on the basic concepts of human sciences, the importance of this field has been skyrocketing of late as people are getting more aware about their physical health.”

“You can start independent practice after postgraduation or can get attached to a multi-specialty hospital or government hospital,” she adds.

In reality, it is the physiotherapists who bring back the patients to a normal routine through exercise.

Student Alafiya Dhamangaowala says, “There are a lot of diseases which can only be cured by a physio. My mother suffers from one such disease and that has inspired me to take up this profession.”

She says its scope is widening as it offers numerous job options with great pay.

Akshay Deshpande, another student, says, “In India, most of the medical aspirants target MBBS as their career. This might be because of the common opinion that the medical field is just confined to MBBS. Physiotherapy is now need of the hour because we treat patients just by using our hands and with our knowledge, but without any surgery or medications.”