Physiotherapy as a career Department of Physiotherapy School of Medicine Trinity College

Physiotherapy as a career and the course in Physiotherapy in Trinity  What is physiotherapy?  What does the course in physiotherapy in Trinity College Dublin entail?

What is Physiotherapy?  “Physiotherapy is a health care profession concerned with human function and movement and maximising potential  “- it uses physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well being, taking account of variations in health status”  It places full and functional movement at eh heart of what it means to be healthy

Core skills of Physiotherapy  Therapeutic exercise  Manual Therapy  Electrophysical modalities

What do Physiotherapists do?  Broad range of physical problems but particularly those associated with neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions

Where Physiotherapists work AREAWORK Outpatient DepartmentsBack, neck and joint problems, sports injuries NeurologyEncouraging mobility in those after stroke, Parkinsons OrthopaedicsAfter hip, knee replacements, RTAs Cardiovascular Exercise rehabilitation RespiratoryChest clearance, exercise rehabilitation

Where Physiotherapists work AREAWORK PaediatricsCerebral palsy, spina bifida Women’s healthAdvising on antenatal and postnatal care including posture and exercise Occupational healthWorking in companies working on how to prevent physical problems Sports clinics/teamsHelping recovery from injury and return to full fitness Community careTreating patients in their homes

The course in Physiotherapy  4 year degree course that leads to a professional qualification  Year 1 and Year 2 – basic sciences and physiotherapeutic skills  Year 3 and Year 4 – clinical sciences, clinical placements and a research project

Year 1 in Physiotherapy  Anatomy  Clinical Anatomy  Physiology  Physics  Chemistry

Year 2 in Physiotherapy  Physiotherapeutic skills - introduction to the core areas of manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and electrotherapy  Introduction to the clinical sciences - musculoskeletal, respiratory, care of the elderly and Pathology

Year 3 in Physiotherapy  Clinical sciences: respiratory care, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurology, women’s health, paediatrics, care of the elderly  Research methodology and statistics, psychology  Clinical placements of 4-5 weeks duration in physiotherapy departments in hospitals, in schools, child development centres, community care

Year 4 in Physiotherapy  Research project  Study of an optional area eg “ Exercise in the prevention and treatment of disease”, chronic pain.  Professional issues  Ergonomics  Clinical placements of 4-5 weeks duration

Further details on the course   Visit the stands - staff and students will answer your questions