1. An introduction to
physiotherapy

2. Sports injuries Accidents Disability Illness Ageing
What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy, or physical therapy, is a healthcare profession that uses exercise
and manipulation of the body to treat a range of physical problems caused by:
Sports injuries
Accidents
Disability
Illness
Ageing
Physiotherapy improves strength, balance, mobility and overall fitness

3. What do physiotherapists do?
The work is very broad and varied, and involves working with people to:
Treat specific conditions
Regain mobility after accidents or surgery
Avoid injuries and create healthy lifestyle plans (preventative healthcare)

4. What skills are needed? Interested in working with people
Physiotherapy is a very ‘hands on’ profession. You need to be:
Interested in working with people
Keen to promote good health
Motivated by seeing results
Good at human biology

5. Where do physiotherapists work?
They can work in industry, special schools, private practice, or leisure and
sport clubs, but most are in one of the following NHS hospital departments:
Outpatients
Paediatrics
Orthopaedics
Stroke rehabilitation
Elderly care
Terminal illness
Mental health and learning difficulties

6. How do I become a physiotherapist?
Qualification is through a degree course
36 UK universities offer the course
Entry requirements vary, but the norm is a range of ‘A’ levels or SCE Highers, one in a biological science.

7. Not interested in a degree?
Why not become a support worker?
Support workers make up around 10% of the physiotherapy team
Duties vary hugely but can include equipment issue, exercise practise and even massage
No formal qualifications are required but a GVNQ in Health and Social Care is an advantage
Experience of working with people is useful too

8. The average physiotherapy team is made up of both physiotherapists
and support workers

9. Find out more at: