Physiotherapy is one of the most popular professional courses that is chosen by a number of students in the recent past. The demand continues to stay for some more years. In the meantime, new job opportunities are taking shape in the field of physiotherapy. With more and more specialisations are coming up in the field, new job roles based on the specialisations are being created. The time is ripe to pursue a master of physiotherapy course.
The present article discusses few such specialisations which have a lot more to offer. This research-based article is based on various international resources.
Let’s discuss in detail
Sports Therapist
As a sports therapist one may see a range of sporting injuries and he/she is required to provide treatment, rehabilitation and support and give advice on prevention to the sports person.
Role of a Sports Therapist
Sports Therapists use a range of techniques and modalities to make sure the people involved in sports exercise and training and competing safely. The sports therapists are responsible to provide an immediate response when sport exercise related injuries occur and will have to rehabilitate the patient back to full fitness.
Responsibilities of a Sports Therapist
As a sports therapist one is responsible to:
- Conduct a fitness level assessment on people involved in sport and exercise and advice on exercise prior to an event of fixture
- Test joints for ease and range of movement, pain and dysfunction
- Mentally and physically prepare sports people before a competition and use strapping, taping and massage techniques where necessary
- Provide emergency aid in a sport and exercise environment
- Examine and assess injuries and determine whether the sport and exercise participant can continue safely with the event or activity
- Treat and mobilise injuries to alleviate pain
- Rehabilitate injuries by using manual therapy techniques
- Design and monitor rehabilitation programmes appropriate to the injury and sport and level
- Decide and monitor rehabilitation programmes appropriate to the injury and or sport and level
- Decide whether extra treatments are needed and coordinate referrals to other practitioners
- Work alone with coaches, trainers and fitness advisers to implement exercise, conditioning, core stability and injury prevention programmes so that sports people reach and maintain peak performance
- Coordinate with other healthcare professionals in the sports sector and in mainstream medicine
Earning Potential
- A fresh Master of Physiotherapy professional will earn around 5 lakhs to 7 lakhs per annum as a sports therapist
- The experienced professionals will be earning around 6 lakhs to 10 lakhs per annum
Chiropractor
As Chiropractor uses physical manipulations, massage and rehabilitation exercises to treat patients with a range of conditions, often related to the spinal cord.
Role of a Chiropractor
The chiropractors apply specific force to free joints in the spine and other joints of the body with non-invasive techniques. The chiropractors are responsible to relieve pains, increase mobility and to get patients back to full health and movement.
Responsibilities of a Chiropractor
As a Chiropractor one is needed to:
- Take detailed medical histories from the patients, including information on previous injuries, surgery health and lifestyle
- Conduct physical examinations focusing on the spine and posture and noting the range of movement
- Take and interpret x-rays if necessary
- Check blood pressure and perform other medical tests if necessary
- Make a diagnosis and explain to the patient
- Establish an appropriate treatment or management plan with the patient
- Perform adjustments of the joints of the spine and extremities using hands and specialised equipments
- Educate and advise patients on rehabilitation exercises to aid long-term recovery and techniques to ensure health is maintained
- Be updated with latest chiropractic techniques
Earning Potential
- A fresh Master of Physiotherapy professional will earn around 4 lakhs to 8 lakhs per annum as a chiropractor
- The experienced professionals will be earning around 7 lakhs to 9 lakhs per annum
Osteopath
As an osteopath one is responsible to perform physical manipulation techniques to treat the patients with a range of conditions.
Role of an Osteopath
An osteopath is responsible to provide advice on posture and exercise to encourage faster recovery and help prevent problems reoccurring. The osteopaths are required to take holistic approach to treat patients, looking at the underlying causes of the illness and not just symptoms
Responsibilities of an Osteopath
As an osteopath one is needed to:
- Take detailed case histories from new patients, including both general health and specific symptoms
- Assess the patient’s general posture and check for restrictions or tensions in joints or muscles by asking them to perform a series of active movements
- Undertake physical examinations by using a highly refined sense of touch
- Make a working diagnosis and plan treatment in partnership with the patient
- Provide appropriate treatments using soft tissue techniques, gentle release techniques and other appropriate methods such as cranial osteopathy
- Make lifestyle and dietary recommendations to patients in areas such as posture, eating, exercise and relaxation
- Refer patients to the specialists if required
- Keep updated with latest techniques of osteopathy techniques
Earning Potential
- A fresh Master of Physiotherapy professional will earn around 6 lakhs to 8 lakhs per annum as an Osteopath
- The experienced professionals will be earning around 8 lakhs to 12 lakhs per annum
Animal Physiotherapist
As an Animal Physiotherapist one is responsible to provide physiotherapy treatment for animals and help them to recover from their ailments. They basically help the animals to overcome their physical problems that occurred due to an injury or caused by birth, by giving them proper physiotherapy treatments.
Role of an Animal Physiotherapist
The main purpose of animal physiotherapists is to restore and maintain mobility, function, independence and performance. The Animal Physiotherapy is now considered as an essential addition to medical and surgical treatment of animals and it is applied for several treatments.
Responsibilities of an Animal Physiotherapist
As an animal physiotherapist one is needed to:
- Treat a range of complaints, including, spinal problems, joint problems and injuries to muscles, ligaments and tendons
- Facilitate post-surgical rehabilitation
- Device exercise regimes for a range of conditions, from neurological conditions to obesity to preventive physiotherapy
- Provide advice on adapting an animal’s living environment
- Administer patient records
- Keeping updates about the latest techniques in the field of animal physiotherapy
Salary & Emoluments
- The fresh Master of Physiotherapy professional will be earning around 5 lakhs to 7 lakhs per annum as an animal physiotherapist
- The experienced professionals will be earning around 6 lakhs to 8 lakhs per annum
Final Lines
The demand for MPT professionals is gaining importance day by day. The field has diversified into various sub domains and new job roles are being created. The demand for MPT professionals will continue to rise in the coming days.
The students who are interested in fitness and want to find jobs in physiotherapy can join the MPT course after the completion of BPT to earn better salaries and expect better career growth.