Let's Get Physio: Working As a Physiotherapist

The clue is the name of what an occupation as a Physiotherapist involves. They help and treat people with physical problems which can be brought on due to a range of problems including illness, accident or old age.

Movement is central to individual's well-being in the field of physiotherapy and it is the physio's job to maximise their patient's movement through treatment and rehab.

In general, physiotherapists must be skilled in:

• Manual therapy


• Therapeutic exercise


• Electro-physical modalities

There are many different fields that a physiotherapist can work in including women's health, elderly care and occupational health. They are highly sought after professionals in most healthcare facilities including hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. Many chartered physiotherapists also set up their own local practices, treating patients in their local community for rehab and sports injury ailments. In fact there is not many fields of life where physiotherapist are not required - they are known to work in schools, the workplace and training companies too.

As with most healthcare careers, being a physiotherapist requires you to have the ability to build trust and rapport with your patients, their families and a team of medical professionals. You need to use your expert judgement to make a diagnosis, have the knowledge on how to treat the ailment and the ability to leave your patient with the piece-of-mind that they are receiving sound, professional treatment from a qualified healthcare professional.

In Ireland, the industry body representing over 3000 physiotherapists is the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. Four major universities and colleges currently provide the 4 year degree course required to qualify as a physio - UCD, the Royal College of Surgeons, Trinity College and University of Limerick. As places on these courses are in huge demand, entry points required are usually high. Because of this many students choose to study physiotherapy abroad in places like the UK where entry requirements are not as stringent as Ireland. You cannot legally practice as a physiotherapist until you are a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. This membership is indicated by the letters MISCP after the person's name.

People use the clich矇 of a "hands-on" job all too often but being a physiotherapist really is, literally and figuratively! Wherever people are at risk of injury, there will always be a need for physiotherapists. That is why it is a very sustainable career which can bring you work in various different settings and specialties.