Why choose Physiotherapy? 

“I’m Charlotte, a 3rd year physiotherapy student. I decided to study physio as I wanted to go into a career where I would be active (I can’t sit still for too long), and where I would be engaging with a large variety of people and I could focus on biology/anatomy as I find it fascinating. So, physiotherapy seemed the ideal choice for me. I also had physio when I was younger and it helped me a lot.”  

“Also, a friend of mine was very unwell and it was a physiotherapist that helped them to walk again, so I thought that seemed like a pretty incredible job to be able to help people in such an amazing way!” 

What is the role of a Physiotherapist? 

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy recognizes a Physiotherapist as having a key role in enabling people to improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life.  

Physiotherapist Rachel, explains further about Physiotherapy and the role of a Physiotherapist: 

About the Role

Causes for Physiotherapy

“Physiotherapy helps to restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability. It can also help to reduce your risk of injury or illness in the future.” (NHS, 2020).  

Physiotherapy is provided by Physiotherapists who are specially trained and regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). 

Physiotherapy can be helpful for people of all ages with a wide range of health conditions, including problems affecting: 

• Bones, joints and soft tissue, e.g. back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and sports injuries. 

• Brain or nervous system, e.g. movement problems resulting from a stroke, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson's disease 

• Heart and circulation, e.g. such as rehabilitation after a heart attack. 

• Lungs and breathing, e.g. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. 

• Paediatrics, e.g. Cerebral Palsy, movement disorders.  

• Women’s health, e.g. Pre and Post Natal support. 

• Post-surgical rehabilitation. 

Physiotherapists can specialise in many different areas, such as:  

• Musculoskeletal – inpatients, outpatients 

• Paediatrics (children’s health) 

• Women’s Health (Obstetrics)   

• Neurological Physiotherapy  

• Older people 

• Respiratory  

• Sports physiotherapy 

• Ergonomics 

• Manual Handling  

• Learning Difficulties 

• Community Rehabilitation 

• Intensive Care unit  

• Medical Rehabilitation units 

Where do Physiotherapists work?

Physiotherapists often work as part of a multidisciplinary team in different settings, including: 

Hospitals 

Community health centres or clinics 

GP surgeries 

Sports teams, clubs, charities and workplaces 

In people’s homes 

Private practice 

Physiotherapists can also work as lecturers or researchers in universities training future Physiotherapists and advancing knowledge and skills in their field. 

Physiotherapy Services Manager and Consultant Physiotherapist are other types of roles that a Physiotherapist can train do. 

Key skills of a Physiotherapist: 

• Good time management - on wards and in outpatient clinics you have a lot of work to get through so you need to be able to see patients in a timely manner without them feeling like you are rushing them. 

• Tolerance and patience. 

• Good physical health and fitness. 

• Interpersonal skills - you need to be able to communicate with a large variety of people - not just your patients, but their families and other members of the multi-disciplinary team, such as Occupational Therapists, Doctors and Nurses.  

• Team working skills. 

• Good Listening skills - it is very important at times to make sure you really listen to what a patient is telling you. Often patients feel they don’t get much say in what's happening to them or they feel they are dismissed when staff are busy, so it can really help patients mentally and physically to just take the time to listen to them.  

Respiratory Patients

You would always see respiratory patients first as these patients are at the highest risk of declining rapidly and getting very unwell very quickly.  

Next the discharge patient as you want to get people out of hospital and back to their own homes as quickly as possible.  

And finally the rehabilitation patient as she is stable and not likely to deteriorate if you did not see her for one day. Maybe a physio technician could see them instead.  

What’s it like to be a Physiotherapy student? 

Charlotte’s experience 

“We spend most of our time on the course at university, in lectures, seminars or practicals on the subject of respiratory, neuro, musculoskeletal, exercise and biomechanics or health and wellbeing. However, I have found that you learn the most when you are out on placements.”  

“On placement it can vary massively depending on whether you are in the community, hospitals or outpatient clinics. A typical day on a ward would be: 

8:15am – arrive at team gym/office for morning briefing  

8:30am – be on your ward for board rounds with all the other members of the MDT (multi-disciplinary team). This is where you get updates on your patients and find out if there are any new patients you need to see.  

9:00am – board rounds finish and you work out your caseloads and priority patients for the day. You let the physio techs know what patients they need to see by themselves or to support you with patients who need extra support.  

12:00pm – a second board round to share any updates on patients. 

12:30pm – lunch.  

1:15pm – back to the gym/office to catch up with the rest of the physio team and to see if anyone can come and help on your ward if you have a lot of patients left or if you have any capacity to help on another ward. You can get any advice from other physios if needed. 

1:45pm – back to the ward to see afternoon patients.  

3:30pm – ensure all notes that should have been written up are done, all patients have been handed over to relevant members of staff or you update their file on the computer.  

4:15pm – back to the gym/office to check in with the rest of the physio team and check there has been no issues. 

4:30pm – time to go home.  

How do you become a Physiotherapist?

Option A 

1. Complete an approved Physiotherapy degree full (3 years) or part-time (4-6 years). 

2. Register with the Health and Care professions Council (HCPC). 

Option B 

1. Complete a degree apprenticeship in Physiotherapy. 

2. Register with the Health and Care professions Council (HCPC). 

Option C 

1. Complete a 2 year accelerated MSc course (Pre-registration) – only available if you already have a BSc degree in a relevant subject. 

2. Register with the Health and Care professions Council (HCPC). 

Physiotherapy Degree Entry Requirements 

You usually need two or three A levels, including a biological science and/or PE, along with five GCSEs (grades A-C), including English language, Maths and at least one Science. 

You may also be able to get onto a course with alternative qualifications, including: 

• BTEC, HND or HNC which includes biological science 

• Relevant NVQ 

• Science-based access course 

• Equivalent Scottish or Irish qualifications 

• A previous degree or a full practising qualification in a related area 

In addition to the above: 

• You will need to show that you have an understanding of Physiotherapy and an aptitude for caring for others. 

• Excellent communication, empathy, caring and compassion are some of the relevant key skills necessary to become a good Physiotherapist.  

• Each institution sets its own entry requirements, so it’s important to check carefully. 

• Courses differ, but all involve a lot of practical work with patients. 

Charlotte’s pathway to studying Physiotherapy

“After my GCSE’s, I went on to study Biology, PE and Psychology at A-level. It is very difficult to get work experience as a physio, but I was able to do one day in a private outpatient clinic and one day going around different wards at Southmead Hospital. I had also done a lot of work as a volunteer at Bristol Children’s Hospital, so I knew I liked working in a hospital environment.” 

Interested in this career?

Charlotte’s thoughts: “I’ll be completely honest that physiotherapy is not an easy course - you have to work hard but it is 100% worth it. If you are passionate about helping people and enjoying meeting different types of people, then this career is perfect for you. Once you are on your first placement you will see just how rewarding it is.”