Scope of practice Physiotherapists plan and administer physiotherapy/ rehabilitation treatments independently and also being a part of the multidisciplinary team. The minimum education requirement is often a baccalaureate degree or postgraduate degrees in Physiotherapy. Physiotherapy is an essential part of the health and community/welfare services delivery system. Physiother ...

Scope of practice Physiotherapists plan and administer physiotherapy/ rehabilitation treatments independently and also being a part of the multidisciplinary team. The minimum education requirement is often a baccalaureate degree or postgraduate degrees in Physiotherapy. Physiotherapy is an essential part of the health and community/welfare services delivery system. Physiotherapists practice independently of other health care/service providers and also within multidisciplinary rehabilitation/habilitation programmes to prevent, gain, maintain or restore optimal function and quality of life in individuals with loss and disorders of movement. Physiotherapists are guided by their own code of ethical principles. Thus, they may be concerned with any of the following purposes:

1. Promoting the health and well-being of individuals and the general public/society, emphasizing the importance of physical activity and exercise.

2. Preventing impairments, activity limitations, participatory restrictions and disabilities in individuals at risk of altered movement behaviors due to health or medically related factors, socio-economic stressors, environmental factors and lifestyle factors.

3. Providing interventions/treatment to restore integrity of body systems essential to movement, maximize function and recuperation, minimize incapacity, and enhance the quality of life, independent living and workability in individuals and groups of individuals with altered movement behaviors resulting from impairments, activity limitations, participatory restrictions and disabilities.

4. Modifying environmental, home and work access and barriers to ensure full participation in one’s normal and expected societal roles Physiotherapists may also contribute to the development of local, national and international health policies and public health strategies.

Physiotherapy is delivered in a variety of settings which allow it to achieve its purpose. Prevention, health promotion, treatment/intervention, habilitation and rehabilitation take place in multiple settings that may include, but are not confined to, the following:

1. Community based rehabilitation programmes

2. Community settings including primary health care centres, individual homes, and field settings

3. Education and research centres

4. Fitness clubs, health clubs, gymnasia and spas

5. Hospices

6. Hospitals

7. Nursing homes

8. Occupational health centres

9. Out-patient clinics

10. Physiotherapist private offices, practices, clinics

11. Prisons

12. Public settings (e.g., shopping malls) for health promotion

13. Rehabilitation centres and residential homes

14. Schools, including pre-schools and special schools

15. Senior citizen centres

16. Sports centres/clubs

17. Workplaces/companies