Physiotherapy in Practice

Physiotherapist Lori Morgan works with a patient to recover from a leg injury. (Abriel photo)

Physiotherapy is a broad and fascinating field. Studying physiotherapy at university can lead to a rewarding career working directly with patients, helping them to regain functionality and mobility. Or it can lead to groundbreaking research that can promote healthier lifestyles or changes in therapies and treatments.

Physiotherapists work in a variety of settings:

• clinics,
• hospitals,
• rehabilitations centres,
• universities
• and private practices.

Physiotherapy, or physical therapy, began in its current form in Canada as injured soldiers returned from the world wars of the last century. Therapists worked in the areas of muscle massage, muscle function and occupational therapy.

Today physiotherapists are respected members of the medical sciences field. As many health care and insurance budgets now rely on quick returns to normal functionality, the talents and knowledge of physiotherapists are even more in demand. With the aging North American population, physiotherapy is an ideal choice for the student who is interested in a challenging professional health career that will benefit the lives of others.