Physiotherapy as a career

Department of PhysiotherapySchool of Medicine

Trinity College

Physiotherapy as a career and the course in Physiotherapy in Trinity

What is physiotherapy? What does the course in physiotherapy in Trinity College Dublin entail?

What is Physiotherapy? “Physiotherapy is a health care profession concerned with

human function and movement and maximising potential

“- it uses physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well being, taking account of variations in health status”

It places full and functional movement at eh heart of what it means to be healthy

Core skills of Physiotherapy

Therapeutic exercise

Manual Therapy

Electrophysical modalities

What do Physiotherapists do? Broad range of physical problems but particularly

those associated with neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions

Where Physiotherapists workAREA WORK

Outpatient Departments Back, neck and joint problems, sports injuries

Neurology Encouraging mobility in those after stroke, Parkinsons

Orthopaedics After hip, knee replacements, RTAs

Cardiovascular Exercise rehabilitation

Respiratory Chest clearance, exercise rehabilitation

Where Physiotherapists workAREA WORK

Paediatrics Cerebral palsy, spina bifida

Women’s health Advising on antenatal and postnatal care including posture and exercise

Occupational health Working in companies working on how to prevent physical problems

Sports clinics/teams Helping recovery from injury and return to full fitness

Community care Treating patients in their homes

The course in Physiotherapy 4 year degree course that leads to a professional

qualification Year 1 and Year 2 – basic sciences and

physiotherapeutic skills Year 3 and Year 4 – clinical sciences, clinical

placements and a research project

Year 1 in Physiotherapy Anatomy Clinical Anatomy Physiology Physics Chemistry

Year 2 in Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic skills - introduction to the core areas of manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and electrotherapy

Introduction to the clinical sciences - musculoskeletal, respiratory, care of the elderly and Pathology

Year 3 in Physiotherapy Clinical sciences: respiratory care, cardiovascular,

musculoskeletal, neurology, women’s health, paediatrics, care of the elderly

Research methodology and statistics, psychology Clinical placements of 4-5 weeks duration in

physiotherapy departments in hospitals, in schools, child development centres, community care

Year 4 in Physiotherapy Research project Study of an optional area eg “ Exercise in the

prevention and treatment of disease”, chronic pain. Professional issues Ergonomics Clinical placements of 4-5 weeks duration

Further details on the course www.tcd.ie/Physiotherapy Visit the stands - staff and students will answer

your questions