In the digital age, the idea of studying physiotherapy online is gaining momentum, offering prospective students greater flexibility and convenience in pursuing this rewarding healthcare profession. Physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy in some countries, is a field that focuses on improving the physical well-being of individuals through specialized exercises, manual therapy, and various treatment modalities. Whether you’re considering a career change or simply want to explore the possibility of studying physiotherapy online, it’s essential to understand the options, benefits, and potential challenges associated with this approach.
The Landscape of Online Physiotherapy Education
Studying physiotherapy online is indeed possible, and numerous institutions offer programs tailored to meet the needs of distance learners. These online programs typically cover the essential aspects of physiotherapy education, including anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and various treatment techniques. However, it’s important to choose a reputable institution that is accredited and recognized by relevant authorities in your region.
Which course is best for physiotherapy?
When embarking on a journey to become a physiotherapist, choosing the right course is a critical decision. The best course for physiotherapy can vary depending on your educational background, career goals, and location. Here are some key considerations to help you decide on the most suitable path:
Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy
For those starting from scratch or with a limited background in healthcare, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy is often the most straightforward route. This program typically takes three to four years and covers the fundamentals of physiotherapy, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clinical practice. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to work as physiotherapists.
Master’s Degree in Physiotherapy
If you already hold a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, you may consider pursuing a Master’s degree in physiotherapy. This program is often more focused and allows you to deepen your knowledge and skills in physiotherapy, ultimately preparing you for more advanced and specialized roles in the field.
Online Courses
As mentioned earlier, online courses are becoming more accessible, offering a flexible and convenient way to study physiotherapy. However, it’s essential to ensure that the online program you choose is accredited and meets the educational requirements for licensure in your area.
Is physiotherapy a difficult course?
The difficulty of physiotherapy courses, like many other fields of study, can vary from person to person and depends on a combination of factors. Here are some of the considerations that may influence the perceived difficulty of a physiotherapy course:
Prerequisite Knowledge
Physiotherapy programs often require a strong foundation in subjects like biology, anatomy, and physiology. If you have a solid background in these areas, you may find the course content more manageable. On the other hand, if you are new to these subjects, you might face a steeper learning curve.
Clinical Practice
Physiotherapy programs typically include a substantial clinical component where students work with patients under the guidance of experienced professionals. This aspect of the program can be challenging as it involves practical application of theoretical knowledge.
About Open Online Courses
Open online courses are courses running purely in an online environment that is open for anyone to participate in. These online courses are referred to as “open” because:
- the course takes place in an area that is open for anyone to read, reflect and comment upon,
- they are free,
- the content and work done in the course are shared between all people taking the course.
These courses are often referred to as MOOCs – massive open online courses – as they can generate huge participation.
Open Online Courses in Physiopedia
Part of the Physiopedia objectives is to provide at least one free course each year. These are the courses that have been delivered:
| Date | Course Topic | Articles Created | Pageviews | Course Registrants | Number of Countries Represented | Participants from LMICs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Professional Ethics | n/a | n/a | 88 | 8 | 52 |
| 2014 | Spinal Cord Injuries | n/a | n/a | 3,500 | 110 | 95 |
| 2015 | Amputee Rehabilitation | 26 | 129,899 | 7,639 | 150 | 421 |
| 2016 | Physical Activity | 44 | 82,647 | 8,482 | 157 | 191 |
| 2016 | Cerebral Palsy | 25 | 193,299 | 14,010 | 179 | 651 |
| 2017 | Clubfoot | 25 | 36,243 | 7,277 | 156 | 387 |
| 2018 | Wheelchair Service Provision | 25 | 57,718 | 5,559 | 148 | 601 |
| 2019 | Traumatic Brain Injury Programme | 33 | 91,221 | 20,522 | 185 | 821 |
| 2020 | Coronavirus Disease Programme | 19 | 358, 611 | 166,870 | 214 | n/a |
| 2021 | Understanding Rehabilitation as Health Strategy | 38 | 91,221 | 10,703 | 107 | 823 |
| 2022 | Understanding the Rehabilitation Needs of Displaced Persons | 24 | 31,972 | 12,604 | 107 | 383 |
| 2023 | Understanding Basic Rehabilitation Techniques |
*LMICs = Low and Middle Income Countries
Professional Ethics – June 2013
In collaboration with the University of Western Cape in South Africa, Physiopedia ran the worlds first ever physiotherapy or physical therapy MOOC. The course was a huge success and has provided us with a very workable model for running future MOOCs in Physiopedia.
Physiotherapy Management of Spinal Cord Injuries – June 2014
This course was created and delivered in collaboration with the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS). It had around 4000 participants and was accredited by World Physiotherapy for 15 IPT-CEUs (International Physical Therapy Continuing Education Units).
Lower Limb Amputee Rehabilitation – June 2015
This course was a workforce training initiative for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Over 7000 participants registered to participate and it was accredited by World Physiotherapy for 24 IPT-CEUs (International Physical Therapy Continuing Education Units).
Physiotherapy, Exercise and Physical Activity – July 2016
This course, is a collaboration with Exercise Works in the UK, was designed to help healthcare professionals understand the size of the problem of physical inactivity in populations globally, the role of physical inactivity in the causation of a number of conditions and the benefits of exercise in treatment and prevention, and to encourage those who access the course to perform and evaluate interventions to increase physical activity in their settings.
- Information about the Physiotherapy, Exercise and Physical Activity course
- Access the course – English
- View Report
- View PDF Report
Managing Children with Cerebral Palsy – September 2016
This course was run in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It provided a framework to develop introductory level principles of the management of children with Cerebral Palsy relevant in all contexts. The global network formed through this course will allow for shared knowledge and experiences to support good health care and better quality of life for children with Cerebral Palsy around the world.
- Information about the Managing Children with Cerebral Palsy course
- Access the course – English or French
- View Report
- View PDF Report
Managing Children with Clubfoot – November 2017
This course was run in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Global Clubfoot Initiative (GCI). It aimed to provide a basic theoretical understanding of clubfoot and to align global understanding of the theoretical principles underlying the management of children with clubfoot.
- Information about the Managing Children with Clubfoot course
- Access the course – English or French
- View Report
- View PDF report
Wheelchair Service Provision – October 2018
This course was run in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Humanity & Inclusion who provided the french translation, and the World Health Organisation who provided the wheelchair service training packages. It aimed to provide a basic theoretical understanding of wheelchair service provision.
- Information about the Wheelchair Service Provision course
- Access the course – English or French
- View report
- View PDF Report
About Courses of Physiotherapy
The Physiotherapy course prepares professionals to work in the prevention of problems in people’s physical and motor skills, as well as their rehabilitation.
Upon graduation, the student will have the necessary qualifications to diagnose and treat problems caused by accidents, poor training, trauma and posture vices. Completion of the course takes between 4 and 5 years.
In the job market, physiotherapy professionals can work in hospitals, clinics or offices, companies, nursing homes, sports clubs and also provide home care.
Be careful when taking professional and online courses at health area
To practice some professions in the health area, the certificate of an entry-level vocational course (which is what we offer on our platform) is often not enough. To become a nurse, psychologist, nutritionist, physiotherapist, physical educator or pharmacist, you need a higher level course (college / university).
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Online courses with exercises
Some of our courses have exercises produced exclusively for our platform, helping you to practice the knowledge acquired in the course.
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