Last Updated on December 28, 2022
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Do you know that physiotherapy was established in Australia after World War 1?
Many doctors were sceptical about using massage therapy treatment at the beginning of war. However, many soldiers required physical rehabilitation and thus, massage practitioners were able to demonstrate the effectiveness of their methods. By the end of 1918, physical therapy became widely known and at the end of 1930s, the term ‘physiotherapy’ was adopted.
But what exactly is physiotherapy and what does this treatment do? How does it help the soldiers?
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy also commonly known as physical therapy, is a science-based profession that takes a ‘whole person’ approach to health and wellbeing. This is a treatment to help people that are affected by illness, injury or disability through advice, movement, exercise and manual therapy.
Physiotherapists help to maintain health for people of all ages, help patients to manage pain and prevent disease. They will use their knowledge and skills to improve conditions related to different systems of the body such as:
Respiratory
asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis
Cardiovascular
treatment after heart attack, stroke
Neuromusculoskeletal
back pain, arthritis, sport injuries
Neurological
Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis
What are the common Physiotherapy treatments?
Soft Tissue Mobilisation
This is also referred to as therapeutic massage. This treatment helps relax patient’s muscles, reduce swelling, and circulate blood flow .This is the best treatment to relieve pain related to athletic injuries.
Range of Motion (ROM) Exercises
Physiotherapists will prescribe a range of motion exercises to promote movement, facilitate circulation and encourage joint mobility. This is to prevent atrophy or any other related postural problems and also improve patient’s flexibility and independence.
Electrotherapy
This is an electrical simulation where electrodes will be attached to the skin. The electrodes will help the muscle to shorten which will in turn prevent atrophy. This treatment is suitable for patients with paralysis or severe range of motion.
Cryotherapy and Heat Therapy
This treatment is using cold or heat to apply to patients’ affected areas. Cryotherapy is using ice packs while heat therapy is using hot packs to the patients. This treatment is usually suitable for people with desk jobs or professional athletes.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
This treatment is using sound waves to treat injuries in the body. The ultrasound frequency is targeting damaged tissue with soft beams and it will be absorbed by ligaments, tendons and fascia. This is suitable for patients with arthritis, tendonitis and muscle strain.
What are the skills required to be a Physiotherapist?
1. Empathy
Patients come in with low morale because they experience loss of control in certain areas of their physical health, which may make them feel insecure about their body. Therefore, you must have strong empathy feelings to help to restore back, not only their physical health but also psychological health.
2. Critical Thinking
You must be able to analyze and evaluate a patient’s situation in order to make a suitable diagnosis to treat the patients. You must be able to suggest appropriate treatments, actions, advice or therapy according to patients’ conditions.
3. Observational Skills
Different patients have different conditions and therefore, you must have strong observational skills to judge the severity of their conditions based on the gender, age and physical health.
4. Time Management
Normally, every session takes 1 to 2 hours per patient. You will need to observe, consult, perform exercise and come up with a treatment plan within the time given. Therefore, you must be good at managing time.
Career Opportunities
How to Become a Physiotherapist in Australia?
Top Universities to Study Physiotherapy in Australia
All the recommended courses below are the only undergraduate degrees in Australia that are accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC). Students will be also be eligible to apply for registration through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to practise physiotherapy within Australia
- The University of Queensland
- Monash University
- University of South Australia
- University of Newcastle
- Griffith University
- James Cook University
- University of Canberra
- University of Notre Dame Australia
- Australian Catholic University
- Western Sydney University
- Central Queensland University
- Charles Sturt University
The University of Queensland
| Program | Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) |
| Intake | February |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Indicative Fees 2020 | AUD $46,752 |
Monash University
| Program | Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) |
| Intake | February |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Indicative Fees 2020 | AUD $46,900 |
University of South Australia
| Program | Bachelor of Physiotherapy |
| Intake | February |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Indicative Fees 2020 | AUD $37,800 |
University of Newcastle
| Program | Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) |
| Intake | February |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Indicative Fees 2020 | AUD $36,610 |
Griffith University
| Program | Bachelor of Physiotherapy |
| Intake | February |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Indicative Fees 2020 | AUD $ 43,000 |
James Cook University
| Program | Bachelor of Physiotherapy |
| Intake | February |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Indicative Fees 2020 | AUD $35,280 |
University of Canberra
| Program | Bachelor of Physiotherapy |
| Intake | February |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Indicative Fees 2020 | AUD $37,200 |
University of Notre Dame Australia
| Program | Bachelor of Physiotherapy |
| Intake | February |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Indicative Fees 2020 | AUD $39,000 |
Australian Catholic University
| Program | Bachelor of Physiotherapy |
| Intake | February |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Indicative Fees 2020 | AUD $39,472 |
Western Sydney University
| Program | Bachelor of Physiotherapy |
| Intake | March |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Indicative Fees 2020 | AUD $30,480 |
Central Queensland University
| Program | Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) |
| Intake | March |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Indicative Fees 2020 | AUD $32,100 |
Charles Sturt University
| Program | Bachelor of Physiotherapy |
| Intake | March |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Annual Indicative Fees 2020 | Ask us now |
