Physiotherapists help people to prevent and overcome physical health problems through in lots of different ways, including exercise, stretching and massage. They need a good understanding of anatomy and physiology, so biology is an important subject if you are interested in this career.
The role of a physiotherapist can vary from day to day. One day you might be training an injured person to walk again, while the next you could be manipulating the muscles in a patient’s back to relieve pain and promote healthy posture.
Helping people get back on their feet after life-altering injuries and illnesses
Working one-on-one with patients, getting to know them and seeing their progress
Specialising in a particular type of physiotherapy, such sports medicine or children’s health
Understanding the human body and how it works is at heart of being a physiotherapist, so pay close attention in biology lessons! Maths is another useful subject for future physiotherapists, helping you to handle the statistics sometimes involved in the job. If you plan on being a sports physiotherapist, PE is also invaluable.
Physiotherapy was first used by the Ancient Greeks. The father of medicine, Hippocrates, used hydrotherapy (water therapy) to treat his patients. This approach is still widely used by physiotherapists today.
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