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What is Physiotherapy?
The question "what is physiotherapy?" is commonly asked because unless
you've had an injury or condition that requires us, you would not
know.
The Canadian Physiotherapy Association defines physiotherapy as follows:
Physiotherapy is a first contact,
autonomous, client-focused health profession dedicated to:
- improving and maintaining functional independence and
physical performance,
- preventing and managing pain, physical impairments,
disabilities and limits to participation; and
- promoting fitness, health and wellness.
"What is physiotherapy"
Physiotherapy services are
those that are performed by physiotherapists or any other trained
individuals working under a physiotherapist's direction and supervision.
Physiotherapists
analyze
the
impact of injury, disease or disorders on movement and
function. Their unique contribution to health care is to promote,
restore and
prolong physical independence by enhancing a client's functional
capacity. Physiotherapists encourage clients to assume
responsibility for their health and participate in team approaches to
health service delivery.
"What is physiotherapy"
Physiotherapy is anchored in
movement sciences and concerned with the function of multiple body
systems and aims to enhance or restore function. Physiotherapy is
committed to health, lifestyle, and quality of life. This holistic
approach incorporates a broad range of physical and physiological
therapeutic interventions and aids.
To achieve health goals, physiotherapists
adopt state of the art diagnostic and assessment procedures and tools
in order to plan preventive and therapeutic courses of
intervention. Physiotherapists work in private and
public
settings providing client interventions as well as management,
educational, research and consultation services.
Physiotherapists receive a
university based education that provides a foundation of modern science
for the profession. By monitoring the development of physical
and
physiological approaches and the expansion of alternative therapies,
such approaches are incorporated into practice and considered
complementary therapies when sufficient evidence is available.
PRIMARY
FUNCTIONS
Physiotherapists apply a collaborative and reasoned approach to
holistic assessment, diagnosis and planning, intervention and
evaluation, in particular focusing on the musculoskeletal, neurological
and cardiorespiratory systems.
"What is physiotherapy"
Physiotherapy
includes
but is not limited to:
- Assessment
of clients
with actual or potential impairments, pain, functional limitations,
disabilities or other health-related conditions using detailed
history-taking, as well as specific tests and measures for screening,
establishing a diagnosis and monitoring.
- Diagnosis
resulting from assessment findings and clinical reasoning to determine
abilities, functional needs and potential for change.
- Planning
an
intervention strategy that addresses the prognosis and follow-up and
incorporates the application of selected approaches and techniques
supported by the best evidence available.
- Implementing selected interventions
safely to relieve pain; achieve and maintain health and fitness,
functional independence and physical performance; and manage the
identified impairments, disabilities and limits to participation.
- Evaluation
of health
status as a baseline for monitoring or to determine the result, impact,
or effectiveness of physiotherapy intervention,
- Education
of the
profession, other health professionals, the public and clients with the
intention of transferring knowledge and skills and developing
understanding, independence and competence.
- Consultation
that provides professional advice and solutions
addressing a wide range of health service and health status issues.
- Research
that
encompasses the application of critical inquiry, as well as
participation in or assessment of findings from research activities.
- Service
management related to planning, directing, organizing and
monitoring service delivery and effective utilization of resources.
- Communication
with clients, team members and others to achieve collaboration and
service coordination.
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