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 Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession
with a science foundation. The range of work
is very broad and varied and involves working
with people to promote their own health and
well being.
Physiotherapy helps restore movement and
function to as near normal as possible when
someone is affected by injury, illness or
by developmental or other disability.
Physiotherapists work in a wide variety of
health settings such as intensive care, mental
illness, stroke recovery, occupational health,
and care of the elderly.
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A more formal definition of physiotherapy
comes from the 2002 CSP Curriculum Framework:
"It uses physical approaches to promote,
maintain and restore physical, psychological
and social well-being, taking account of
variations in health status.
Physiotherapy is science-based, committed
to extending, applying, evaluating and reviewing
the evidence that underpins and informs its
practice and delivery.
The exercise of clinical judgement and informed
interpretation is at its core."
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 Chartered Physiotherapists combine their
knowledge, skills and approach to improve
a broad range of physical problems associated
with different 'systems' of the body.
In particular they treat neuromuscular (brain
and nervous system), musculoskeletal (soft
tissues, joints and bones), cardiovascular
and respiratory systems (heart and lungs
and associated physiology).
People are often referred for physiotherapy
by doctors or other health and social care
professionals. Increasingly, as a result
of changes in health care, people are referring
themselves directly to physiotherapists without
previously seeing any other health care professional.
Physiotherapists work autonomously, most
often as a member of a team with other health
or social care professionals. They may be
employed or self-employed and can work alone.
Physiotherapy practice is characterised by
reflective behaviour and systematic clinical
reasoning, both contributing to and underpinning
a problem-solving approach to patient-centred
care.
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