Physiotherapy Courses - Careers, Salary, Jobs, Scope

Why Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is increasingly gaining popularity in India as back pain, knee pain, neck sprains have become common problems owing to our modern ways of living. The need and demand for physiotherapists is leading to an increase in the number of students opting for this course.

Physiotherapy courses are offered at Bachelors, masters and even diploma level. The duration can range between 6 months to 4 years, depending on the course.

Physiotherapists are required to have good interpersonal, analytical, logical reasoning, scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills to understand the ailment of the patients, empathize and treat them patiently. They need to have in-depth knowledge of the body structure and musculoskeletal system. They may work in government or private institutions or are self-employed.

Physiotherapists may be required to travel in some cases to treat their patients at home. Certain professionals such as sports physiotherapists may be required to travel a lot with the team. Generally, a physiotherapist may be required to work 35-40 hours a week. Senior and experienced physiotherapists may be required to work late hours and during weekends.

Physiotherapy Courses

The degrees offered in this course are:

Jobs and career opportunities in Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is such a discipline where a person can perform various jobs. The most popular job roles for physiotherapists are:

Sports physio rehabilitator: A sports physiotherapist helps the sportspersons on and off the field with their workouts, health, and injury. They provide training and also help the athletes recover from their injuries by using methods such as ice simulation, heat simulation, motion exercises, acupuncture, massage etc.

They work in a team environment and have to be compassionate with their clients. Their average salary ranges from Rs 60,000 to 3,00,000 per month.

Orthopedic surgeon: An orthopedic surgeon is responsible for the prevention and treatment of injuries and diseases occurring in the patient’s bones, ligaments, muscles, joints, nerves, and tendons. They use medicines, exercises and rehabilitative therapies for treatment rather than performing surgery. The average salary of an orthopedic surgeon in India is Rs 14,56,348 annually.

Pediatrics: Pediatrics treat patients of age group 0-18 years who suffer from injuries and disabilities. They use physical therapy to provide the patients with an active and independent lifestyle. The treatment of diseases such as cerebral palsy, down syndrome, cancer, cardiopulmonary disorders, traumatic brain injury etc. are done using therapy.

Making the treatment a fun activity and enjoyable is part of the job. Pediatric physiotherapy is concerned with the movement, coordination, posture and cardiorespiratory system. A pediatric earns around Rs 7,00,000 to 8,00,000 in a year.

Geriatrics: Geriatric physiotherapy is concerned with the health care of elderly people. A geriatric treats diseases that occur in the old age and may include arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and joint soreness.

He/she uses exercises and manual therapy and educates the old people on how to prevent injury and pain. He helps them remain active, gain strength and confidence and lead a healthy life.The average base salary of a geriatric is around Rs 60,000 per month.

Neurology: A neurological therapist treats problems related to the nervous system and neuromuscular system in patients which may lead to strokes, spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, functional neurological disorders and Parkinson’s disease.

Exercises suiting the patient’s disease and capability are used for patient’s treatment. A neurological physiotherapist may earn Rs 4,00,000 to 6,00,000 in a year.

Salary in Physiotherapy

The average salary of a physiotherapist is Rs 2,47,765 per year. The salary varies with experience and it rises for experienced workers. For a junior physiotherapist, the average salary is Rs 2,70,000. A lead physiotherapist earns Rs 3,05,209 while a chief physiotherapist earns Rs 7,80,000 on an average per year.

The number of physiotherapists in India is around 5000 which means 1 therapist available for 10,000 patients. Health, Fitness and Wellness centers of top brands now hire these professionals, therefore, increasing the demand and making it a lucrative career option.

Recruiters Physiotherapy Recruiters

Physiotherapists may work in community health centers, mental health centers, private hospitals, rehabilitation centers, government hospitals, sports clinics, fitness centers, private clinics, teaching establishments and defense establishments. With so many areas to work in, they have a huge number of recruiters some of which are mentioned below:

• Talkwalkers Pantaloons Fitness Pvt. Ltd.
• Intellectual Resource Training Pvt. Ltd.
• HelpAge India
• Hosmat Hospital
• Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.
• Fortis Hospital
• Medybiz Pvt. Ltd.
• Mgarpata Club
• Taj Blue Diamond
• Sun & Sands

Specializations offered

• Geriatrics– These specialized professionals help elderly patients achieve or maintain balanced levels of physical health by focusing on ailments like arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and joint soreness.
• Neurological- These professionals specialize in the evaluation and treatment of individuals with movement problems due to disease or injury to the nervous system. They do the treatment of patients suffering from neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, brain injury, cerebral paralysis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke etc.
• Orthopedic- This therapy is required to restore the patients’ activity after injury or surgery and so is used in the treatment of musculoskeletal system. The specialists treat injuries due to sprains, strains, arthritis, spinal conditions, back and neck pain and amputations.
• Pediatric- In pediatric physiotherapy, physiotherapists are specialized to work with age group starting from premature infants to adolescents and are concerned with their movement, coordination, posture and cardiorespiratory system.
• Cardiopulmonary- Cardiopulmonary physiotherapists treat acute problems like asthma, acute chest infections, and trauma.They also treat chronic cardiac and respiratory conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF) and post-myocardial infarction (MI).
• Integumentary-These professionals treat wounds of the skin, hairs, and nails using physical methods like electrical stimulation, massage, whirlpool treatments, biofeedback, ultrasound treatments and application of heat or ice.

Courses & Subjects

The course content is:

Top colleges offering Physiotherapy courses in India

Below is a list of some of the popular colleges in India offering Physiotherapy  courses–

Let’s look at some renowned colleges that provide this course in detail:

Christian Medical College, Vellore

The college was established in 1990 with a mission to be a witness to the healing ministry of Christ, through excellence in education, service, and research. Graduates get placed in government sectors as well as aboard.

Fees: Rs 40,603 per year

Course: Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)

Eligibility: The candidates should have passed in Physics, English, Chemistry, and Biology.

Madras Medical College, Chennai

The college was established in 1835 and has been ranked among top medical colleges in India by various ranking portals. It is renowned for its placements wherein alumni’s get placed all over the country.

Fees: Rs 1,150 per year

Course: Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)

Eligibility: Candidate must have cleared his/her 12^th class with minimum 50% of marks in aggregate. All SC/ST candidate should have 5% of relaxation.

 Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Mumbai

The college was established in 1964.

Fees: Rs 29,143 per year

Course: Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)

Eligibility: Candidate must have cleared his/her 12^th class with minimum 50% of marks in aggregate. All SC/ST candidate should have 5% of relaxation.

Placement: On campus, placements are done for this course.

Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai

Established in 1985 with a mission to preserve and promote the high values and ethics in education, healthcare, and research and will pursue excellence in all these areas while consciously meeting the expectations of the people.

Recognition: Accredited by NAAC with ‘A’ Grade (CGPA 3.62 on a 4 point scale)

Fees: Rs 88,889 per year

Course: Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Eligibility: Candidate must have cleared HSC/12^th from a recognized board after a period of 12 years study in subjects Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English.

Placement: Placement is done in top hospitals including its own.

JSS College of Physiotherapy, Mysore, Karnataka

Date of Establishment: 1999

Vision: JSS College of physiotherapy is committed to providing quality education with an emphasis on practicing the profession with dignity and compassion in keeping with global excellence standards and human values.

Fees: Rs 8,450 per year

Course: Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)

Eligibility: 10+2 or equivalent with English as one of the subjects, and Physics, Biology, and Chemistry as optional subjects from a recognized board.

Requirements for Physiotherapy course

• Must have passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English with at least 50 % marks in each
• The minimum age required is 17 years
• Some colleges accept candidates on the basis of Common Entrance Test (CET) scores

Scope of Physiotherapy in India

Physiotherapy is an old discipline but awareness about it is gradually increasing with its increasing need in various sectors such as sports, fitness centers, wellness centers, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, spas etc.

The career prospects in physiotherapy are bright due to a large number of specializations available such as Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Neurology, Orthopedics, Cardiopulmonary, and Integumentary. These specialized professionals can practice independently or in institutions. They can also go for research and teaching.

Due to the modern lifestyle, the need for these professionals is high and they are provided with good remuneration. This specialization is thus expected to be in great demand in the coming years as well.