Why Physiotherapy??

Posted by ATP June 26, 2020

Why Physiotherapy??

As a budding Physiotherapist, the most important question that you will be asked is “Why Physiotherapy?” and I must say, it’s a good one though overused. Too many times we find young persons becoming involved in a field because of their parents, lack of interest in other fields, pressure to "get a degree" by elders or for the sole purpose of status and money. This in turn affects the future contributions of these professionals in the workplace as many of them suffer from depression, mental illness and do not become the best caregivers due to the lack of passion for the field. The goal should always be to produce well-rounded, compassionate healthcare workers who are dedicated to enhancing their patient’s overall health and fitness levels. Though difficult at times, it important to follow your heart and genuine passions as this will motivate you during the toughest parts of your degree.

Physiotherapists can be found in many different settings such as hospitals, clinics, working with sporting teams, rehabilitation centers, pediatrics, women’s health, orthopedics, and some are even found at local gyms and wellness centers. These professionals are known to be movement specialists as they focus on decreasing pain, improving mobility and strength and restoring physical functions of the body that may be impaired.

So, How do you know if you want to become a Physiotherapist?

Research

If you or a family member have not actually been to a Physiotherapist, the best thing to do before making a decision would be to do a little research on the career. This includes reading articles and watching videos to become more aware about what a Physiotherapist does and what Physiotherapy school is like. Do not rely solely on what is portrayed on television or in movies to gather your information about the career field. A simple search on Google or Youtube can lead you to all the introductory information you may need to know before you make up your mind.

Identify Essential Personality Traits

I would say that this is very important to know beforehand for any profession as it helps you to analyse if you are best suited for the career. I also recall being asked about my personality traits and why I think it will make a good Physiotherapist during my Physiotherapy school interview. Therefore, it is safe to say that some time should be placed on identifying your personal characteristics and how they can benefit you in your chosen field. Being a career focused on service to others, one must be compassionate, friendly, empathetic, driven, passionate and patient not only towards the patients themselves, but yourself as well. It is a field that is very demanding mentally and physically and pushes you to your limits, so it must be one that you are dedicated to wholeheartedly. Some self introspection should do the trick but you can also take an online personality or career quiz if needed. These are fun and easy and most times reliable.

Get Involved!!

So you have done the research and think that you are well suited personally for the career, but what’s next? Try to get involved directly in the field by seeking volunteer opportunities at your local clinic or hospital. Volunteering is a requirement for admission into most Physiotherapy programs but you can also volunteer on your own merit for as long as you wish. If possible, you can seek employment as a clerk at a rehabilitation centre or hospital which will also expose you more to the field. There's only so much that you can read or watch on the internet. Placing yourself in such an environment, allows you to witness firsthand the "not-so glamorous" side of the career. You aren't only going to be giving patients massages and exercises but will be dealing with death, seeing your patients struggle mentally and physically as well as coming to terms with those that you are unable to help despite your best efforts. Volunteering puts the career in a more real life perspective and allows you to see both the good and bad of the career and if after seeing those you are still interested, chances are this is definitely the field for you.

These are just a few tips but the main goal is to get educated about the field of Physiotherapy beforehand, in order to begin the journey of becoming one. Identifying why you want to become a Physiotherapist in the first place is definitely the most important part to ensuring that you become a great one in the future.

For more information on studying Physiotherapy at university, study tips and advice, follow our Instagram page and YouTube channel using the link below.

Check out our first YouTube Video where we discuss why we started our channel and also what made us chose the career path of physical therapy.