Physiotherapists are professionals who are qualified and trained to:

• Conduct an assessment of the needs of their clients
• Formulate a diagnosis and plan appropriate goals and treatment
• Implement physical therapy intervention
• Evaluate the intervention with appropriate outcome measures
• Provide consultation within their expertise and refer to other health care professionals when deemed necessary
• Where movement and function is affected by aging, injury or disease, physiotherapists aim to maximise the quality of lives of individuals through promotion, prevention and rehabilitation. This includes the physical, psychological, emotional and social well being of their clients, their families, caregivers as well as the communities and population at large.

Physiotherapists can be found in:

• Acute hospitals
• Community hospitals
• Day rehabilitation centres
• Day care centres
• Hospices
• Private clinics
• Nursing homes
• Patients’ homes
• Special schools
• Sports council and school
• Sports clubs

Care to go beyond? Be a physiotherapist. Visit www.caretogobeyond.sg/ahp to discover more.
Watch: http://www.caretogobeyond.sg/ahp/Pages/videos/physiotherapist.aspx

Over the years, the physiotherapists’ scope of work has been continually expanding over the years. Today, physiotherapists work with a wide spectrum of clients such as:

• Sporting athletes
• Patients with cardiac conditions such as after a heart bypass, heart attack, and heart failure
• Patients with pulmonary conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema
• Patients with neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury
• Patients who underwent surgical procedures such as a ligament repair, total knee/hip replacements, and amputations
• Patients who have musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis and a prolapsed spinal intervertebral disc (“slipped disc”)
• Paediatric patients with conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, and developmental delays
  Geriatric patients with problems such as functional decline, falls or poor balance, and cognitive impairment
• Patients with cancer conditions
• Patients with burns
• Patients who require weight management

Entry to a physiotherapy course would require GCE ‘A’ levels or equivalent and potential physiotherapy students can obtain their qualification locally or overseas.

The Nanyang Polytechnic has ceased the Diploma in Physiotherapy since its last intake in 2015.  The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) is currently running a 4 years honours degree programme in Physiotherapy.  More information can be obtained from their website:  http://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/undergraduate-programmes/physiotherapy.

Students who are keen to pursue physiotherapy studies overseas can view this list of World Physiotherapy accredited programmes. Note that not all the institutions listed are recognised by the Ministry of Health. You can refer to the list of recognised qualifications under the Allied Health Professions Council website.

For those who are seeking a mid-career switch to physiotherapy, please visit the Allied Health Professional website.

For scholarship information, visit the Healthcare Scholarship Portal.