Physiotherapy is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, prognosis, patient education, physical intervention, rehabilitation, disease prevention, and health promotion.

It promotes movement, helps ease pain and restore function. Physiotherapists assess a patient’s condition and develop a treatment plan unique to that individual. Physiotherapists are highly skilled and autonomous health care professionals who provide safe quality client-centred physiotherapy through a commitment to service availability, accessibility and excellence. A physiotherapist works with people of all ages and treats a vast amount of health conditions.

Physiotherapists are an important component in rehabilitation, treatment and prevention of acute and chronic conditions. A physiotherapist uses a wide range of modalities to treat. Treatment can include manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, hydrotherapy, acupuncture and mechanical devices like ultrasound and tens machines.

You no longer need a doctor’s referral before seeing a physiotherapist. It is possible that you can see a physician and obtain a referral before seeing a physio. However, in most cases, people are free to book an appointment directly without a note from their doctor.

A physiotherapist can treat various issues like Sports injuries, Musculoskeletal, Neurological issues, paediatric care and other problems as well depending upon the specialization of the physiotherapist. Some Common issues that can be treated by a physiotherapist are neck and back pain caused by problems in the muscles and skeleton. Problems in the bones, joints, muscles and ligaments, such as arthritis. Fatigue, pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of muscle strength. Loss of mobility because of trauma to the brain (Stroke) or spine, or due to diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis can all be treated.

Musculoskeletal / orthopedic physiotherapy: Used to treat conditions such as Bone Injuries, sprains, back pain, arthritis, strains, posture problems, sport and workplace injuries.

Neurological Physiotherapy : Used to treat disorders of the nervous system including strokes, spinal cord injuries, acquired brain injuries, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease Other than that, based on physio’s personal interest, experience & certified trainings physiotherapists can be specialized in one or more of the following specialties Paediatric Physiotherapy, Geriatric Physiotherapy, Vestibular Rehabilitation, Cardiovascular Physiotherapy, Pulmonary Physiotherapy, Sports Physiotherapy, Women’s Health Physiotherapy, Dry Needling Physiotherapy, Cupping Therapy etc.

A Physiotherapist is a healthcare professional who helps patients to achieve maximum recovery from injury or disease and return as a contributor to the society. Working independently or as a member of the health-care team a physiotherapist aims to improve the health and independence of his / her patients. Physiotherapist assesses, plans and implements rehabilitative programs that restore and improve sensory motor functions and relieve pain syndromes. A Physiotherapist has a vital role to play in management of patients, right from conception to mother & child care and till a ripe old age. He / She is an essential team member in intensive care / critical care unit, cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal fitness & training. These are important aspect of physiotherapist’s job profile. Antenatal & postnatal physiotherapy is another essential field where a physiotherapist plays an important role. Physiotherapist uses a variety of treatment techniques to hasten the body’s natural healing process and speed recovery.

Physiotherapists are employed in a broad range of settings such as
• Academics
• Research
• Hospitals& Nursing Home
• Private Practice
• Rehabilitation centres
• Sports and fitness centres
• Ergonomic consultants to corporate & other professionals
• Educational Institutions
• Home based care
• Old age homes

Evaluations and treatments in outpatient & inpatient set ups:

1. Health promotion in community:
   • Educating people about healthy lifestyle choices. This includes ergonomics and conducting health and fitness camps for screening for lifestyle diseases.
   • Treating a wide variety of conditions at home, work, school and giving advice to caretakers.
2. In patient care: Patients admitted in hospital for surgery, convalescence, pre & post operation care.
   • Intensive care units: Chest and limb physiotherapy in adult and paediatric ICU
   • Palliative care: Working with the terminally ill patients having cancer and AIDS
   • Orthopaedics and Trauma: Rehabilitation of patients suffering from different orthopaedic and traumatic conditions like joint replacements, slip disc, fractures etc.
   • Paediatrics: Treating children admitted for medical, surgical and neurological conditions.
   • Women’s Health: Ante-natal and post-natal exercise, postural advice, managing incontinence and post-operative care.
3. Outpatient care
   • Musculoskeletal rehabilitation:
     1. Spinal and peripheral joint biomechanical dysfunction.
     2. Fitness and sports injuries in sportspersons.
     3. Soft tissue injuries
   • Neurorehabilitation:
     1. Paediatric Neurorehabilitation: Neuro developmental programs to develop functional independence. In children with brain damage at birth / early childhood. / Children with learning difficulties:
        Using sport and recreation to develop personality and confidence, assessment and providing ergonomic advice.
     2. Adults: Restoration of movement and function in strokes, spinal cord injuries, head injuries and other neurological conditions.
   • Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation:
     1. Cardiac rehabilitation following Myocardial infarction (Heart attack), after Bypass surgery and other heart conditions.
     2. Pulmonary rehabilitation in various lung conditions to improve oxygen saturation in the body, thereby improving functional capacity of an individual.
     3. Physical Fitness and weight reduction: Using different exercise regimes and exercise equipment.
   • Geriatric Rehabilitation: Maintaining mobility, balance and independence in activities of daily living, prevention of falls, rehabilitation after falls, treatment of arthritis, chest conditions in the elderly.
   • Occupational health: Assessment of work habits in organizations and industries, formulating prevention Protocols and treatment of work-related disorders.

Physiotherapy is one of the most preferred health professions. The Indian therapist has Created a niche globally with sound theoretical as well as a strong clinical base. It is estimated that one physiotherapist is required for every 10,000 people. The number of qualified therapists in India is few and the demand for trained professionals is growing with time. Making a career in Physiotherapy is a wise decision as it is ever widening field which offers numerous job options in India as well as abroad.

The program provides the highest quality education that fosters inter-disciplinary research, critical thinking, evidence-based practice and leadership. The primary mission in Physiotherapy is to provide comprehensive undergraduate and post graduate education in health care management. The program seeks to offer high quality education in theoretical as well as practical and clinical applications of physiotherapy to aspiring health care managers. The program develops leaders of the profession who demonstrate evidence-based practice, critical inquiry and clinical decision-making skills needed for differential diagnosis and autonomous practice. The program has graduated more than 1000 innovative clinicians with exceptional leadership skills who maintain strong ties to the academic program and profession. Graduates of this program can be found working throughout the world in a variety of clinical practice settings. Many of our students continue their relationship with us in serving as clinical instructors throughout the curriculum. The curriculum is divided into the basic sciences, para clinical and clinical subjects in addition to core subjects in physiotherapy spanning over four years followed by six months of compulsory internship. At DY Patil we provide sports physiotherapy exposure to students as this university has an international level stadium.

• Attached 1200 bedded hospital with all specialized wards, ICU, NICU, PICU and other specialized clinics.
• Specialized OPDs.
• Well-equipped Electrotherapy and Exercise therapy labs.
• Classrooms equipped with latest teaching aids.
• Spacious library having latest physiotherapy journals and reference books in print
• Internet facility.
• Guest lectures, seminars and workshops on recent developments in physiotherapy are organized to provide wide exposure to the field of physiotherapy.
• Students are provided field exposure during various sports tournaments held in Mumbai.

Our Graduate programme covers all requirements needed for an independent physiotherapy practice.

It is not advisable to change the speciality for MPT.