Physiotherapy is one of the allied health professions involved in managing and preventing pain, restoring physical mobility, and improving patients’ overall health and lifestyle as they work towards recovering or adapting to a disease, injury, or health problem. Someone who chooses the path of a physiotherapist can expect the following responsibilities out of their job:
A physiotherapist based in a country like Singapore has a lot of options for specialising in their field. Moreover, they can choose to work in a public health institution, enter private practice, or become affiliated with a clinic, hospice, nursing home, or wellness centre. Though the work won’t be easy, it often comes with a competitive salary and opportunities for career growth.
If you’re interested in the field of physiotherapy, what job options do you have? To answer that question, here’s an overview of five different career paths that are available to trained physiotherapists.
Jobs in Podiatry
Podiatry is a specialisation that deals with pain and other problems that occur in the feet or the legs. A podiatrist helps patients recover from foot or leg pain related to old age, sickness, or athletic injury and assists in the treatment of musculoskeletal problems, wounds, or skin and nail conditions around the patient’s foot or leg area.
There are excellent job prospects for physiotherapists who choose this specialisation. They can find employment at a podiatry clinic Singapore residents trust and eventually work towards earning Doctor of Podiatric Medicine credentials from a licenced podiatry association. Knowing that podiatric practice is quite in demand in the country, physiotherapists can consider a lucrative and fulfilling career in this field.
Jobs in Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy comprises a vital part of the treatment of vestibular disorders, or disorders that affect the link between the inner ear and the brain. Examples of such conditions include dizziness, concussions, otosclerosis, and vertigo.
Physiotherapeutic practice in this specialisation predominantly involves the restoration of patients’ balance. Vestibular rehabilitation therapists will guide patients to reorient themselves and to move so that their bodies can stay stable. The treatment can help mitigate additional dangers that come out of losing one’s balance, such as slipping and fainting. If you are up to the challenge, you’ll find interesting career opportunities in the field of vestibular rehabilitation therapy.
Jobs in Geriatric Physical Therapy
Geriatric physical therapy is a field of physiotherapy that specialises in working with geriatric patients, or patients who are generally over the age of 65. Elderly patients will lose some of their strength and mobility as a natural consequence of aging. But that doesn’t mean that they can no longer get back into shape or establish a sense of independence for themselves.
This will prove to be a very fulfilling speciality because a physiotherapist will play an active role in getting elderly patients to live happier and longer lives. If you choose this specialisation, the work you do will help your patients regain control of their bodies and minds and make them feel empowered—not helpless—in their twilight years.
Jobs in Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is a branch of physiotherapy that addresses the needs of patients who have physical problems like missing limbs or who’ve suffered major orthopaedic injuries. It also includes patients who have cognitive, developmental, or sensory conditions like autism spectrum disorder.
Physiotherapists who work in the field of occupational therapy will help patients adapt to their condition and be at ease when practising basic life skills like dressing up, eating and drinking by themselves, and going to the bathroom. By working with patients to improve motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and endurance, an occupational therapist can contribute a lot towards their patients’ self-esteem and self-reliance. This is especially important work because it supports the wellbeing of both the patients and their designated caregivers, such as their family members and partners.
Jobs in Recreational Therapy
Finally, physiotherapists can also explore careers in the field of recreational therapy. This involves guiding patients through recreational activities that can bolster their mental, emotional, and social health—all of which are essential to their holistic recovery.
This is a great option for physiotherapists who are extra passionate about activities like sports, competitive games, dance, music, or art. The work may resonate with a physiotherapist who wants to find the intersection of a person’s physical health and the other factors that contribute to their overall wellbeing.
Conclusion
As a budding physiotherapist, you have chosen a noble profession that plays a central role in holistic healthcare delivery. Consider the five options listed above for your long-term career development, and choose a specialisation where you feel you can contribute the most good.