Awareness of Physical Therapy in Pakistan

This is to let you people know that physiotherapy is very important in Pre and Post Surgical interventions and it is not merely bound to Orthopedics Surgery. Physiotherapy is one of the healing sciences that pertains to the assessment and evaluation of the musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular disorders including pain and those of psychosomatic origin. It deals with the treatment by natural sources based on movement, manual therapy and physical agents to relieve pain, to prevent deformities, to promote healing and developing child or rehabilitate the disabilities caused by disease or trauma.
 It’s entirely appreciable to give awareness to people regarding role of physiotherapy in Pre and Post Operative Surgeries. Physiotherapy is an independent treatment specialty which has the physical means of treating the patients suffering from different diseases. Physiotherapy has 24 sub-specialties according to A.P.T.A (American Physiotherapy Association). Some main areas of their role are in Neurology, General Medicine, Chest Medicine, Cardiology, Oncology, Orthopedic Medicine, Dermatology, Geriatric Medicine, Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery, General Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Neuro-Surgery, etc.
The message which I mean to convey to my readers is that; Physiotherapists have their own means to deal with the disease which make them independent professionals and their role in the treatment makes an important part in the total health care package. It does not mean that they work under the supervision of any other person rather they have to make the diagnosis, evaluation and the treatment program for the patients. There is no need to be referred from any other professional to take physiotherapy all around the world. In Pakistan there is lack of awareness not only among the people but also in the health care professionals about the Physiotherapy. Unfortunately there is no regulatory authority like in other countries to facilitate the P.T graduates from the recognized universities to practice in the field. The good news is that movement is in progress for this purpose. Furthermore, BSPT has been upgraded to the status of D.P.T. (Doctor of Physiotherapy-5 year clinical degree) in several countries including Pakistan in accord with the Vision 2020 of A.P.T.A. Other Post Graduation programs like M. Phil Physiotherapy, Post Professional Transitional Doctor of Physiotherapy are also running in well reputed Universities of Pakistan. And we hope to see the brighter picture soon. Insha-Allah!

Student Focus | 4th Edition

By Hasan Anjum Shahid

BSPT, Student of M.Phil Physiotherapy

K.E.M.U .Lahore

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