This week’s career memes bow down to physiotherapists, the professionals who work with all kinds of patients to improve their function and mobility following surgery, illness or an accident.
Physiotherapists are beginning to make use of new technologies to enhance diagnosis and treatment. These technologies include those that integrate multiple sensors and interfaces, such as body tracking and virtual reality, respectively.
More specifically, physiotherapists organise exercise sessions for patients, educate and advise patients on exercise and movement, liaise with professionals, such as doctors and nurses, supervise specialist therapies, such as hydrotherapy, collect data, and write reports. Therefore, good interpersonal, communication and time management skills are required for the job.
Physiotherapists can find work in hospitals, private clinics, sports clinics, industrial organisations and specialist schools.
Their educational background may include a degree in life sciences, sports science or physiotherapy, as well as clinical practice. To practice physiotherapy in Ireland, chartered physiotherapists must become a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists.
In Ireland, a physiotherapist can expect to earn a starting salary of more than €30,000, according to Careers Portal.
