Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession that provides services to individuals and public to maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout their lifespan. This includes providing services in circumstances where movements and functions are affected by aging, injury, disease and environmental factors. Functional movement is central to be healthy.
Physiotherapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment or intervention and rehabilitation. This encompasses physical, psychological, emotional, and social well-being. Physiotherapy also involves the interaction between physiotherapists, patients, other healthcare professionals, families, care givers, and communities in a process where movement potential is assessed and goals are agreed upon, using knowledge and skills unique to physiotherapists.
Physiotherapy has many specialities including cardiopulmonary, geriatrics, neurological, orthopaedic and pediatrics, to name some of the more common areas. Physiotherapists practise in many settings, such as outpatient clinics, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, extended care facilities, private nursing homes, education and research centres, schools, hospices, industrial work places or other occupational environments, fitness centres and sports training centres. The core skills of the physiotherapists include manual therapy, therapeutic exercises and the application of electrotherapeutic modalities such as heat, cold and electrical stimulation.
Like all other health professionals, physiotherapists require a formal education and training before they are allowed to practise. They work independently and able to exercise their judgment and make decisions of their patients. They are regulated by a professional body and must adhere to an ethical code of practice.
With the increase in population as well as an increase in the life expectancy of the regular Malaysian coupled with the growth in the number of hospitals built, the demand for physiotherapists is expected to increase further.
Northumbria (UK) degree programme
STPM, Matriculation or ‘A’ Level, Foundation in Science with CGPA 2.50 in 2 science subjects and IELTS of 6.5 or MUET minimum band 4
Year 1
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Year 3
Physiotherapy offers a range of exciting career opportunities. The best possible pathway for the diploma students is to continue their education to obtain a degree locally and abroad. MAHSA University also offers an excellent degree programme 4+0 conducted entirely in MAHSA University. Students graduating with a diploma in physiotherapy will require two and a half years to complete the degree programme. However, they can work and continue their degree through flexi mode without leaving their jobs.
Other opportunities on completion of the diploma and degree programme can lead to a career in government and private hospitals, private clinics, spine and joints centres, community and rehabilitation centres, spastic children homes, nursing homes, health institutions (fitness and wellness centres), sports physiotherapy clinics and sales personnel in equipment companies.
Future Plans
Our future plans include the development of new courses to provide the physiotherapy practitioners with the knowledge and skills in specialisation. We also plan to conduct many short courses in the years ahead to help our graduates to keep abreast with the new development in physiotherapy and to encourage research-orientated physiotherapists. We also have plans to develop the Masters programmes in physiotherapy to further enhance the expanded and extended role of physiotherapists in Malaysia.
Source : MAHSA University