Nine areas you can work in as a physiotherapist

Nine areas you can work in as a physiotherapist

Skilled physiotherapists are more in-demand than ever. But what do physios actually do, and where do they end up working?

Healthcare and Social Assistance is the largest employing sector of the Australian workforce. This sector is forecast to continue growing faster than any other, primarily due to increasing demand in allied health, aged care, disability support and community services1. And as demand for these services grows, so too does the importance of preventative healthcare, which is why skilled physiotherapists are more in-demand than ever. But what does a physiotherapist actually do, and where do they work? 

We sat down with Adrian Pranata, Program Manager of RMIT’s Master of Physiotherapy to find out which areas of specialisation physiotherapists can focus on, and what settings they work in. 

What do physiotherapists do?

“Physios treat conditions associated with movement,” says Adrian. “This is predominantly in the area of musculoskeletal or orthopaedic conditions. Physiotherapists help people recover from injury, increase mobility, reduce pain and prevent further injury, and they’re involved in the assessment, diagnosis and management of patient care.”  Physios work across a wide range of health settings, from hospital critical care units and private practices, to government bodies, aged care facilities and professional sporting clubs. And while physios work across different health settings, they may also work in different areas of clinical practice — or physio ‘specialisations.’

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Nine areas you could work in a as physiotherapist:

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Musculoskeletal physiotherapists treat a wide range of conditions affecting muscles, bones, joints and nerves. They diagnose and manage musculoskeletal — and particularly spinal-related — pain. Lower back pain and arthritis are two commonly treated health conditions, and these are often complex, longstanding and can be disabling for some patients. Musculoskeletal physiotherapists play an integral role in the management and prevention of chronic musculoskeletal conditions via hands-on treatment and exercise prescription.

Musculoskeletal physios work in a range of settings including private practice, community rehabilitation centres, hospital inpatient and outpatient settings.

Sports and exercise physiotherapists are involved in the prevention and management of injuries resulting from athletic and sporting injuries. They play a big role in helping athletes of all ages and ability levels to enhance their performance.  

They promote an active lifestyle, provide rehabilitation and training interventions for restoring optimal function.

Many work with recreational athletes in private practice or clinical settings, and they may also be involved in club-level sports and attend training sessions. They often work in competitive sports — working and travelling with elite individual athletes or teams — and work alongside other medical professionals, like coaches, strength and conditioning personnel and support staff.

“As physios, we work across genders,” reports Adrian. 

“So for example, musculoskeletal issues following childbirth — this is within the area of physiotherapy.” 

Adrian says that during pregnancy, physios may treat pregnancy-related pain, like back pain, pelvic instability and more. After childbirth, physios may be involved in the assessment and management of abdominal muscle separation, inflammatory breast conditions, pelvic floor rehabilitation, bladder pain, incontinence and other health concerns. They also help women manage some of their symptoms during menopause, so they work with both genders across different developmental stages.  

Physiotherapists who specialise in women's health often work closely with the patient’s GP and will recommend more specialised testing — like pelvic floor assessment using real-time ultrasound — where needed. 

“Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy focuses on the assessment and treatment of people with conditions that affect their cardiovascular (heart) and respiratory (lungs) systems,” says Adrian.

Respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and bronchiectasis are commonly treated, and these conditions are often accompanied by distressing symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent cough, difficulty breathing and a reduced ability to exercise and function in daily life.  

Cardiorespiratory physios often work in hospital settings that vary from medical and surgical wards, intensive care units, to outpatient clinics.

“Neurological physiotherapy is a specialist area which is growing in private practice," reports Adrian.  

“When the communication of messages between the brain and body is disrupted, loss of movement, sensation, co-ordination, and balance can occur.”

Neurological physiotherapists treat people with movement and function disorders that stem from problems within the body’s nervous and neuromuscular systems. Neurological conditions and disorders, like stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s Disease, can impact the functioning of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves resulting in lifelong impairments and disability. Neurological physiotherapists assist in recovery and rehabilitation to improve the quality of life of people with neurological conditions. 

Due to the complexity of neurological disorders, management of these conditions is often interdisciplinary. Physiotherapists are an integral part of the healthcare network that consists of neurologists, nurses, occupational therapists and speech pathologists that work together to provide support for an individual’s needs.  

Physios who specialise in paediatrics are trained to work with infants, children and adolescents. They have expertise and skills in treating children with a range of conditions that affect mobility. This includes issues with developmental delay or neuromotor problems. 

Paediatric physiotherapists assess each child individually and develop tailored programmes for their patients with a family-centred focus. They provide treatment, management and education to promote and enhance the wellbeing of children and maximise their participation in everyday activities.

Occupational health physiotherapists form part of the broader field of work health and safety, including injury prevention, health promotion, rehabilitation and return to work processes and worker wellbeing.  

They are often involved in drafting Codes of Practice and work health and safety guidelines, and they consult with government agencies regarding regulations and laws related to the health and safety of the working population.

The knowledge and expertise of occupational health physiotherapists are valued by employers, policy makers, equipment suppliers, designers, and other agencies. 

Gerontology is the study of ageing, and gerontological physiotherapists focus on the health and wellbeing of older people. They support them to achieve their health and wellbeing goals, and maintain their independence and quality of life.

Gerontological physiotherapists often work with patients in hospitals, nursing homes and in the community, where they assess and reduce the risk of falls, manage frailty and arthritis, and assist in recovery from stroke, among other things. They have a strong focus on assessing mobility problems and functional needs of older people.

Chronic pain affects 3.4 million Australians2, and can make it difficult for people to work, sleep, enjoy leisure activities and lead normal lives. It can also result in physical decline, limited functional ability and emotional distress. The management of pain is multi-disciplinary. This is where physiotherapists who specialise in the treatment of pain can play an important role, and help people to overcome the challenges of living with a pain condition by educating patients about pain processes, goal setting, load management and return to function.

There are several different types of persistent pain, including musculoskeletal pain, headache disorders, nerve pain, cancer pain and arthritis pain, among others.

Pain management physios assess the affected parts of a person’s body and investigate the functional status of muscles, nerves, joints and other body structures. They manage the different factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of pain, and they also investigate the impact of your thoughts and mood, and the way you interact with your environment.

While many physiotherapists choose to be generalist practitioners with a broad scope of practice, some go on to qualify as specialists in a particular field. Regardless of the career path they choose, physios are required to continually learn and adapt to the ever-changing healthcare landscape.

RMIT’s Master of Physiotherapy is accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council, and enjoys a strong reputation globally. Our graduates are well placed to continue their education into special interest clinical fields, engage in the profession as innovative practitioners, and become future healthcare leaders. 

Story: Sophie MacGillivray

 

References

1. Jobs and Skills Australia. "Health Care and Social Assistance". jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/industries/health-care-and-social-assistance. Accessed October 2024.
2 ABC News. "Millions of Australians experience chronic pain. Here's what their lives are really like." https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-13/life-with-chronic-pain/103223482. Accessed October 2024.

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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information