Physiotherapy is a broad field within healthcare, with many sub-specialties dedicated to treating different conditions and illnesses. One of those specialties is physiotherapy for paralysis. This article discusses if this is a good career or not while providing all the details you need to understand what this role is about. Keep reading to find out!
First, let's remind you that physiotherapy is a series of rehabilitation techniques that help restore movement and function in people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. Meanwhile, paralysis is the loss of movement in some or all parts of the body, and it can be total or partial, and temporary or permanent.
Now, physiotherapy for paralysis is a group of physical exercises that help people suffering from some format of paralysis improve their condition over a period of time. These exercises are usually focused on enabling patients to regain some or all their past mobility so they can conduct their day-to-day activities independently or with little assistance.
It should be noted that all techniques used to help with paralysis symptoms will depend on the cause of the paralysis. For instance, if the paralysis is caused by an event like a stroke or an injury, treatment will focus on regaining abilities because it is not expected for the patient to get worse. However, if paralysis is caused by progressive Lyme, MS (multiple sclerosis), or Parkinson's disease, treatment will focus on teaching the patient how to maintain some independence and adapt to new changes in their abilities to move and find comfortable positions when resting, sitting, or walking.
Furthermore, the exercises used in any physiotherapy for paralysis job respond to the most common symptoms experienced by patients, which could be muscle pain, weakness or tightness, spasms, loss of sensation, reduced range of movement, lack of coordination, etc. Another factor that influences treatment is the severity of the symptoms.
Physiotherapy for paralysis is a great choice for those who want to pursue a career in healthcare and have direct contact with patients, helping them improve their quality of life in the process.
But why?
The reason is the ample opportunities that physiotherapy for paralysis offers people to find employment in a diversity of settings due to the increasing population of older adults in Canada. As people age, their risk of suffering from conditions or injuries that could cause paralysis rises, which means they will inevitably treatment to maintain their independence, which is exactly what physiotherapists provide. This scenario makes physiotherapy a stable and solid field within healthcare.
Another reason why physiotherapy for paralysis is a promising career is the fact that people are choosing to stay in their homes longer, even if they have conditions that make life difficult like partial paralysis, and this has increased the demand for some physiotherapy for paralysis home services, which is a trend that is expected to continue for the long run.
Physiotherapy is a regulated field, which means that those who intend to become a physiotherapist and practice their profession need to comply with several requirements established by regulatory bodies across Canada. In Ontario, that institution is the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario (CPO).
According to the CPO, all registered physiotherapists are required to have a university degree in physiotherapy, which is offered by numerous universities in the province, but only five at the master's degree level, for those who want to continue their education in the field. These programs usually offer a combination of lectures and hands-on learning through clinical placements.
Another requirement established by the CPO is to complete the written and clinical Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE) to be able to qualify for professional practice. But it doesn't end there, since physiotherapists are encouraged to update their skills and knowledge for the rest of their careers in areas such as anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics.
Once physiotherapy professional has been registered to practice in the province of their choosing, they can expect a physiotherapy salary ranging between $70,000 to $79,000, but some specialists at a higher level can get close to $100,000 later in their careers.
And that's it! With all of this information, you are now equipped to make an informed decision related to physiotherapy for paralysis as a career. And if you already are in the field, we hope this article provided you with valuable information for you to further your career through additional training or new job opportunities.
For answers to your questions about physiotherapy for paralysis jobs across Ontario, feel free to reach out to us anytime. And for actual physiotherapy for paralysis jobs, make sure to join Caring Support to start the new chapter of your career in this field today.
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