Services provided by a physical therapist are intended to prevent, minimize, or eliminate constraints on activity and participation, including impairments of body structures and functions.
According to The US News (2022), physiotherapy is one of the most fulfilling jobs and the 11th finest healthcare profession.
Similarly, according to the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (2017), physiotherapy is a dynamic profession with numerous clinical applications in the restoration, upkeep, and advancement of human movement and functional capacity.
Physical therapists are regulated by laws and regulations to guarantee services are provided by licensed and certified professionals. It is because of their role in improving people’s health, wellness, and quality of life.
In nations like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, the field of practice for physiotherapy at home as an autonomous profession in the healthcare sector is clearly defined. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the practice of physiotherapy as an independent profession.
Why is Physiotherapy considered a Scientific Art and an Artistic Science?
On the other end, physiotherapy is a science. It is supported by a body of evidence and expands as more research is performed. The data serves as our basis for making clinical decisions.
Physiotherapy, on the other hand, is a form of art. It takes skill to conduct a movement evaluation, select the best exercises, and deliver them to patients in a way that engages and inspires them.
When they need it, clients should receive the care they deserve. It takes more than following routines to produce efficiency. It demands creative thinking. You need to have the ability to think creatively to be an effective physical therapist. You must be able to come up with creative solutions to the issues that your patients are facing.
The Complexity of Treating Certain Disorders
Science has always been significant and will always be. And physiotherapists must have a thorough understanding of psychology, sociology, and public health in addition to the ins and outs of physiology and anatomy.
To influence others to be interested in enhancing their health, they need to be enthusiastic about what they do. Knowing who they are, what they do, and why they do it can help them become better practitioners. When they recognize the complexity of the client and that they cannot treat them like a simple copy of a patient in an oversimplified scientific study, they will become exceptional practitioners.
Finally, they need to be able to communicate using their words and hands to convey various scientific facts, clinical experience, and creative and inventive thinking. Additionally, this needs to be adaptable to client preferences, situations, dispositions, and experiences. What is effective for one individual with a condition may not be effective for another with the same illness.
Though some find it liberating, some physiotherapists could find this annoying. The freedom enables them to express themselves artistically and to add their own spin to the science they have spent years learning.
Wrapping Up
Physiotherapy is both a science and an art. The goals of this discipline can be accomplished with the use of evidence-based practice.
Physiotherapists can make more precise diagnoses and treatment programs with the help of research-based information and primary data gathered from patients and their caregivers.
As a result, providing evidence-based care improves the practice of physical therapy.
As patients’ requirements are recognized, treatment plans are tailored to meet those needs specifically. And evidence-based service delivery can lead to better patient outcomes.
