Roles and Characteristics of Physiotherapists

1. Click to edit Master title style 1
Roles and Characteristics
of Physical Therapists
Dr Sreeraj S R, Ph.D.
1
Professional Practice and Ethics

2. Personality and Skills 2
o A good physiotherapist should have the following skills and
personality traits:
1. Initiative, patience, sensitivity and tact
2. Excellent communication skills
3. Ability to work in a team
4. Problem-solving skills
5. Excellent organizational skills
6. Ability to be encouraging, empathetic and firm
7. Ability to establish a good relationship with patients and their
families
8. A genuine interest in the health and wellbeing of patients
9. Interest in knowledge related to Physiotherapy and medicine
10. Ability to work under pressure and manage time effectively

3. Role of a physiotherapist
o The primary role of a PT involves direct patient care
to identify and improve the movement and function of
their body and treat pain, disease or physical injury.
o Physiotherapists focus on maximizing their
patient’s quality of life and movement potential
through prevention, intervention (treatment),
promotion, and rehabilitation.
3

4. Role of a physiotherapist 4
o Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Care
o Team Approach
o Prevention and Health Promotion
o Patient/Client Management Model

5. Role of a physiotherapist 5
o Individuals who seek health care may move through multiple
levels of providers
o Primary care is considered the first-level of entry into the
health care system.
o Secondary care patient will be taken care of by someone
who has more specific expertise, most of the time through a
referral from primary care
o Tertiary Care where patient requires highly specialized
equipment and expertise.
o Quaternary Care provides an advanced level of care which is
highly specialized and not widely accessible

6. Role of a physiotherapist 6
o Traditionally Physical therapy is most often
delivered by referral as secondary or tertiary care.
o The entry point for physical therapy services,
however, is increasingly shifting to primary care.
This is described as direct access.
o In India, a patient can have direct access to
physiotherapy, but PT is majorly a secondary
contact profession currently.

7. Role of a physiotherapist 7
o Team Approach
o PT works in collaboration with other health care
professionals, including physicians, nurses,
occupational therapists, dentists, social workers,
researchers, educators and insurers for the
ultimate benefit of the patient/client.

8. Role of a physiotherapist 8
o Prevention and Health Promotion
o PTs are well qualified to provide services that prevent or limit
dysfunction through screening or prevention activities.
o In screening, the PT determines whether further services are
needed from a PT or other health care professional.
o Examples include posture analysis of various groups, ergonomics and
functional capacity evaluation at a work site etc.
o In prevention activities the PT provides services designed to
prevent, limit, or reduce pain and dysfunction.
o Examples include work-conditioning program focusing on the physical
dysfunction, behavioral and vocational management.

9. Role of a physiotherapist 9
o Patient/Client Management Model: The
physical therapist integrates following
elements of patient/client management :
1. Examination,
2. Evaluation,
3. Diagnosis,
4. Prognosis,
5. Intervention
6. Outcome
7. Discharge
8. Discontinuation
9. Coordination,
Communication, and
Documentation

10. Physiotherapist as manager 10
Formal Authority and
Status
Interpersonal Roles
Figurehead
•Leader
•Liaison
Decisional Roles
Entrepreneur
•Disturbance handler
•Resource allocator
•Negotiator
Informational Roles
Monitor
Disseminator
Spokesman

11. Physiotherapist as Consultant 11
o Consultation involves two professionals and/or
organizations, the consultant and the consultee.
o A consultant is someone (usually professionally
trained and qualified) who works with other
persons, organizations, or groups to assist them in
working through problems which they have
encountered.
o A consultant may or may not be a not full-time
employee of that organization.

12. Types of consultation 12
o PTs frequently provide consultation that is either;
o In patient-centered consultation the PT makes
recommendations concerning the current or proposed
physical therapy plan of care which usually involves an
examination, but not intervention.
o Client-centered consultation refers to the expert opinion or
advice given to a client by the PT regarding situations that do
not directly involve patient care.
o Examples include court testimony, architectural recommendations,
academic and clinical program evaluation, and suggestions for health
care policies.

13. Physiotherapist as Consultant 13
• In the UK, a consultant PT
provide leadership and strategic
vision through four main
domains:
1. Expert and clinical practice,
2. Education and clinical
development,
3. Professional leadership
and consultancy,
4. Research evaluation of
practice and service
development.

14. Physiotherapist as Critical inquirer 14
o Critical inquiry is the process of applying the principles of
scientific methods to;
o Read and interpret professional literature,
o Participate in, plan & conduct research
o Evaluate outcomes data; (health status, disability, survival)
o Assess new concepts and technologies.
o Physiotherapy practice must be based on sound evidence
that comes from well-designed research (evidence-based
practice).
o It is the responsibility of every PT and PTA to select
appropriate interventions based on research evidence.

15. Physiotherapist as Educator 15
o PTs and PTAs are continually providing;
1. Patient or family members / Client Education
2. Education to the public through community programs
3. Education of Students during observational
postings/internships.
4. Education of other Health Care Professionals
o Some modes of education are demonstration, supervision,
and feedback and Pts should perfect these skills.
o PTs may also involve in academic education. They may teach
in a formal academic setting or a continuing education
program.

16. Physiotherapist as Administrator 16
o Administration refers to individual / individuals who oversee
creating and enforcing rules and regulations, or those in leadership
positions who complete important tasks.
o Administrative responsibilities include planning, communicating,
delegating, managing, directing, supervising, budgeting, and
evaluating.
o The promotion ladder in clinical facilities involves more
administrative responsibilities to the PT at the expense of patient
care activities.
o These activities are particularly important when the PT is an owner
or partner in an independent practice.

17. Physiotherapist as Administrator 17
o Examples of administration activities in which physical
therapists engage include:
o Ensuring fiscally sound reimbursement for services
rendered
o Budgeting for physical therapist services.
o Managing staff resources, including the acquisition and
development of clinical expertise and leadership abilities
o Monitoring quality of care and clinical productivity
o Negotiating and managing contracts
o Supervising PTAs and other support personnel

18. References 18
1. Pagliarulo MA. Chapter 2, Roles and Characteristics of Physical
Therapists. In: Introduction to Physical Therapy. 4th ed. St. Louis,
Mo.: Elsevier/Mosby; 2012. p. 23–43.
2. Becoming a physiotherapist | Global Pre-Meds [Internet]. Global
Pre-Meds. 2014 [cited 2021 Jun 7]. Available from:
https://tinyurl.com/6jf72v7k
3. India [Internet]. Physiopedia. 2020 [cited 2021 Jun 8]. Available from:
https://www.physio-pedia.com/India#cite_note-2