1. What is physiotherapy?
2. What is a physiotherapist / physical therapist?
3. What do physiotherapists do?
4. In what areas do physiotherapists practice?
5. Where do physiotherapists work?
6. What education do physiotherapists have?
7. Who regulates physiotherapists?
8. How do I find a good physiotherapist?
9. Do I need a referral to see a physiotherapist?
10. Who pays for physiotherapy?
11. What are the benefits of physiotherapy?
1. What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a form of health care that prevents, identifies, corrects and alleviates acute or prolonged movement dysfunction. The primary objective of physiotherapy is to promote optimum health and function. It is one of the oldest healthcare professions, and an important part of total health care.
Canadian Physiotherapy Association
Physiotherapy is a major healthcare profession practiced by university-educated, highly trained individuals who are active members of the health care team. Physiotherapy is a key to mobility, an independent lifestyle and wellness.
Canadian Physiotherapy Association
2. What is a physiotherapist / physical therapist?
A physiotherapist is a rehabilitation expert dedicated to drug-free pain control and to working with patients to achieve maximum return to function and recovery from injury.
Ontario Physiotherapy Association
A physiotherapist is a graduate of a recognized school of physiotherapy. There are over 6,100 registered physiotherapists in Ontario. To enter the profession, physiotherapists must graduate from an accredited university degree programme and secure a licence by successfully completing the national examination.
Canadian Physiotherapy Association
3. What do physiotherapists do?
Physiotherapists test and measure the functioning of the musculo-skeletal, neurological, pulmonary and cardiovascular systems; and treat physical problems caused by illness, injury or birth defect. While much of physiotherapy is rehabilitation from injury or illness, physiotherapists prefer to practice preventive health care.
Canadian Physiotherapy Association
Physiotherapists are key members of the healthcare team. They work in close co-operation with physicians, psychologists, educators, and a variety of health care professionals.
Canadian Physiotherapy Association
4. In what areas do physiotherapists practice?
Physiotherapists practice in many different clinical areas including:
- Orthopaedics – e.g. arthritic knee, sore back, post total hip replacement surgery
- Sports injuries – e.g. sprained ankle, rotator cuff tendonitis, post knee ligament surgery
- Neurology –e.g. strokes, diseases like Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis
- Paediatrics – e.g. developmental disabilities like Cerebral Palsy, and orthopaedic problems like torticollis
- Cardiac Rehab – e.g. after a heart attack
- Respiratory – e.g. Cystic Fibrosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, heart and lung transplants
- Physical Medicine – e.g. amputees, spinal cord injuries
In hospital settings, new physiotherapists often rotate from area to area. Otherwise, physiotherapists tend to stick to one area and gain increasing expertise.
5. Where do physiotherapists work?
Physiotherapists are employed in a broad range of settings: acute and extended care hospitals; rehabilitation and mental health centers; private clinics; government and community agencies; educational institutions; sports and recreation centres; and business and industry.
Ontario Physiotherapy Association
Physiotherapists practice in many different settings including:
- Hospitals – e.g. H.D.H. clinics, K.G.H. inpatients, St. Mary's of the Lake inpatients and outpatients
- Private practice
- those partially funded by O.H.I.P. e.g. Blaser's
- those with no O.H.I.P. funding
- Long term care
- publicly owned e.g. Rideaucrest Home
- privately owned e.g. Helen Henderson Care Centre
- Home care – e.g. Community Care Access Centre funded by the provincial government
- Corporate settings– none in Kingston with physiotherapists
- Schools – e.g. Child Development Centre out of H.D.H. serves local schools
- Community clinics– none in Kingston with physiotherapists
- Prisons – e.g. Kingston Penitentiary
- The Canadian Forces – e.g. C.F.B. Kingston, the Royal Military College
- Research – e.g. Queen's University
- Academic – e.g. Queen's University
- Third World Countries – e.g. with the Canadian International Development Agency (C.I.D.A.)
6. What education do physiotherapists have?
Physiotherapists are university educated professionals. The physiotherapy programme at most universities in Canada has recently converted to a professional master's degree requiring two years of university, after having already completed a four year undergraduate programme with the relevant prerequisite courses.
In Canada there are physiotherapy programmes at Dalhousie, McGill University, University of Ottawa, Queen's University, University of Toronto, McMaster, University of Western Ontario, University of Manitoba, University of Saskatchewan, University of Alberta, and University of British Colombia.
Of interest, there is a school of physiotherapy for visually impaired students in England.
During the course of their university programme, students do internships in clinical settings, just like physicians do, in order to gain clinical skills.
After successfully completing a master's degree, prospective physiotherapists must pass a national exam, with both written and practical components, in order to qualify to practice as a physiotherapist.
After beginning practice, physiotherapists further their knowledge and clinical skills by taking continuing education courses on an ongoing basis.
Physiotherapists can also obtain a research master's degree and a doctoral degree.
7. Who regulates physiotherapists?
Some health practitioners in Ontario are regulated and some are not.
There are about twenty groups of regulated health practitioners in Ontario, including, for example, physiotherapists, physicians, occupational therapists and speech and language pathologists. Each group is regulated by its own college, a body at arms length from the government whose mandate is to protect the public.
Physiotherapists in Ontario are regulated by the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. The College itself consists of members of the public and physiotherapists. It has both elected and appointed representatives.
The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario sets scopes of practice and standards of practice for physiotherapists. They have quality assurance programmes for and on-site audits of their members to ensure that practicing physiotherapists are competent. They rule on complaints against physiotherapists and may discipline them.
The titles “Physiotherapist” and “Physical Therapist” (or the same titles in another language) are protected titles under the law. In order to call themselves a physiotherapist or physical therapist, a person must be registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. The College maintains a current list of physiotherapists registered to practice in Ontario.
Some health practitioners are not regulated, including, for example, acupuncturists and naturopaths. There is no one to control what they do. There is no one for the public to make complaints to and no process for recourse. There is no such thing as a “Registered Acupuncturist” in Ontario – anyone can call themselves an acupuncturist.
8. How do I find a good physiotherapist?
To find a physiotherapist in your area consult:
- your local Yellow Pages
- the electronic yellow pages at www.canada411
- the web
- Ontario Physiotherapy Association at www.opa.on.ca
- College of Physiotherapists of Ontario at www.collegept.org
- Blaser's Physiotherapy Clinic at www.blasersphysiotherapy.com
All physiotherapists registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario should be competent. However, like all professions, some physiotherapists are better than others. It is difficult for members of the public to know which physiotherapists are “good” ones. Word of mouth can certainly be useful. Ask your friends, neighbours, and family physician, etc. if they have any experience with a good physiotherapist.
Once you contact a specific physiotherapy clinic, don't be afraid to ask the reception staff how long your prospective physiotherapist has been practicing, what areas of special interest they have, or if you could see a copy of their curriculum vitae which should include a list of their continuing education courses.
9. Do I need a referral to see a physiotherapist?
Physiotherapists in Ontario are regulated by the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). They are primary care practitioners – that means they don't need a referral from a physician or anyone else to see a patient. Patients can go directly to a physiotherapist of their own accord.
There are only two situations in which a patient needs a referral from a physician in order to see a physiotherapist:
- if they are seeing a physiotherapist in a public hospital. (The Public Hospitals Act has not kept pace with current legislation governing physiotherapists and still requires a physician's referral to render physiotherapy services to a patient.)
- if they are seeing a physiotherapist who will bill O.H.I.P. for treatments rendered.(The regulations in the Health Insurance Act have not kept pace with current legislation governing physiotherapists and still require a physician's order to bill O.H.I.P. for services rendered by a physiotherapist to a patient.)
A physiotherapist must assess each one of their patients and make their own conclusion about the physical findings. Physiotherapists, not the physician, are responsible for the assessment, reassessments and treatments, even if the patient was referred to the physiotherapist by a physician.
10. Who pays for physiotherapy?
Unfortunately, Ontario's health care system is not only a two tiered system but, in fact, is a three tiered system. There are three tiers when it comes to paying for physiotherapy services.
In tier one, the patient does not pay anything out of their own pocket. Our taxes (i.e. the Ontario government) pay the entire cost of the physiotherapy service.
In tier two, the patient (or their insurer) pays a portion of the cost of the physiotherapy service and the Ontario government pays a portion.
In tier three, the patient (or their insurer) pays the entire cost of the physiotherapy service.
There are four general sectors of physiotherapy service. Each sector may have different tiers.
1.) In-patient
2.) Out-patient
3.) At Home
4.) Retirement Homes
5.) Long-Term Care Homes
11. What are the benefits of physiotherapy?
Physiotherapists focus first and foremost on resolving pain, stabilizing an injury or condition and preventing it from getting worse. Then we focus on restoring strength, movement and function as much as possible. Our ultimate goal is to enable our patients to manage their own physical well-being
independently.
The sooner the treatment of an injury or condition begins, the better. Early intervention prevents a condition from becoming chronic, keeps muscle and other soft tissue structures from weakening through disuse, speeds healing and, above all, increases the chances of full recovery.
