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Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists
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Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - April 11, 2003 11:13:00 AM
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Tunji Bello
Posts: 5
Joined: April 10, 2003
From: Dublin, Ireland
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Dear members,
I am hoping you will be able to help me to differentiate between a physiotherapist and a physical therapist? Is there any difference at all? My understanding is that the term "phsical therapist" is more North American while "physiotherapist" is more European. Essentially I was of the opinion that a physiotherapist is also a physical therapist and the terms may be(and are) used interchangeably. This was until I came to Ireland and found some people addressing themselves as "physical therapist" as distinct from physiotherapist. What does this mean to the image of the profession especially as these "physical therapis" only do weekend coures over a total of 17 weekends? I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you
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Re: Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - April 11, 2003 1:03:00 PM
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Diane
Posts: 1507
Joined: March 9, 2001
From: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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Hi Tunji,
I'm a physiotherapist, from Canada, which, last time I checked, was still in North America.
We usually use the term "physiotherapist", although when we speak to American North Americans, we often switch to "physical therapist" to be understood.
Diane
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Re: Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - April 11, 2003 10:46:00 PM
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Tunji Bello
Posts: 5
Joined: April 10, 2003
From: Dublin, Ireland
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I am aware the term physiotherapists is more widely used in Canada but there are many canadians who refer to physiotherapists as physiacl therapists as well. That to me is perfectly alright as it is accepted internationally that the two are interchangeable. I also know that Canada is part of North America and distinct from the United States where the term physical therapists is more widely used. My concern is not about what term recognised and adequately qualified individuals are called in different countries, my seriuos concern is why do we allow people who are less than qualified to call themeselves physical therapists? I am referring to "quacks", for the want of a better word calling themselves physical therapists and trying to make a differentiation between both titles? How do we physiotherapists and members of the WCPT prevent people form abusing our titles and image? Thank you
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Re: Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - April 12, 2003 9:51:00 AM
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goodlooks58
Posts: 425
Joined: October 21, 2002
From: CA
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Tunji Bello: I will definitely not call anyone with 17 weekend course a "physical therapist" or a "physiotherapist". Even massage school requires more hours than that.
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Re: Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - April 12, 2003 12:26:00 PM
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Diane
Posts: 1507
Joined: March 9, 2001
From: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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Hi again Tunji, thanks for clarifying your concern.
On the topic of physical therapist versus physiotherapist, let's face it: the words "physical" and "therapist" are really quite generic. Even when used together they don't exactly trigger a recognition that someone has acquired training that has been medically endorsed. It's hard to protect the designation. A bit like trying to protect the designation "table salt."
The one word designation "physiotherapist" on the other hand, actually sounds "Latin-esque" and therefore more "medical-esque", than just the plain English term physical therapist, which is all it really means...
I would say that (completely beside the fact that I'm a bit biased, having considered myself a "physiotherapist" all these years) the single word designation implies something closer to the truth of the matter, that we are medically approved, movement specialized practitioners with a foot in each camp: the camp of those physically afflicted with serious diseases that impair function, and the camp of the worried well who suffer from pain.
Diane
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Re: Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - April 13, 2003 1:00:00 AM
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Tunji Bello
Posts: 5
Joined: April 10, 2003
From: Dublin, Ireland
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Hi Diane,
I appreciate your contibution and I totally agree with your point of view i.e. better to be called physiotherapists than physical therapists, but how does that help the unsuspecting public? (At the risk of this becoming a two way debate, I will urge you to please keep it on so, may be, we could together arrive at a well reasoned out response to this crowd here in Ireland). I believe that once it is accepted that both words mean the same thing and one is protected worldwide, then the other should automatically be protected also? Do you think we should ignore the "therapists" and let the public sort themselves out or do we owe it a duty to protect both ourselves and the public? Thank you or contributing.
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Re: Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - April 13, 2003 8:03:00 AM
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Diane
Posts: 1507
Joined: March 9, 2001
From: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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Hi Tunji,
I agree both terms mean the same and should both be recognized and protected.
I guess we have the U.S branch of the physiotherapy family to thank for going off under their own steam to de-Latinize the term, make it more "American", decolonialize it or something... but by doing so leave it more vulnerable to encroachment, and more work for all of us, as PTs, to protect our designation and profession.
Diane
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Re: Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - May 1, 2003 6:52:00 PM
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Timbo
Posts: 5
Joined: April 30, 2003
From: Dundas, ON, Canada (for now)
Status: offline
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Hi folks,
Physical therapist and physiotherapist are two words that can be and are used interchangeably. The only difference is in geography... the U.S. may be the only English speaking country to use the term "physical therapist". I agree with Diane in that I prefer the word physiotherapist.
Protecting the patients/clients/consumers... that is where our licensure laws come into play, at least in the U.S. and Canada. I know that in Ireland anyone can call themselves a physiotherapist. However, if you meet certain educational requirements (min. BScPT, I think) then you can become a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. The title "Chartered Physiotherapist" and the initials MISCP are reserved for members of the professional regulating body, the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. Members of the ISCP are recognised by the medical professions and the Department of Health. It's up to the ISCP and the "chartered physiotherapists" in Ireland to educate the public on the differences between them and other "physiotherapists" within Ireland.
Tim
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Re: Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - May 1, 2003 9:52:00 PM
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goodlooks58
Posts: 425
Joined: October 21, 2002
From: CA
Status: offline
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How can we all forget the secret society of "Physiotherapists" which many chiros in my town advertise in the yellow pages that they have!!!Are these "Physiotherapists" confused physical therapists thinking that they are in England or are they held spellbound by the chiros! Alas, the only way to solve the mystery is to join the secret society.
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Re: Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - May 12, 2003 5:27:00 PM
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DocZon
Posts: 70
Joined: April 19, 2003
From: Winchester, MA
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Goodlooks58-
I agree with you, it is confusing. However, as a chiro, who has worked in both inpatient and outpatient PT clinics and has advanced training in shall we say rehab, designate ourselves as a provider who does do "rehab?"
I recently had a patient who was injured at work and came to see me. The case manager was shocked that I had prescribed exercises, performed some modalities, performed manipulations etc. She was pleased and called me to say I was doing a great job.
I should have a right to distinguish myself from the chiro down the street who sees the patient 5x/week for 4 weeks and then 3x/week for 8 weeks.
Many chiro clinics also use the titles of
"Smith Chiropractic and Rehab." This tells me that this chiro probably isn't just going to crack the patient and send them on their way.
I am not sure what the solution is however.
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Re: Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - May 12, 2003 8:29:00 PM
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coloradojulie
Posts: 413
Joined: November 10, 2002
From: colorado usa
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Try a literature search using the term physical therapist, see what you get. Try it again and type in physiotherapist, and you will find more articles under physiotherapist because the US is the only country that doesn't use it!
As far as chiro doing rehab, doesn't your professional board require that you take special certification and examination classes to administer electric modalities?
And I think it is more and more common to see chiros using the words rehab...it seems from previous postings that the traditional chiropractic treatment is not effective and being questioned, so the progression has been to expand practice scope. Lets just hope the training is adequate for such a claim.
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Re: Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - May 13, 2003 8:43:00 AM
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Shill
Posts: 1097
Joined: February 13, 2003
From: Madison WI USA
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The terms are synonymous, according to the Guide to PT practice, published by the APTA.
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Re: Physiotherapists Vs Physical Therapists - May 13, 2003 10:36:00 AM
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DocZon
Posts: 70
Joined: April 19, 2003
From: Winchester, MA
Status: offline
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Coloradojulie-
Yes, chiropractic education does require us to take coursework in using modalities. I took 4 semester long courses in "physiotherapeutics." Does this make me a PT?, no way. Three of the four courses were taught by PT's.
You are somewhat mistaken however about traditional chiropractic treatment not including rehab. Rehab was very important from day 1 of chiropractic care. The first images of chiropractic clinics showed exercise equipment. It was in the 1970's that many chiropractors did away with the rehab component.
There is no effort to expand practice scope, it has always been there. We have always been allowed to incorporate rehab into practice. If all I were doing was cracking backs, a patient visit would be 1 minute long. There are a few schools of chiropractic known as "straight" schools who do not incorporate "physiotherapeutics." However, they need those courses to pass boards and hence take the required classes outside of the curriculum.
It has always been important. I know of very few, if any chiropractors that don't see the importance in physical therapy.
I have always incorporated "rehab" into my treatment protocols. Chiropractic care combined with PT/exercise/Rehab is more effective, research has shown this.
The same naive argument could be made about PT. PT alone is not cutting it, now everyone wants the right to perform spinal manipulation when the training is not there. I agree with this too. PT alone is not as good as PT with spinal manipulation (if indicated) and chiropractic manipulation alone is not as good as manipulation and rehab (if indicated).
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