By:- Vijay Garg
Sports Physiotherapist is a professional who plays a very significant role in training sportspersons in various fields and manages sports injuries whenever required. Sports Physiotherapists have to treat a wide range of sports injuries so specialization is required in sports physical therapy.
With ever-increasing competition in sports and utter professionalism, there has been an increase in the injuries affecting a large number of sportspersons thereby making the role of a Sports Physiotherapist even more important in today’s context.
The minimum qualification to become a Sports Physiotherapist is a 12th passed or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English as the main subjects.
Sports Physiotherapists must be able to build a rapport with his clients’ i.e Sportspersons and maintain communication with team management as well as other healthcare professionals, such as occupational therapists etc.
They should also be tolerant, patient, a team player and compassionate; be level-headed, practical and have good communication skills as they have to work for long hours and away from their home for long periods.
To be a sports psychotherapist one has to undergo the following steps to become a Sports Physiotherapists:
After completing +2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology the aspiring Sports Physiotherapist need to take admission in Diploma in Physiotherapy or Bachelor of Physiotherapy/B.Sc (Physiotherapy) course. This course is for 3 or 4 years depending upon the institute. Admission to this course in some of the reputed institutes of India is provided on the basis of rank in the Joint Entrance Exam conducted by the Rehabilitation Council of India. These exams are generally held in the month of May-June and consist of Objective type questions on the subject of English, Physics, Chemistry; Biology through a number of questions and patterns may vary from test to test. The results of these exams are generally out by June/July.
After completing this three or four years of BPT Degree course and six months of compulsory training one can opt. for some job is private or state-run sports associations or academies. Those who want to get into research in the related field can go for higher education i.e Master in Physiotherapy etc.
Institute of Physical Handicapped, New Delhi (www.iphnewdelhi.in)
Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Gwalior (www.Inipe.gov.in)
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (www.gndu.ac.in)
Bihar College of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Patna (www.bcpo.co.in)
Guru Jambeshwar University, Hisar (www.gjust.ac.in)
Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, New Delhi (www.igipess.du.ac.in/ )
Amar Jyoti Institute of Physiotherapy, New Delhi
Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi
PGIMER, Chandigarh
Sports Physiotherapist job description includes training sportspersons and managing various kind of sports injuries that come their way. They treat cases such as fractures, dislocation, nerve injuries using various kinds of treatments. That can be treating injured sportspersons through exercise therapy and other therapeutic agents, including heat radiation, electricity, sound, water and massage. Sports Physiotherapists also cure weak muscles, limitations of movement of shoulder and knee joints and other such disorders which may have been inflicted during exercise or play.
There is a lot of scope for those who are taking Sports physiotherapy as a career in the present scenario. As most sports associations and institutions employ physiotherapists for helping athletes and sportspersons. Many top-level sports persons appoint their own individual physiotherapists to advise and help them maintain optimum physical fitness. With increasing health consciousness there is also a great demand for sports physiotherapists in health club or fitness centres who can help in terms of posture and exercise methods.
Sports physiotherapists can expect to get Rs.25,000 to Rs.30,000 per month to start with although depending upon the competence of the individual professionals. There is a lot of money in private sports clubs and it only gets better for candidates as they win the trust of their clients and the goodwill is spread by word of mouth to attract more clients. A couple of years of dedicated work and some experience along with a master's degree could lead a Sports Physiotherapist to earn as high as Rs.50, 000 per month.
The writer is a Retired Principal and Educational Columnist
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29 Jan, 2024
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