Physiotherapy (or Physical Therapy) is a subspecialty of medicine focused on how natural elements may treat the human body. Sunlight, air baths, mineral water, heat, cold, electrical and electromagnetic effects, biotherapy, and mechanical effects (massage, therapeutic exercise, compresses) are some of the techniques used in physiotherapy.

The primary goal of physical therapy is disease prevention, but it can also help patients feel better when they already have certain illnesses, such as those that affect the musculoskeletal system, digestive tract, or asthma. Children with developmental difficulties can catch up with their classmates via treatment and physiotherapy, while older adults can feel more active and healthier. Since there are so many problems that physiotherapy cannot resolve on its own, it always supports clinical medicine and treatment.

Physiotherapy program structure

The design of study programs in physiotherapy is somewhat akin to that of many fundamental study programs in medicine, but with a stronger focus on global health and therapeutic techniques and less on clinical medicine and its techniques and subjects. Students enroll in classes including social care, global health, and management of physiotherapy.

Human medicine courses are also required, however they are often offered in the initial years of college. The latter years of school often consist of a range of required and optional courses, however students are required to participate in a research project so that their curriculum will connect to the selected topic.

All medical study programs, including those for physiotherapy, need clinical rotations at hospitals and healthcare facilities. Some physiotherapy study programs might also involve a year abroad so that students can encounter different cultures and worldviews.

Entry requirements for Physiotherapy applicants

Those who wish to apply for undergraduate study programs in Physiotherapy in a foreign university need to have high grades in Biology. However, other universities have more stringent entrance requirements. For instance, many colleges in the UK, Australia, and other nations require Russian candidates to have completed at least one year of college-level coursework in biology, human medicine, or a related field. Being a volunteer or having prior experience in this field will also be very advantageous.

Since most of the study programs in Physiotherapy are graduate, applicants for these programs are expected to hold a Bachelor's (or equivalent) degrees in a relevant area - Human Biology. Human Medicine, Public Health, Social Work, or other.

The majority of study programs that are open to students from abroad are taught in English. This implies that candidates whose native tongue is not English must exhibit an acceptable language level, which varies depending on the country. The scores of the TOEFL, IELTS, or other comparable examinations are often accepted by universities.