Job description Physiotherapist in Alberta

Find out what work is like for a physiotherapist in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Physiotherapists (NOC 31202).

Physiotherapists

Description

Physiotherapists assess clients and plan and carry out individually designed treatment programs to maintain, improve or restore physical functioning and mobility, alleviate pain and prevent physical dysfunction in clients. They are employed in hospitals, clinics, industry, sports organizations, rehabilitation centres and extended care facilities, or may work in private practice.

Work week duration

Physiotherapists usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Physiotherapists have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Assess clients' physical abilities through evaluative procedures such as functional ability tests and make a physiotherapy diagnosis
  • Establish treatment goals with patients based on diagnoses
  • Develop and implement physiotherapy treatment plans including therapeutic exercise, manipulations, massage, education, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy and other modalities
  • Evaluate effectiveness of treatment plans and modify accordingly
  • Provide advice on exercise and strategies to implement at home to enhance and or maintain treatment
  • Communicate with referring physician and other health care professionals regarding clients' problems, needs and progress
  • Maintain clinical and statistical records and confer with other health care professionals
  • Develop and implement health promotion programs for clients, staff and the community
  • May conduct research in physiotherapy
  • Provide consulting or education services as required.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Standing
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Handling material manually

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Physiotherapists are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Rehabilitation centres
  • Extended care facilities
  • Sports organizations
  • Hospitals
  • Private practice
  • Clinics
  • Industries

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Biological agents

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Physically touching or very close

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 31202), and a list of similar occupations:

  • physical therapist
  • physiotherapist
  • registered physiotherapist
  • research physiotherapist

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Physiotherapists in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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