PhD in Physiotherapy

Doctor of Philosophy in Physiotherapy or PhD in Physiotherapy can be pursued by any student who has completed their postgraduate degree in the field. Physiotherapy, which is an allied medical sciences study of the human body, deals with the relevant impact of anatomy on the overall health of the mind and body. Usually, the duration of the course is three years in India, but it can go up to five years. 

PhD in Physiotherapy is a research-based course, meaning students need to decide upon their research and dissertation topics, the submission of which shall mark the course completion. It is designed to be beneficial for all those who wish to help people overcome their bodily disorders and discomforts in a positive and healthy manner while earning a decent income.

All the Physiotherapy institutes offering PhD, such as BHU, AIIMS, Banasthali University, etc., follow the same school of thought and course delivery. Admissions to PhD in Physiotherapy courses in India are based on merit or entrance exam scores. The course can cost students INR 20,000 to INR 30,00,000 depending on the duration and institute.

Benefits of PhD in Physiotherapy

Getting a PhD in physiotherapy increases your chances of getting a great job in this field. The benefits of this degree program include an increase in your salary and career potential. The best PhD programs are available in top universities and require students to have a deep knowledge of the subject. Besides, a doctoral degree proves your worth as an educator, allowing you to apply for higher positions.

When applying for a PhD program, you should make sure that the program you wish to pursue is available at the college you are applying for. It will be helpful to check out the website of the colleges you are interested in to see if they offer physiotherapy programs. You may also contact the management of the colleges you are interested in to ask for information. By completing the PhD, you will be eligible to get a well-paying job in this field.

Once you complete the PhD program, you will be well-prepared to enter the workforce. The field of physiotherapy is booming, so finding a job as an osteopath is a great option. As a physiotherapist, you can help people in need by using different techniques. If you have a PhD, you can be hired in the field and earn as much as INR 5,50,000 LPA during your initial years, rising to ten lakhs LPA after gaining experience.

PhD in Physiotherapy Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who want to take admitted in PhD must have a post-graduate degree in Physiotherapy and its relevant discipline with at least 55% marks from a recognized university and must have passed the national level entrance examination or university level entrance examination. National-level entrance exams like UGC NET / UGC CSIR NET / GATE / SLET or University entrance exams consist of written tests and personal interviews.

Why Choose PhD in Physiotherapy?

PhD courses are highly regarded for the qualification and professional upliftment that they provide. However, the investment made to complete the PhD courses is generally high. Moreover, to ensure that the course is beneficial for the student, they need to ensure its profitability and benefits.

PhD in Physiotherapy courses are subject to the same expectations and metrics. Hence, here are some of the chosen arguments in favour of the course. These represent how the course can eventually prove to be beneficial to students choosing it:

Scope of Entrepreneurship: Physiotherapy, as a study, allows practitioners to pursue entrepreneurship. As the study involves not only the science of physical therapy but the effect of the environment as well, many physiotherapists choose to build their clinical studios to assist their patients in a mental state of recovery. Hence, students can expect from the course the freedom to establish an independent work structure and environment and personalise it for maximum benefit.

High Demand: Nowadays, the hectic and demanding lifestyle has pushed people not only with a need for a quick recovery but a solid one as well. They prefer to consult experts to ensure a solid and good recovery rather than leaving things to time. This has caused a high demand for Physiotherapists. Moreover, the modern lifestyle also creates various issues like posture deterioration which eventually lead to several diseases as well. In order to combat the same, the patients look out for Physiotherapists.

High Earnings: Since the demand is high, so is the pay. However, the demand is not the only factor working in favour of good income for Physiotherapists. The science uses physical anatomy to ensure good health and recovery of the patients, it provides a healthy foundation for them to pursue their everyday life and has lasting mental benefits as well. This is also one of the factors that make people invest in physiotherapy, even when they are not in a severe condition of therapeutic attention.

Research Opportunities: The demand for physiotherapy is also creating a demand for advancement in existing procedures and the invention of new ones. Recently, as the therapy has been observed to have connections with mental health as well, there has been increasing demand for the proper collaboration of the two. These factors give a wide scope of advancement to the study of physiotherapy. PhD in Physiotherapy courses will allow students to actively pursue the research work in the study.

Opportunity to Touch Human Lives: Apart from treating patients, PhD in Physiotherapy shall give the students an opportunity to work on the advancement of sciences. All this cumulates into a chance for students to touch human lives for the better. Their achievement in the study shall prove helpful and positive, especially for the modern lifestyle, treatment, and recovery procedures.

Admission to PhD in Physiotherapy Courses in India?

To get admission to PhD in Physiotherapy courses in India, students have options to choose from two admission routes:

Merit-based admission, and

Entrance-based admission.

Merit-Based Admission to PhD in Physiotherapy Courses

Since MSc Physiotherapy is part of the eligibility criteria for admission to PhD in Physiotherapy courses, a provision has been made. If the aggregate percentage and overall performance of the applicant in the MSc degree fall in the category of meritorious performance, they can get direct admission to PhD courses.

The admission process can be summarised as follows:

Step 1: After completing the BSc in Physiotherapy, students need to apply for MSc Physiotherapy courses.

Step 2: Complete the MSc Physiotherapy course with an aggregate percentage of 65% or above.

Step 3: Shortlist the colleges which provide direct admissions to PhD in Physiotherapy courses on a merit basis.

Step 4: Fill out the application form and attach the MSc Physiotherapy mark sheet and other past academic records. Submit the application.

Step 5: Get the admission letter and submit the tuition fee for the first semester in the chosen college.

Entrance-Based Admission to PhD in Physiotherapy Courses

The merit-based admission route is only available for students who have an aggregate of 65% or above in an MSc Physiotherapy degree. All the students who fail to satisfy this requirement need to appear for the entrance exams accepted by the chosen college for admission to their offered PhD in Physiotherapy courses.

The entrance-based admission process can be described as follows:

Step 1: After completing a BSc in Physiotherapy, one needs to apply for MSc Physiotherapy courses.

Step 2: Complete the MSc Physiotherapy course with an aggregate percentage of 55% or above.

Step 3: Shortlist the colleges which students find suitable for their goals and check their eligibility criteria for applicable entrance examination scores.

Step 4: Appear for the applicable entrance exam or exams, and clear the cut-off score required by the shortlisted colleges for admission.

Step 5: Fill out and submit the application form along with the MSc Physiotherapy mark sheet, other past academic records, and the entrance exam scores. Submit the application.

Step 6: Await the admission letter or admission lists, and on confirmed admission submit the tuition fee for the first semester in the chosen college.

PhD in Physiotherapy Courses Entrance Exams

In India, admissions to PhD in Physiotherapy courses are primarily based on the students’ postgraduate qualifications. If they have a master’s degree in Physiotherapy, then they can apply for admission to the said courses. There are no national-level examinations that are dedicated specifically to these admissions. That said, there are certain examination scores that are accepted by various colleges for admission to PhD in Physiotherapy courses.

Here are some of the entrance examinations whose scores students can use to apply for the mentioned courses:

NEET PG: Although NEET PG is designated for admission to postgraduate medical courses, it can be used for admission to PhD in Physiotherapy courses as well. The reason is that NEET SS is applicable for admission to doctoral medical courses, eligibility is not cleared by PhD in Physiotherapy. However, it still is an allied study of medical sciences, and hence NEET PG scores are considered usable.

CUET: The Common University Entrance Test or CUET is the national-level entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The test scores are considered for admission to various undergraduate, postgraduate, and postdoctorate courses by colleges nationwide. Hence, the scores can be used to apply for PhD in Physiotherapy courses as well.

College-Specific Entrance Examinations: The majority of reputed colleges in India conduct their personalized entrance tests, especially for specialized and highly-qualifying courses. Since PhD in Physiotherapy is an allied medical course, many universities which offer it, ask students to sit the college entrance test for admission to the same.

Syllabus of PhD in Physiotherapy

• Musculoskeletal & Sports
• Cardio-Pulmonary
• Geriatrics
• Life Style Modification
• Research Methodology
• Oxygen Therapy & Oxygen Delivery Devices
• Chest Physiotherapy Techniques
• Physiotherapy Management of Amputation
• Physiotherapy Management of CNS & PNS Dysfunctions
• Physiotherapy Management of Pediatric Congenital and Acquired Conditions
• Physiotherapy Management of Respiratory Diseases
• Physiotherapy Management of General Medical & Surgical Conditions
• Neurology
• Health Promotion & CBR
• Bioengineering
• Electrotherapy
• Rehabilitation
• Pre-operative and Postoperative Management of Traumatic and Non-Traumatic Disorders
• Physiotherapy Management of Spinal Disorders & Dysfunctions
• Physiotherapy Management of Orthopedic Diseases
• Physiotherapy Management of Infectious Disorders of the Nervous System
• Physiotherapy Management of Cardiovascular Diseases
• Physiotherapy Management of Pulmonary Surgeries
• Palliative Care of Chronically Ill and Frail Elderly
• Plasticity & Neurophysiotherapy
• Women’s Health
• Physical Fitness
• Kinesiotherapy
• Palliative Care in Pain
• Palliative Care in Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Physiotherapy Management of Fractures of Upper and Lower Extremity
• Physiotherapy Management of Sports Injury, Soft Tissue Injuries, reconstructive Surgeries, Congenital Malformations
• Physiotherapy Management of Acquired Brain Injury
• Physiotherapy Management of Post-Cardiac Surgeries
• Palliative Care in Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Angiography

PhD in Physiotherapy Scope in India - Career and Job Prospects

PhD in Physiotherapy courses can help students bag job opportunities in varying forms. They can opt to follow the many available job profiles and directions. The only thing they need to check for is whether the professional direction helps them to gain their targeted career and personal goals or not. 

In India, after completing PhD in Physiotherapy, students can choose to make a career as a:

Physiotherapist: The person is responsible to assist their patients in recovering from their disorders, surgeries, traumatic impact on the body, etc. Students can apply for jobs with an established clinic, hospital, rehabilitation centres, or as in-house Physiotherapists for sports teams.

Professor: Students can choose to contribute their services as a teacher and help future talent to hone and become qualified practitioners of Physiotherapy. They can alongside follow through with their research projects and other opinionated theoretical advancements.

Researcher: Students can join research centres to work as assistant research scientists initially. Over time, they can work their way up to their research projects. The scope of advancement in the field of Physiotherapy makes it a profitable endeavour.

Consultant: Upon graduation, students can opt to work with consultancy firms that help individuals through recovering process, both physically and mentally. They provide salaried employment to Physiotherapists to deal with their clientele.

Entrepreneur: Students can also set up their businesses as Physiotherapy Consultants or Physiotherapists. They can work either on a contractual basis or set up a clinic of their own.

Required Skills to Become a PhD in Physiotherapist

PhD in Physiotherapy can provide students with the qualification required to get a job as a Physiotherapist. However, apart from education and knowledge, they will need some inherent skills to become successful in their chosen career. These skills need to be imbibed and worked upon constantly to get the desired results.

Here are some of the most important professional skills required in a Physiotherapist:

Motor Skills: Physiotherapists work to help their patients improve their motor skills through physical and other therapeutic techniques. It goes without saying that they need to have what they preach. 

Physical Awareness: Physiotherapists need to have knowledge about the physical aspects of the human body. This includes the visible tissues and organs and the hidden framework, such as muscles and the skeleton system. Since this very knowledge is the basis of their services to patients, they need to ensure staying up to date with what they are speaking, that is when they believe themselves to be forgetting something they must reaffirm their knowledge as soon as possible.

Communication Skills: The professionals have to interact on a regular and personal basis with their patients. Moreover, therapists need to use words and conversation to their advantage to help their patients. This makes it inevitable for them to have communication skills.

Interpersonal Skills: Though it is not possible to connect with everyone on a positive and comfortable note, it is a professional requirement for Physiotherapists. They need to establish a connection with their patients to help them and shall require interpersonal skills for the same.

Observational Skills: There are certain details that patients themselves are not even aware of. As their Physiotherapist, students shall have to observe their movements and progress during the sessions. All the guidance, communication, and progress and status noting require them to possess good observation skills.

Managerial Skills: Time management is very important for Physiotherapists. They have to deal with varying clients on a regular basis while ensuring proper time and attention to each. It is therefore expected that they have their calendar and schedule clearly set with the lowest possible instances of clashes.

Patience: In order to work efficiently with the patients who are recovering from their problems and injuries, Physiotherapists need to be patient with them. Their patients cannot do things at their pace and may need additional time and motivation to take even a single progressive step.