ABOUT US

Physiotherapy is a health profession that works to improve or maintain maximum movement and functional ability, so it is useful if you have trouble with any aspect of body movement. Physiotherapy involves the use of mainly physical treatments such as exercise, manipulation, mobilisation, massage and electrotherapy to help patients achieve their full movement potential. It is often prescribed following injury, or to treat symptoms of aging, disability, disease, disorders or conditions.  Physiotherapy can help you achieve and maintain movement for life. 

Physiotherapists are health professionals who are responsible for developing, maintaining or restoring movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan across the health spectrum using evidence-based practice.

They

• Relieve pain and treat or prevent physical conditions.
• Promote physical independence and empower patients, and their carers, to manage their condition outside the clinical settings.
• Design and prescribe interventions specific to the individual (following assessment) to help people where movement and function are threatened by illness, pain, ageing, injury, disability, disease or environmental factors.
• Identify and maximise movement potential through promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Functional movement is central to what it means to be healthy.

Chartered Physiotherapists, who are all members of the Society, work in a variety of settings including hospital, the community and private practice. The help to treat patients and service users from all age groups and all walks of life from birth right through to old age. 

A chartered physiotherapist is a qualified member of their professional body, the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapy (ISCP). A Chartered Physiotherapist is a university graduate with hospital-based training who has comprehensive knowledge of how the body works, along with specialist training in the diagnosis and treatment of muscle and joint pain. When you choose a physiotherapist who is a member of the Irish Society of Chartered physiotherapists (ISCP), you’ll enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that they are a part of Ireland’s only professional body within its field. 

It is your guarantee that they have been trained to the highest academic and professional standards – and also that they continue to keep abreast of emerging trends and developments through a programme of Continuous Professional Development.

Choosing a Chartered Physiotherapist assures you that your chosen practitioner is fully committed to upholding the highest standards of medical and ethical standards.

To become a Chartered Physiotherapist you will have to:

• Complete a three or four year undergraduate university degree course (or a 2 year accelerated entry to practice MSc) which includes at a minimum 1000 hours of clinical practice
• Be CORU registered
• Be accepted as a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists
• Undertake continuous professional development

In Ireland there are 4 Universities offering degree courses in physiotherapy

• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
• Trinity College Dublin
• University College Dublin
• University of Limerick

 University College Cork (UCC) offers a MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration). This an accelerated pre-registration programme for students with a relevant primary degree in a subject other than physiotherapy. 

Please contact the above universities for their student information booklet that gives full details of the course requirements and subjects. 

Subjects studied include anatomy, physiology, pathology, kinesiology and behavioural sciences. Emphasis is put on practical skills, including 1,000 hours of supervised clinical work. Project work and research skills are also developed as an undergraduate.

• Hospitals - in outpatients, on medical and surgical wards and in specialised units such as intensive care, coronary care, burns and rehabilitation centres;

• Community and Primary Care Health Centres – either in a dedicated Health centre or visiting people in their homes, giving treatment, advice and appliances to help improve independence;

• Special Schools - helping mentally and physically disabled children achieve their full potential;

• The Workplace - providing ergonomic assessments, pre-employment screening, risk management and educating workers in correct lifting and handling techniques;

• Private Practice - assessing and treating a wide variety of muscle, joint and ligament problems as well as women’s health, neurological, respiratory conditions and many more.

Physiotherapists help and treat patients from all age groups and all walks of life. This includes anyone from premature babies and children in special schools to the elderly in Day Care Centres. Physiotherapists also help members of your local sports teams including GAA, Soccer and Rugby at all levels right up to elite athletes involved in all sports at national and international level. You will also find our members treating injured workers and helping to ensure a safe working environment, or educating women on antenatal/postnatal care and fitness prior to childbirth. Chartered Physiotherapists are involved in many other areas such as:

• Back and Neck Pain;
• Headaches;
• Sporting injuries, fitness monitoring, pre-season assessment, treatment of injuries;
• Respiratory care, helping people overcome breathing difficulties and preventing infection;
• Orthopaedics, rehabilitating people following surgery on bones and joints e.g. total knee replacement;
• Paediatrics, helping babies in special care units, helping children in developmental clinics and special schools to achieve independence;
• Neurology, helping people suffering from conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, head injury and others to overcome problems due to muscle weakness, pain and poor balance to increase their independence at home;
• Care of the Elderly, ensuring that the elderly maintain or improve their mobility, strength and balance so that they can lead full and active lives;
• Cardiac Care, Rehabilitation and fitness following heart surgery or a heart attack.

CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator. Their role is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professionals. Is your physiotherapist registered with CORU? You can check online https://coru.ie/check-the-register/ 

All physiotherapists in Ireland must be registered with CORU. This is a condition of using the title ‘physiotherapist’ or ‘physical therapist’, claiming to be an active member of the profession, and practising physiotherapy anywhere in Ireland, whether in the HSE, independent or working in other sectors.