1. Physiotherapy
Introduction
Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession which provides services to individuals and population to
maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout their lifespan. This
includes providing services in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by
aging, injury, disease or environmental factors. Functional movement is central to be healthy.
Physiotherapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential
within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment or intervention, habilitation and
rehabilitation. This encompasses physical, psychological, emotional, and social well being.
Physiotherapy also involves the interaction between physiotherapists, patients, other health
professionals, families, care givers and communities in a process where movement potential is
assessed and goals are agreed upon, using knowledge and skills unique to physiotherapists.
Physiotherapy has many specialties including cardiopulmonary, geriatrics, neurological,
orthopaedic and paediatrics to name some of the more common areas. Physiotherapists practice
in many settings, such as outpatient clinics or offices, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, extended
care facilities, private homes, education and research centers, schools, hospices, industrial work
places or other occupational environments, fitness centers and sports training facilities. The core
skills of the physiotherapists include manual therapy, therapeutic exercises and the application of
electrotherapeutic modalities such as heat, cold, electrical stimulation etc.
Like all other health professionals, physiotherapists required a formal education and training
before they are allowed to practice. They work independently and able to exercise their judgment
and make decision regarding their patients. They are regulated by a professional body and must
adhere to an ethical code of practice.
With the increase in population as well as an increase in the life expectancy of the regular
Malaysian coupled with the growth in the number of hospitals built, the demand for
physiotherapists is expected to further increase.
Future Plans
Our future plans included the development of new courses to provide the physiotherapy
practitioners with the knowledge and skills in specialisation.
We have developed the Advanced Musculoskeletal Post Graduate Certificate which is waiting to
be approved at the MQA level. This programs aims to provide physiotherapists with more
scientific knowledge and emphasis given for evidence based practice. This will help
physiotherapists who wish to specialise in Musculoskeletal physitherapy.
We also plan to conduct many short courses in the years ahead to help our graduates to keep
abreast with the new development in physiotherapy and to encourage research oriented
physiotheraists.
We have also submitted our home grown degree program which covers some aspects of the
expanded and extended role of physiotherapists.
2. Program Outline
Physiotherapy
Diploma | KPT/JPS(KA6146)05/15
Year 1
Anatomy and Physiology I & II
Applied Anatomy
Pathology
Behavioral Science I & II
Kinesiology I & II
Musculoskeletal I
Electrotherapy I
Movement
Introduction to Healthcare I
Year 2
Musculoskeletal II & III
Cardio-respiratory I & II
Electrotherapy II
Neurology I & II
Introduction to Healthcare II
LAN subjects
Elective Placement
Clinical Practice I
Year 3
Neurology III
Paediatric
Women’s Health
3. Sports
Occupational Health
Geriatric
Introduction to Healthcare III
Clinical Practice II & III
Degree | KPT/JPS(KA7979)01/13
Year 1
Foundations of Physiotherapy
Essentials of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
Therapeutic skills with Clinical Practice
Professional information and Communication Skills
Essentials of Cardio-Respiratory Physiotherapy
Year 2
Essentials of Neurology Physiotherapy
Assessment and Reasoning
Physiotherapy Practice
Theoretical Principles of Physiotherapy Skills
Applied Physiotherapy Skills
Year 3
Development of Core Skills
Evidencing practice with clinical Practice
Concolidating Physiotherapy Management
Decision Making in Physiotherapy Practice
4. Year 4
Project Proposal
Contextual Issues in Health and Social Care
Developing Effective Clinical Practice
Career Prospects
Physiotherapy
Diploma / Degree
Physiotherapy offers a range of exciting career opprtunities. The most obvious for the diploma
students will include continuing the education to obtain a degree locally and abroad. MAHSA
University College offers a excellent degree program 4+0 by Northumbria University conducted
entirely in MAHSA University College.
Other opportunities on completion of the diploma and degree programme can lead to a career in
government and private hospitals, private clinics, spine and joints centres, community and
rehabilitation centres, disable children homes, nursing homes, health institutions (fitness and
wellness centres), equipment companies and sports physiotherapy clinics.
The physiotherapy graduates of MAHSA University College are able to gain emplyment not only
in Malaysia but also in Singapore. Those graduates who are employed in Sinagpore have good
result, possess good communication and interpersonal skills, able to solve problems and work
independently.
Physiotherapy
1. What do physiotherapists do?
Physiotherapists assess, determine the patient / client’s physical problems, plan the treatment
and carry out reassessment. The work is never boring because the physiotherapists meet
different people with different cultural and educational backgrounds. The physiotherapists can be
busy depending on the number of patients / clients they are treating.
2. What are the challenges a physiotherapist face?
The clinical situation is very complex hence physiotherapists have to be equipped with knowledge
and skills. They have to work efficiently and effectively. As society is more affluent, clients have
higher expectations and physiotherapists are required to update their knowledge and skills
continuously.
5. 3. What are the qualifications for physiotherapists to practice?
In Malaysia, most physiotherapists have a Diploma in Physiotherapy in order to practice.
However, there are many who have completed their degree either locally or overseas and some
had post graduate qualifications. Upon completion of the course, the physiotherapists are able to
seek employment. Currently, it is not mandatory for physiotherapists to register with the
Malaysian Physiotherapy Association and they are neither required to sit for a licensing exam.
4. What subjects are covered in a physiotherapy course?
Throughout the years of study in both the diploma and degree program, students will learn both
theory and practice in physiotherapy. Emphasis is given to hands – on techniques covering
manual skills, electrotherapy and exercise therapy. The course is also designed to provide
students with a strong foundation in basic sciences which includes anatomy, physiology,
behavioral science and movement science.
The application of physiotherapy in cardio-respiratory, musculoskeletal and neurological systems
are included and covers physiotherapy management of specific groups of patients which include
women’s health, paediatric, geriatric, occupational health and sports.
For the degree course, research component is added and students are required to learn the
techniques of enquiry. The students of degree program are expected to develop and
demonstrated competency and follow evidence based practice.
5. Will the students get sufficient clinical exposure?
Clinical education is an important part of the physiotherapy programme. It focuses on developing
clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills. More than 1000 clinical hours are given for both the
diploma and degree programs, students are sent to the hospitals in both public and private to
gain their clinical experience.
6. What professional quality a physiotherapist must possess?
Physiotherapy is a “hands on’”, physical career in every sense. They must possess the personal
qualities of tolerance, patience and compassion. They are also required to possess good
communication and interpersonal skills. They must be able to work with others and possess a
caring attitude. They have to practice according to the rules of professional conduct include
honesty, ethical behavior and must always placed the client’s welfare first.
7. Where do physiotherapists work?
Many physiotherapists work within the hospitals. They are needed in virtually every department,
from general out-patients to intensive care.
The following are just a few of the areas in the hospital where physiotherapists work:
Physiotherapy outpatient department
Intensive care
Women’s health
Care of the elderly
6. Orthopaedic wards
Medical wards
Paediatrics
Surgical wards
Physiotherapists not only work in the hospital, there is also a need for physiotherapists in many
other places. These places are:
Special schools
Industry – Occupational Health
The private sector (for example, private practice)
Education
Leisure & sport
Nursing homes
Health centres
Sports clubs
8. What are the career prospects for physiotherapists?
Once the physiotherapists have some clinical experience they could specialize in any one of a
range of areas, such as musculoskeletal, sports physiotherapy, cardiac rehabilitation, women’s
health or working with older people. They can go into research or teaching, or gain promotion to a
more senior physiotherapy post. They could also move into health service management. They
can become entrepreneurs, setting up clinics or sale of physiotherapeutic equipments.
9. How is the employment opportunity and how much a newly graduate earned?
The employment opportunity is good; there is a demand of physiotherapists in the country. The
pay varies from hospital to hospital. Some of our graduates even choose to be freelance, they
work as community physiotherapists earning much more and work flexi hours. The degree
students are paid a higher salary.