Your future career

After completing the study programme, the student must be able to work independently and with a critical attitude as a professional practitioner. The KNGF (Royal Dutch Society for physical therapy) has formulated three professional roles of a physiotherapist. The physiotherapy education of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam has adopted these roles as the foundation of their curriculum. The ESP has adapted these roles to the international context:

Ia - The physical therapist as a care provider: screening, diagnosing, planning

The physical therapist outlines the (threatening) health problems based on the request for help in a methodical way and relates these to movement and moving participation. Depending on the results of the first screening and the findings from the physiotherapeutic evaluation, the physical therapist makes decision in consultation with the patient with regard to the treatment to be started, advice or referral.

Ib - The physical therapist as a care provider: therapeutic interventions

The physical therapist executes the treatment plan methodically and in cooperation with the patient.He evaluates the effects of the interventions on the patient's movement and state of health periodically, and adjusts the plan, if necessary, in order to realise optimal results.

Ic - The physical therapist as a care provider: preventive intervention

The physical therapist gives information and advice with regard to health stimulating behaviour and measures at the prevention of health problems. He provides forms of training and coaching, individually and in groups aimed at health stimulating behaviour in daily life, work and leisure time.

IIa - The physical therapist as a manager: organising

The physical therapist organises his work effectively and efficiently, and works together with colleagues and other professionals in care. He contributes to the management and optimalisation of work processes with regard to the maintenance and improvement of the organisation’s functioning.

IIb - The physical therapist as a manager: enterprising

The physical therapist contributes to the development and execution of choices at strategic level with regard to the supply and demand of physiotherapeutic care and service aimed at improving the quality of the supply and the position of his organisation in the environment based on an analysis of strong and weak points and opportunities/threats (SWOT-analysis).

IIIa - The physical therapist as a developer of the profession: research

The physical therapist systematically registers patient and treatment information regarding quality care and research. He participates in scientific research for the further development of professional practice and its scientific foundation

IIIb - The physical therapist as a developer of the profession: innovation

The physical therapist contributes to the development with regard to contents, profiling and social legitimisation of the profession by means of the implementation of quality improvements and guaranteeing innovation processes

The complete competence profile can be found here

Personality

Physiotherapists are enterprising, sportive and energetic persons with wide interests and strong social skills. Medical subjects appeal to them. The aim of physiotherapy is to help people recover from discomfort and ailments. It is therefore important that you ask yourself if a willingness to help people is one of your personal qualities and that you are not afraid of and willing to touch them.

The Science

Life is movement. Whether you sit, lie or stand, breathe, sneeze or laugh, work, party or do sport? No matter what you do, you are in constant movement, even when doing nothing at all! To be able to live normally, every part of your body needs to function properly and perfectly. If even a small part of your body malfunctions, even the simplest movement can suddenly demand an enormous effort.
Fortunately, as a physiotherapist, you can often be extremely helpful in such situations. You treat people who are experiencing problems with their body. These problems are usually related to their inability to move: their muscles, nerves or joints. Furthermore, a severe headache, unbalanced metabolism or poor blood circulation may also be treated successfully by a physiotherapist. You can teach people how to do physical exercises, how to prevent certain disorders and how to live with their physical problems.

Career Opportunities for Physiotherapists

The European School of Physiotherapy prides itself on providing quality education and giving students a professional edge in the employment market. Physiotherapists who have been educated in the Netherlands are renown for their expertise and their innovative approach. They are qualified to work in many different fields just about anywhere in the world.
Physiotherapists are employed in hospitals, private practices, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, psychiatric institutions, health centres, industry and (professional) sports associations and sports teams. In addition, they are able to provide exercise training for special schools, geriatric patients and pregnant women. Alumni (graduated students) are e.g. working in Canada, USA, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Africa, Israel and China.