What is the difference between Physical Therapy and Physiotherapy?
There are a number of significant differences between the two professions. They have been organised within Ireland as discrete professions for almost two decades.Physiotherapy is a four-year university degree course designed in the main for school leavers, whereas physical therapy is a three-year degree course from a private college, designed for mature students and adult learners. Physiotherapy training sometimes focuses primarily on hospital work whereas physical therapy is designed as an approach suitable for conditions seen mostly in private practice. Physical therapy training focuses solely on the use of manual or hands-on techniques, whereas physiotherapy can incorporate electrical modalities such as interferential, ultrasound, tens, laser and other non-manual treatments. Physiotherapy graduates are trained for work in the public hospitals whereas the physical therapy approach is far more suited to private practice.
