Physiotherapy

The Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Prešov is an institution whose main task is to educate students in accredited non-medical study programmes at the level of contemporary knowledge, scientific and research results.

The graduate of the 1st degree of the study programme in physiotherapy is a qualified university health worker with a broad professional profile. He/she is proficient in basic examination and treatment procedures and methods in physiotherapy, balneology and medical rehabilitation. He/she is prepared to independently perform activities requiring professional erudition, independence in work, decision-making, personal responsibility in medical rehabilitation, primary, secondary and follow-up health care, preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, counselling and educational activities. Indicates, plans and performs basic techniques, methodologies, physiotherapy procedures and performances, basic physiotherapy and balneology methods, hydrotherapy, occupational therapy, electrotherapy, kinesiotherapy. The graduate will be employed in hospital and polyclinic facilities, spa treatment facilities, in professional treatment and rehabilitation institutes, other facilities that provide preventive and curative health care, or health protection and promotion. The graduate has the prerequisites for further university, specialisation and continuing education.

Definition of core knowledge for the specialty of physiotherapy (1st level)

The core topics of the core of knowledge of the 1st degree are primarily related to the theory and practice of physiotherapy.

Characteristics of the field of study

Physiotherapy is a field of study from the system of fields of study administered by the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic, as a field of knowledge (par. 50 (1) of Act No. 131/2002) in which the graduate of the study programme (par. 51 (1) of Act No. 131/2002) acquires the professional competence to perform his/her original profession, or prepares to continue in further higher education.

Scope of the field of study

Core units:
Physiotherapy disciplines:

• rehabilitation propedeutics, rehabilitation nursing, human needs and the nursing process, general physiotherapy and physical therapy, nursing practice, continuous professional and vacation practice (1st year)

• special physiotherapy, health physical education, basics of palpation and therapeutic massage, prosthetics and orthotics, reconditioning and relaxation programmes, clinical professional practice, continuous professional and holiday practice (2nd year)

• applied physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social and occupational rehabilitation, TV and sport for the disabled, kinesiology, basics of physiotherapy and balneology, rehabilitation engineering, physical education medicine, clinical professional practice, continuous professional and holiday practice (3rd year)

Other topics of the core knowledge of the field of study (1st degree)

• biomedical sciences: anatomy and physiology, biology and biochemistry, biophysics and biomechanics, clinical physiology and pathophysiology, internal medicine and geriatrics, selected surgical disciplines, gynaecology and obstetrics, neurology, paediatrics, pharmacology, clinical neurophysiology, microbiology, epidemiology and hygiene, psychiatry, nutritional sciences, radiodiagnostics

• humanitarian and behavioural sciences: foundations of philosophy and ethics, psychology and pedagogy, clinical psychology and psychotherapy, theory and didactics of physical education, law, legislation and economics in professional activity, research in physiotherapy

• language and information technology: information and communication technology, Latin language, foreign language.

It is recommended that this knowledge constitutes 3/5 ECTS credits of the study programme.

Definition of the graduate profile - general characteristics

General characteristics of the graduate profile:

A physiotherapist is a qualified health professional who has the professional competence to carry out preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic methods and procedures of physiotherapy. He/she is competent to work as part of a healthcare team or independently in planning, implementing, coordinating and evaluating the physiotherapy process in primary, secondary and follow-up healthcare.
In addition to in-depth theoretical training with an emphasis on kinesiological and neurophysiological issues, the graduate will acquire the necessary practical skills in a wide range of kinesiotherapy and physical therapy methods and procedures, and the ability to think and act in a complex professional manner, including the assessment of the effect of therapy in the physiotherapy process.

A physiotherapist is competent to practise primarily by:

• is proficient in professional physiotherapy activities in primary, secondary and follow-up health care,
• plans, implements and delivers a comprehensive physiotherapy process,
• uses methods focusing on the maintenance, consolidation and restoration of health,
• contributes creatively to the development of physiotherapy,
• works creatively in a team and manages a physiotherapy team,
• participates in solving research problems in physiotherapy.

Graduate Knowledge Range

• master the anatomy and physiology of the individual systems of the human body with emphasis on the locomotor system,
• know kinesiology (kinanthropomotorics), biomechanics, biochemistry and biophysics in relation to motor expression,
• have adequate knowledge of medical disciplines and of the basic pathomorphological and pathophysiological manifestations of disease processes and conditions in the human body and their therapy,
• have a profound knowledge of physical culture and physical education,
• master the procedures, standards and principles of comprehensive physiotherapeutic care,
• control the correct movement lifestyle and be able to guide their future patients through appropriate pedagogical action in order to ensure the prevention or therapy of secondary changes caused by functional and structural disorders of the musculoskeletal system,
• plan, implement and provide a comprehensive physiotherapy process,
• to master a broad system of methods and techniques of functional diagnosis of the locomotor system and internal systems, to be able to analyze and synthesize in the kinesiological analysis and evaluation of the neuromuscular system,
• master a wide system of methods of kinesiotherapy and manual therapy techniques and be able to apply them in the process of physiotherapeutic care in individual medical disciplines, in the prevention of functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system, in physical education and sports,
• to master the applications of electro-, photo-, thermo-, balneo-, climatic- and hydrotherapy,
• know how to assess the significance of his/her therapeutic procedure, to be able to correct and update it.

Additional knowledge, skills and abilities of the graduate:

• possess basic and specific information and knowledge of the social and behavioral sciences as they relate to physical therapy,
• educate patients in the promotion, protection, and restoration of health,
• know foreign languages,
• master professionally effective communication and professional behaviour and conduct,
• master basic nursing techniques, be able to provide qualified first aid for injuries, life and health threatening conditions, mass casualties and weapons of mass destruction,
• be able to think and act consistently in a preventive manner in health matters,
• master the management of physiotherapy,
• master the use of information technology, in professional activities,
  • to acquire a deeply moral-ethical and humane approach to people, especially to the sick, physically, mentally handicapped and handicapped,
  • the ability to empathize, to show love and respect for people, to understand their problems, to provide comfort and emotional support, to take into account their personality,
  • the ability to think independently, to react promptly, to act purposefully, deliberately and decisively,
  • the ability to apply and use the knowledge and skills acquired in professional practice,
  • be able to make changes, take risks and take responsibility,
  • solve professional tasks independently, creatively and conceptually, work creatively in a team and manage a physiotherapy team,
  • communicate at a professional level,
  • shape one's own personality and continuously educate oneself, acquire information, work with it and creatively transform it,
  • shape and educate others, know how to motivate and win them for active cooperation in strengthening health,
  • to take an interest in the development of his/her field, to study the literature and contribute to it in a creative way, to participate in the solution of research problems in physiotherapy.

Definition of the graduate's areas of application

The graduate of the field of study acquires the basic qualification for the exercise of the profession of physiotherapist. He/she will be employed as a physiotherapist in hospital and outpatient facilities, in health resorts, in specialist hospitals and rehabilitation institutes, or in other facilities providing preventive and curative health care, health protection and health promotion. Furthermore, it can be applied in professional management, research and in education and training of physiotherapists.

A graduate of the bachelor's degree in physiotherapy, after a defined professional practice, can specialize in the specialization fields specified in the Slovak Government Regulation No.213 of 2004 on further education of health care workers.
He/she shall obtain a complete first-level university education in physiotherapy with an orientation towards health care provision.

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