General description of the Physiotherapy Department

Physiotherapy and physiotherapist training has been taking place in Szeged since 1990. The background of the education is provided by the Department of Physiotherapy of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Studies, the institutes, clinics and physiotherapy department of the Faculty of General Medicine. The study period is 8 semesters, broken down into 7+1 semesters, of which 7 semesters are theoretical and practical education, 1 semester is supervision, practical training spent with patients and an assessment. During term-time, in addition to theoretical and practical classes at the Faculty, clinical practices take place in various institutes of the Faculty of General Medicine and the Szentgyörgyi Albert Clinical Center. Since the profession is practice-oriented, practical training takes place in small groups. Starting from the fourth semester, students participate in a four-week integrated clinical practice every semester, in the clinics and the associated physiotherapy department, partly in rural hospitals. Semester 8 is entirely practical time. During the course of their studies, students also go to national institutes where they can learn about special, complex therapeutic options.

What does a physiotherapy student study?

Foundation subjects:

anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, movement analysis and examination, biomechanics, massage, basic knowledge of kinesiology, EBHKT (electro-, balneo-, hydro-, climate-therapy), radiology, soft tissue mobilization, public health.

Physiotherapy-related and clinical subjects:

orthopedics, traumatology, rheumatology, pulmonology, cardiology, pediatrics, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine.

Special physiotherapy methods:

PNF, manual therapy, training theory and methodology, rehabilitation, aquatherapy, basics of the Bobath method, incontinence training, etc.

Social science knowledge:

psychology, health management knowledge, citizenship and legal knowledge, pedagogy, sociology.

We recommend it to anyone, who

• is interested in natural and social sciences,
• establishes relationships with others easily,
• likes to move, exercise, do sports,
• wants to participate in the treatment with demanding work,
• is happy to help others,
• wants to do exciting, varied work that requires thinking.

What does a physiotherapist do?

Physiotherapists use natural energies for healing. Such energies, e.g. electrical, light, sound, chemical energy, mechanical energy, etc. The physiotherapist uses these energies in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation to perform electrotherapy treatments, ultrasound treatments, various massage treatments, hydrotherapy, etc. and uses many variations of movement therapy. The work of a physiotherapist does not only consist of treatments. The therapy is always preceded by a thorough patient examination. The physiotherapist assesses the functional state of the patient, maps the causes and changes behind the functional problems. It reviews other medical, laboratory, X-ray. etc. examination results and plans and carries out physiotherapy treatments in the light of all this. Physiotherapists perform their work independently, but in a team where, in a narrower sense, they have to cooperate with professionals working in the health sector, and in a broader sense, with representatives of other non-healthcare professions.

Physiotherapists work in almost all clinical areas:

Musculoskeletal diseases: diseases and developmental disorders of the bone, muscle and joint system, conditions after injuries and surgeries, rheumatic symptoms.

Diseases of the nervous system: injuries and diseases affecting the nervous system (e.g. brain hemorrhage, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, etc.), developmental disorders, etc.

Internal medicine diseases: diseases of the lungs and airways (asthma, pneumonia, chest surgeries, etc.); diseases of the circulatory system: vasoconstriction, varicose vein problems, heart attack, rhythm disorders, heart and vascular surgeries, etc.

Preparation for childbirth and childbirth exercises, gynecological diseases.

All areas of pediatrics: disorders of movement development, locomotor, internal medicine, neurological pathologies in infants and children.

Career opportunities

After obtaining the diploma, physiotherapists can work in hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centers. Special institutes that deal with a certain disease, condition, or life situation also offer good opportunities, e.g. residential movement development and training schools, asthma kindergartens, heart attack aftercare centers, etc.

Home care services are operating successfully in more and more places, in which physiotherapists play a significant role. "Home care" services allow the patient to be nursed, taken care of and receive physiotherapy treatments in their own home.

There has been a significant increase in the demand for the work of physiotherapists in prevention as well. Prevention of diseases and deformities resulting from age characteristics, lifestyle, job, such as spinal deformities, osteoporosis, obesity, arteriosclerosis, etc. is gaining more and more importance and wider support.

Physiotherapists can find employment in the growing number of wellness and medical centers, spas and more and more sports clubs.

A physiotherapist can practice as a private entrepreneur, either completely independently or within the framework of an institute.