Summary
- Physiotherapy is beneficial in treating a broad range of disorders.
- The annual estimated economic burden of illness in Canada is $236 billion, and physiotherapy can reduce this burden on the economy.
- Currently, only 15% of Canadians receive the services of physiotherapy, but the need for physiotherapy has significantly increased over the previous decade.
- Canada has fewer physiotherapists per capita compared to OECD countries.
- To reach the OECD average, Canada would need to increase the number of physiotherapists by 62% based on its present population.
What is National Physiotherapy Month?
National Physiotherapy Month is observed every year in May. This year’s theme is “Physiotherapy Moves Communities,” according to the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA).
This month is celebrated to recognise the crucial contributions of physiotherapists and this profession as a whole. Physiotherapists not only help people to live a healthy life, but they also play a critical role in the Canadian healthcare system.
The history of physiotherapy goes back thousands of years. The Greek physician Hippocrates was among the first physicians to employ physiotherapy to treat different kinds of diseases.
In 1813, Per Henrik Ling established the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics for exercise and joint rehabilitation. Fifty years later, Sweden granted physiotherapists licences to practise.
Sweden established a National Board of Health and Welfare in 1887, and physiotherapists were registered under its jurisdiction. Other European countries followed suit, and the trend quickly spread to the Americas.
How Do Physiotherapists Work in Canada?
Physiotherapy is beneficial in treating a broad range of disorders. As a result, patients recover faster, have less pain, miss fewer days of work, and the healthcare system saves money.
The CPA represents over 15,000 physiotherapy professionals throughout Canada.
Participants include qualified physiotherapists, physiotherapist assistants, physiotherapy technologists, and students. The CPA members offer rehabilitation services that help Canadians live well and participate in their daily lives.
As we have discussed above, physiotherapy comes under the healthcare system. Its graduates need to go through a rigorous system to qualify and practise in Canada.
All physiology professionals have to be registered with the provincial authorities before they can practise in their respective provinces. Those physiotherapists who are trained in other countries can work in Canada, but they have to go through four main steps.
The first two steps are dealt with by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR), which checks the foreign qualifications and certificates. Whereas the third and fourth steps are supervised by Canadian provincial regulatory organisations called “Colleges.”
Physiotherapy Contributions in the Healthcare Sector
The Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) believes that Canada can significantly reduce its total economic burden by promoting the profession of physiotherapy.
There is a need to standardise and improve the physiotherapy practices in Canada to take the maximum benefits that this profession offers.
The annual estimated economic burden of illness in Canada is $236 billion, and physiotherapy can reduce this burden on the Canadian economy.
Currently, 15% of Canadians obtain physiotherapy services annually. As Canada’s population ages, the need for physiotherapy has significantly increased over the previous decade.
According to projections, demand will continue to increase significantly. However, predictions indicate a shortfall of physiotherapists in the workforce compared to demand over the next decade.
Canada already has fewer physiotherapists per capita than its peers. To reach the OECD average, Canada would need to increase the number of physiotherapists by 62% based on its present population.
At the current level of physiotherapy access, we estimate that it reduces the annual burden of osteoarthritis, back pain, and coronary heart disease by $232 million.
A Deloitte report said that increasing physiotherapy supply to the OECD average might reduce the annual cost of sickness by $144 million across the above-mentioned three disorders.
The study further noted that if future studies reveal similar effects on other conditions, expanding the provision of physiotherapy might have a total impact in the billions of dollars.
Conclusion
It should be a point of concern for authorities that the country is way behind when it comes to a competition with the OECD countries. The shortage of physiotherapists is hurting Canada in different ways.
National Physiotherapy Month is an ideal opportunity to discuss and recognise the important role of the physiotherapy profession in Canada.
It is expected that the government and other regulatory organisations will take more measures to overcome the shortage of physiotherapists so that the estimated economic burden of illness can be reduced in Canada.
Join the Therapeutic Recreation Activity Assistant Diploma at Edison College
If you are interested in physiotherapy, you might also like to know about the Therapeutic Recreation Activity Assistant Diploma offered by Edison College.
This 23-week program teaches the knowledge and skills related to evaluating, planning, and implementing therapeutic recreation activities. The participants of this program learn about supervised activities for old people, especially those who have cognitive and physical impairments.
Contact us for more information.
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