Physiotherapists help and treat people who have had accidents, or an illness, or who are elderly. They are especially involved where the problem is with the muscles, bones, heart, circulation and lungs.

Physiotherapists work in almost every department in a hospital as well as in factories, special schools and in the sports and leisure industry. You find physiotherapists where people are at risk of getting injured in their work. They can see patients in a gym, in a hospital or give specialist treatment using hi-tech equipment. Physiotherapists are also important in Intensive Care Units in hospitals where they give chest physiotherapy to help keep unconscious patients breathing.

Physiotherapists work with:

• people who have had an injury
• people who are terminally ill (this means they will die from their illness or injury)
• elderly people
• children
• people with all sorts of physical problems.