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Health Sciences
195
Physiotherapy
COURSE CODES:
PLACES 2012:
POINTS 2011:
DEGREE AWARDED:
TR053
40
535
B.Sc. (Physio.)
Special Entry Requirements:
Leaving Certificate
OC3 or HD3 Mathematics
HC3
In two of physics,
chemistry, biology,
physics/chemistry,
mathematics
or agricultural
science
GCSE
Grade B Mathematics
Advanced GCE (A-Level)
Grade C In two of physics,
chemistry, biology,
or mathematics
Combinations of subjects not permitted:
Physics/chemistry with physics or chemistry
Agricultural science with biology
See Precautions against infectious diseases, page 198
Garda Vetting:
Students will be required to undergo Garda vetting. See
page 26 for further details.
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy – or physical therapy – places full and functional
movement at the heart of what it means to be healthy. It
involves treating patients of all ages with a range of illnesses
and conditions, including those with back and neck problems,
sports injuries, arthritis, or those recovering from strokes and
operations. The methods employed include exercise therapy,
manipulative procedures, and a variety of electrical treatments.
Physiotherapists may be part of a multidisciplinary medical
team that includes physicians, nurses, speech and language
therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists and social
workers among others. Alternatively they may work from clinics
or specialise in particular areas of the discipline.
Is this the right course for you?
Physiotherapy is both physically and academically demanding
and you will need to have considerable emotional stability.
Visiting a local general hospital or other area where
physiotherapists work will give you a good understanding
of what exactly is involved.
Physiotherapy at Trinity College
Physiotherapy is based in the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences
in a purpose built complex at St. James’s Hospital. This
complex houses other health science disciplines and allows
physiotherapy students to share courses with those in the other
health sciences to give a multidisciplinary approach to studying
and working.
The centre is about 2 miles from the main campus and is beside
a Luas station on the line running between Tallaght and Connolly
Station in the city centre.
Course content
The major objective of this four-year course is to enable you
to become a competent professional with the ability to work
independently with patients.
There are two components to Physiotherapy: theory and
clinical practice. In the first year the emphasis is on laying
a foundation of theoretical knowledge and the second year
introduces students to the clinical skills and procedures used
by physiotherapists. Clinical sciences are taught mainly in the
second and third years.
In the third and fourth years students
spend up to fifty percent of their time on clinical placement.
In the fourth-year students have an opportunity to develop
specialist knowledge in a particular area of physiotherapy and
undertake a
research project.
The Freshman years
As a Freshman (first and second year) student you will have
approximately 20 hours of teaching each week divided between
lecture and practical classes.
Courses covered in the first two years include:
n
Physiology
n
Anatomy
n
Physics
n
Chemistry
n
Pathology
n
Biomechanics and movement
– includes procedures
to improve strength, mobility and balance.
n
Electrotherapy procedures
– includes the use of
electrotherapy to alleviate pain, improve circulation and
re-educate muscles.
n
Manipulative procedures
– includes the use of soft tissue
massage and manipulations to improve mobility and improve
circulation.
n
Exercise therapy
– the use of exercise in prevention and
treatment.
You will also start to study various conditions and specialities
frequently seen in physiotherapy such as respiratory conditions
and musculoskeletal conditions.
At the end of second year you will start clinical placements under
the supervision of skilled and experienced tutors. These may
be taken in hospitals, clinics, day centres or within private and
community practice.