Scope of Practice

2.1 Development of physiotherapy

Several key factors have led to the development of the physiotherapy profession from its origins:

• the choice, range and application of different treatment techniques and modalities – themselves brought about by changing and improving technology, research and development.
• practitioner innovation – leading to the development of new approaches, their rigorous testing and subsequent adoption by the profession at large
• the evolution of services for new client groups and more generally the increasing expectations of clients

Animal physiotherapists are required to demonstrate key professional attributes such as clinical reasoning and decision making – attributes which define the core competence of the profession; such professional expertise is further refined through post qualifying practice and continued professional development (CPD).

A profession’s scope of practice encompasses the services its members are educated, competent and insured to provide. The overall scope of the physiotherapy profession encompasses all individual physiotherapists’ scopes and sets the limits of practice for all physiotherapy practitioners.

Chartered Animal Physiotherapists can ensure they are working within the scope of the profession of physiotherapy if they can either:

• Identify how their practice is related to one of the core skills of physiotherapy and/or
• Identify a 'responsible body of opinion' within the profession asserting that a modality they choose to practice safely and effectively is also used by other Chartered physiotherapists. This could be expressed either through views of a recognised clinical interest group, other groups with substantial membership amongst other physiotherapists or a selection of members with a recognised expertise in the field. It is however expected that the practice has been evaluated or that there is research to show benefit to patients.