The Order of Physiotherapists plays an essential regulatory role, guaranteeing the quality of the services provided, protecting the interests of citizens and ensuring the ethical and competent practice of physiotherapy in Portugal.
Physiotherapy is defined as the study, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of health conditions that affect the structures and functions of the movement system, as well as the functionality of people, groups or communities, considering kinesiopathological and pathokinesiological conditions.
In the physiotherapy process, the physiotherapist performs the following acts:
a) Exam/assessment:
i) Gather information by observation, interview, manual examination, tests and other measuring instruments, and complementary means of diagnosing the movement system;
ii) Detailed assessment of the movement, activity and participation system;
iii) Record all relevant information collected in the clinical file.
b) Physiotherapy diagnosis: In accordance with his "leges artis", he draws up the physiotherapy diagnosis, taking into account alterations in the movement system, activity limitations and participation restrictions.
c) Prognosis and intervention plan: Determines the needs for physiotherapy intervention, defines the objectives and indicates the intervention plan in collaboration with the patient, family, carers and/or representatives, taking into account the contextual factors, and establishes the expected optimum level of improvement in function and the time interval needed to reach this level.
d) Intervention:
i) Educates, guides and advises with a view to optimising the movement system and adopting healthy lifestyles, with repercussions on functionality, health-related quality of life, optimising activity and participation;
ii) Prescribes, applies and monitors movement therapy, physical activity and physical exercise in the field of health, including therapeutic exercise aimed in particular at pain and/or dysfunction and clinical exercise aimed at populations with illnesses or other special health needs;
iii) Prescribes, applies and monitors manual therapy, including manipulative therapy;
iv) Prescribes, applies and monitors physical therapy, including electrophysical, mechanical and natural means;
v) Prescribes, applies and monitors other interventions supported by physiotherapy science, including technological, support and innovation resources.
e) Evaluation of results/modification of the intervention: Evaluates the impact of their intervention, reassessing it during and after the intervention and deciding to modify it whenever they deem it necessary.
f) Conclusion of the physiotherapy process: The physiotherapy process is concluded whenever the planned and agreed objectives have been achieved, or if the intervention is no longer perceived to be effective.
For a more detailed reading, the Regulation of the physiotherapist actwhich defines the physiotherapist's own professional act, setting out their competences, autonomy and responsibility.