Physiotherapy Scope of Practice - College of Physiotherapists of Ontario
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Physiotherapy Scope of Practice

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Understanding whether a particular treatment or activity fits within the scope of physiotherapy is important to ensure that the care being delivered is effective, appropriate, and safe for patients.

Sometimes, physiotherapists may come across situations where it’s unclear if a certain practice falls within their role as a PT. In these cases, it’s important to check if the activity aligns with what physiotherapists are trained and authorized to do. This involves assessing, among other things, if the activity fits within their core responsibilities, if they need to work with other healthcare professionals to complete the activity, and if the activity meets the College’s professional standards. If an activity does not align with a physiotherapist’s training, knowledge, skills, and legal authorization, they must refrain from using their professional title to perform it.

Legislative References

Under the Physiotherapy Act, 1991, the practice of physiotherapy is defined as:

  1. The assessment of neuromuscular, musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems, 
  2. The diagnosis of diseases or disorders associated with physical dysfunction, injury, or pain, and
  3. The treatment, rehabilitation and prevention or relief of physical dysfunction, injury, or pain to develop, maintain, rehabilitate, or augment physical function and promote mobility.

Guiding Questions

The physiotherapy profession is constantly evolving, with emerging therapies and new technologies always being considered.

If you are considering incorporating a new treatment method or approach or if you want to evaluate whether an activity qualifies as physiotherapy, consider the following guiding questions. It is important to note that these are not exhaustive and that they serve to begin, rather than comprise, the conversation.

For further details, please refer to the “Is it Physiotherapy” decision tool developed by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR). The tool provides a framework that guides physiotherapists through a decision-making pathway to determine whether an area of practice should be considered physiotherapy.

  • Am I using the knowledge and skills I developed during my physiotherapy education and training?
  • If the activity does not appear in your physiotherapy training and does not require specialized physiotherapy skills, you may not be working as a physiotherapist.
  • Situations where the physiotherapist is providing services other than physiotherapy require cautious and intentional management, including an assessment of patient expectations.
  • Am I assessing, diagnosing, and building a treatment plan with my skillset as a physiotherapist?
  • If the activity does not include all three of these components, you may not be working as a physiotherapist.
  • These components must also be present in your patient interactions.
  • As a physiotherapist, am I the best person to be delivering this service, or does this service already exist within another profession’s scope of practice?
  • If not, you may be working under the direction and delegation of another profession authorized to perform this activity. 
  • In this capacity, while you would still be working as a physiotherapist, you may be performing activities that are not within the legislated scope of practice of the physiotherapy profession.
  • In such cases, the delegating health care provider is responsible for the services provided and for supervising the physiotherapist.

FAQs

Physiotherapists should consider the following standards when assessing whether or not to introduce or perform a certain activity:

Third Party Resources

Questions? 

Contact our Practice Advisors at 1-800-583-5885 ext. 241 or email advice@collegept.org.