Academy of Physical Education in Katowice

The 5-year Master’s degree programme in Physiotherapy leads to a Master of Physiotherapy degree. This title is a necessary condition for obtaining the right to practice physiotherapy, which is a medical profession. The education of students in the field of physiotherapy is conducted according to strictly defined educational standards for medical professions. The study programme is in accordance with the recommendations of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) European Region Forum and the European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher Education (ENPHE) . Graduates of the physiotherapy degree programme are qualified to work with sick and disabled people in the field of physiotherapy. They are also entitled to work with healthy people in the field of physioprophylaxis and sports preparation. The profession of physiotherapist entitles to work in medical centres and in centres where pro-health prophylaxis and biological regeneration (wellness) is carried out, including biological regeneration of athletes. The graduates of the physiotherapy degree shall acquire necessary knowledge and practical skills to conduct diagnostics for physiotherapy purposes and to perform all therapeutic procedures in physiotherapy for people of both genders and different ages. The graduates of the physiotherapy degree also acquire knowledge and full practical preparation for programming and verifying the whole process of diagnostics and physiotherapy of patients, taking into consideration accompanying diseases and indications and contraindications for physiotherapy procedures. This includes knowledge and practical skills for programming and applying physical therapy, kinesitherapy, therapeutic massage, manual therapy, special physiotherapy methods, orthopaedic supplies, clinical physiotherapy in orthopaedics traumatology, neurology (including orthopaedics and child neurology), paediatrics, cardiology, intensive therapy, peripheral vascular diseases, chronic wounds, pulmonology, gynaecology and obstetrics, geriatrics, psychiatry, oncology and palliative care. The graduate shall also acquire appropriate skills and social competences to cooperate with multidisciplinary medical teams in preventing and treating diseases. An important area of physiotherapy activities is also health prevention and sports preparation of the athletes. Therefore, the graduates of physiotherapy obtain basic knowledge and skills in physiology of physical effort and physiological diagnostics, the theory of sports training and programming and conducting biological regeneration in recreation and sports training. The aim of the studies is also to obtain knowledge and skills necessary for continuous professional development, including the search and implementation of modern physiotherapy methods and the application of diagnostics and therapy based on scientific facts. Apart from the obligatory study programme, the student can also choose additional subjects to broaden individual professional interests. The graduate also obtains basic theoretical and practical preparation for scientific work in the field of health prophylaxis and physiotherapy.