Basic HTML Version
Health Sciences
197
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.
The Sophister years
In the Junior Sophister (third) year half of the time is spent on
academic studies and the other half on clinical placements in
a variety of settings both within and outside the Dublin area.
In the Senior Sophister (fourth) year, you will undertake an
investigative project on a topic related to physiotherapy in
conjunction with advanced study in an area of your choice.
Examples of subject choices available include care of the
elderly, paediatrics, women’s health, sports injuries and pain.
Assessment
End-of-year written examinations and tests in certain subjects,
such as anatomy, make up the theoretical assessment structure.
In addition, you will be continuously assessed during your
clinical placement and will have practical exams on the skills
element of the course, including your assessment of a patient
while on a clinical placement.
Career opportunities
Successful completion of the course entitles you to membership
of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists, the
accrediting body for physiotherapy in Ireland.
Physiotherapists are sought throughout the world and you will
be able to work with a wide range of conditions or to specialise,
as you wish. There is also great scope for you to continue to
develop your skills and expertise in areas such as manipulative
therapy, sports injuries, neurology, cardiology, respiratory,
research, education, management or private practice.
Did you know?
n
All students will have clinical placements at Trinity
College’s associated teaching hospitals of St.
James’s and AMNCH in Tallaght where there is an
established expertise in most areas of physiotherapy.
These placements allow students to gain experience
in some of the specialist areas of physiotherapy
including neurology, respiratory care, coronary care,
orthopaedics, women’s health, care of the elderly,
sports and out-patients.
Further information
www.medicine.tcd.ie/physiotherapy
Tel: +353 1 896 2110 / 1