Department of Exercise Therapy & Electrotherapy

This department teaches the core treatment tools of physiotherapy: therapeutic exercise, manual therapy and electro-physical agents, together with the biomechanics that explains why they work. Over the first two years, students move from the physics and principles of movement and electricity to choosing, dosing and progressing exercise and modalities to suit the stage of tissue healing. In the third year the department leads, with the clinical departments, the teaching of physical and functional diagnosis based on the WHO ICF framework, the basis of assessment in every specialty.

Subjects we teach

• BPT-104
  Fundamentals of Exercise ModalitiesYear 1 · Theory + Practical · 180 hours

  Mechanics, planes and axes, joint measurement including electronic goniometry, starting positions, transfers, basic assessment, prescribing movement aids, and active, assisted, resisted and passive movements.

• BPT-105
  Fundamentals of Electro-Physical AgentsYear 1 · Theory + Practical · 180 hours

  The physics of electricity, light and sound, electrical safety, low-frequency currents, electro-diagnostic tests, superficial heat, and the physiology and theories of pain.

• BPT-205
  Exercise TherapyYear 2 · Theory + Practical · 270 hours

  Relaxation, suspension therapy, posture, breathing and group exercise, stretching, manual therapy and joint mobilisation, traction, aerobic exercise, Frenkel's exercises, motor learning and PNF.

• BPT-206
  ElectrotherapyYear 2 · Theory + Practical · 270 hours

  Ultrasound, LASER, cryotherapy, compression, shockwave, TENS, interferential and other currents, biofeedback, diathermy and hydrotherapy, with modality choice and dose calculation by stage of healing.

• BPT-207
  Biomechanics & KinesiologyYear 2 · Theory · 180 hours

  The kinetics and kinematics of human movement, the link between structure and function, and analysis of normal and abnormal posture and gait.

• BPT-306
  Physical & Functional Diagnosis and PrescriptionYear 3 · Theory + Practical · 180 hours · taught jointly with the clinical departments

  Diagnosing impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions with the ICF framework, using valid and reliable tools and special tests practised on a healthy model first.

What you will learn

• Measure joint range of motion (including with an electronic goniometer), test muscle strength, and carry out basic motor, sensory, coordination and balance assessment
• Prescribe and progress passive, active, assisted, resisted, endurance, strengthening, balance and coordination exercise, and record dosage in the prescribed format
• Perform stretching, relaxation, suspension therapy, PNF, Frenkel's exercises, functional re-education, postural correction and breathing exercises
• Apply manual therapy and peripheral joint mobilisation (Maitland, Kaltenborn, Mulligan, with the principles of McKenzie, MET, Cyriax and neurodynamics), and manual and mechanical traction
• Select, dose and apply electro-physical agents safely, matched to the stage of healing, and maintain the equipment
• Carry out electro-diagnostic tests (strength–duration curve, chronaxie, rheobase) and stimulate motor points
• Analyse normal and abnormal posture and gait using kinetic and kinematic principles
• Carry out region-wise special tests and record findings using the ICF model

Modalities & clinical areas

Electro-physical agents

• Iontophoresis
• Faradic and interrupted direct current
• TENS
• Interferential therapy
• Russian and Rebox currents
• Biofeedback
• Therapeutic ultrasound
• LASER
• Shortwave and pulsed shortwave diathermy
• Infrared
• Paraffin wax
• Moist heat
• Cryotherapy
• Intermittent compression
• Shockwave
• Hydrotherapy (Hubbard tank, contrast and whirlpool baths)
• Combination therapy

Exercise and manual therapy

• Therapeutic gymnasium
• Aerobic conditioning and exercise testing
• Group exercise
• Motor learning and motor control
• Suspension therapy
• PNF
• Frenkel's exercises
• Peripheral joint mobilisation
• Manual and mechanical traction
• Stretching and relaxation
• Posture and breathing exercise

Recent advances (introduced in Year 2)

• High-power Class IV laser
• PEMF
• High-intensity magnetotherapy
• Spinal decompression
• Pneumatic compression
• Functional electrical stimulation
• TECAR
• Cold-air cryotherapy
• Virtual and augmented reality
• Robotic therapy

Clinical problems addressed

• Pain
• Inflammation and tissue healing
• Movement impairments
• Neuromuscular lesions
• Postural deviations
• Gait deviations

Laboratories

Both laboratories are equipped in line with the NCAHP minimum standards. The norms list some items specifically for students in the third and fourth years of the course.

Exercise therapy & kinesiotherapy laboratory (gymnasium)

• Parallel bars
• Wall bar
• Suspension frames
• Tilt table
• Staircase and slope
• Quadriceps table
• Multi-gym
• Rowing machine
• Ergocycles and pedo cycle
• Shoulder wheel and finger ladder
• Wrist roller and ankle exerciser
• Delorme shoes, dumbbells, weight cuffs
• Resistive bands and medicine balls
• Vestibular balls, bolsters and wedges
• Equilibrium boards
• Walking aids and wheelchairs
• Universal, digital and spinal goniometers
• Inclinometers

Electrotherapy & electrodiagnosis laboratory

• Short-wave diathermy
• Microwave diathermy
• Pulsed diathermy (PEME)
• Ultrasound (1 and 3 MHz)
• Interferential therapy
• TENS
• Laser
• Infrared lamps
• Paraffin wax bath
• Hydrocollator and hot packs
• Cryotherapy packs
• Diagnostic stimulators
• Senior years: EMG/NCV, EMG biofeedback, shockwave, combination therapy

See all laboratories

Clinical postings

There is no separate internship posting for this department because its skills are used in every posting. Students first apply exercise and electrotherapy under supervision during Clinical Observation (BPT-209, 210 hours) in the second year, then in Clinical Education (BPT-308, 300 hours) in the third year, where they decide treatment parameters and dosage at the bedside and in the OPD.

The college physiotherapy OPD, which the Year 4 Clinical Rotation (BPT-409) includes, has an electrotherapy unit with separate chambers for different modalities, space for cryotherapy, wax bath and hydrocollator, and an exercise-therapy gymnasium with room for parallel bars, gait training and mat work. Clinical training & OPD.

Career & higher study

Preparing treatments and equipment and applying exercise therapy and electrotherapy are part of the entry-level clinical physiotherapist's job described in the national handbook. These skills are used in hospitals, private clinics, sports and fitness centres, and home-based care.

• Every MPT specialty includes Biomechanics & Therapeutics in the first year, building directly on this department's teaching.
• For those drawn to manual therapy and exercise prescription, the MPT specialties in Musculoskeletal Science and Sports Science are natural next steps.
• With many years of experience, physiotherapists can move into extended-scope practice such as advanced manual therapy, taping and aquatic therapy.

RCP offers the BPT only. The MPT is a two-year postgraduate pathway after graduation. See Courses Offered.

Faculty

The department is staffed as per NCAHP faculty norms, which set a core faculty-to-student ratio of 1:10 for undergraduate teaching and require physiotherapy teachers to hold a BPT and an MPT. Meet our faculty.