Presentation
Physical therapy is a healthcare discipline with roots in ancient times, with empirical and manual practices already present in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations. However, it was structured as a modern profession starting in the second half of the 19th century, particularly in the orthopedic and neurological fields. In Italy, the role of the physical therapist began to evolve in the 1950s with the establishment of the first schools for rehabilitation therapists, and it was officially recognized with Law No. 403 in 1971. Full academic recognition was achieved following Law No. 42 of 1999 and Ministerial Decree 509/1999, which transformed training pathways into university-level three-year degree programs.
The Bachelor's Degree in Physical therapy, which belongs to the Class of Degrees in Health Professions of Rehabilitation (L/SNT2), trains professionals capable of assessing, treating, and preventing motor, neurological, respiratory, and musculoskeletal dysfunctions in individuals across developmental, adult, and geriatric stages. Physical therapists work to promote health, improve quality of life, and support the recovery of autonomy and social participation by using evidence-based methodologies and focusing their interventions on the specific needs and goals of the individual.
Over the years, the role of the physical therapist has gradually expanded, evolving from an executive figure into a professional with decision-making autonomy and clinical responsibility in patient management. The modern approach is based on bio-psycho-social models, interprofessional integration, and the active participation of the person in the rehabilitation process. Today, the physical therapist's work spans multiple fields: from neurorehabilitation to cardiorespiratory rehabilitation, from manual therapy to therapeutic exercise, from post-surgical re-education to the promotion of adapted physical activity and prevention.
The degree program lasts three years and combines a solid theoretical-scientific education with a significant practical component. Internships, organized and supervised in collaboration with qualified healthcare facilities, are a cornerstone of the training path and allow students to acquire specific skills in real clinical settings. The curriculum includes courses in biomedical, clinical, and rehabilitative areas, as well as methodological, ethical, and communication content, with particular attention to the development of transversal skills and clinical reasoning.
Upon completion, graduates in Physical therapy are qualified to practice the healthcare profession and may work in both public and private sectors, either as employees or as freelancers, in hospital, community, home, and outpatient settings. The degree also provides access to first-level master's programs, specialization courses, master’s degrees, and PhD programs, encouraging continuous professional development and career opportunities in clinical practice, teaching, management, and scientific research.