Physiotherapy Expanding Its Footprint In India: Experts

From a stroke survivor learning to walk again and an athlete returning to competition to an elderly person trying to remain independent and a child developing healthier movement habits, the role of physiotherapists is increasingly gaining greater recognition in India.

Growing burden of chronic diseases, neurological disorders, sports injuries, ageing-related disability and musculoskeletal problems is creating demand for specialised rehabilitation services, including dedicated physiotherapy hospitals, said the experts from the sector.

Ahead of the two-day World Physiotherapy Asia Western Pacific Regional Conference 2026, to be held on September 26 in New Delhi, they said, the profession is moving beyond its traditional image of being limited to post-injury exercises and rehabilitation after surgery.

“It is increasingly becoming part of preventive healthcare, long-term disease management and specialised rehabilitation,” said Prof Dr Sanjiv K Jha, President of the Indian Association of Physiotherapists (IAP) and Organising Chair of the conference.

The conference with the theme “Fitness for All: Empowering Communities, Building Inclusive Health”, and hosted by the IAP, will bring together a battery of physiotherapy professionals, researchers and clinicians from India and across the world.

Dr Jha said the changing disease profile in India is one of the reasons for the growing need for physiotherapy. Stroke, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions often leave patients with movement and functional difficulties that require prolonged rehabilitation.

At the same time, rising participation in competitive sports, fitness activities and recreational exercise is increasing the need for specialised sports physiotherapy.

The demand is also visible in orthopaedic care, where physiotherapy plays an important role before and after joint replacement, fractures, ligament injuries and other musculoskeletal conditions.

“With more people living longer, rehabilitation for arthritis, balance problems, falls and age-related loss of function is another expanding area,” added Dr Vinod Kaushik, President IAP, Haryana Chapter.

Dr Ruchi Varshney, Organising Secretary, WPAWP 2026, said, Technology is also changing the way physiotherapy is delivered. Robotic rehabilitation, technology-assisted neuro and orthopaedic rehabilitation, vestibular rehabilitation and newer therapeutic approaches are among the subjects on the conference agenda.

The changing perception of the profession has also been accompanied by greater public discussion about the professional identity and autonomy of physiotherapists, added Dr (Prof) Vikrant Bhrdwaj, Director-Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Programme at Pacific OneHealth Hospital.

The fact that the Kerala High Court held that qualified physiotherapists and occupational therapists could use the prefix “Dr”, observing that the title was not exclusively reserved for medical practitioners, has also boosted the sector.

Dr Varshney added that the larger issue is not the use of a title but recognition of the profession's expanding clinical role. “We all in the medical sector need to work together for the ultimate benefit of the patients.”

In fact, the need for physiotherapy is not restricted to hospitals. Schools could become another important setting. Dr Nehal, a physiotherapist from Ahmedabad, added, "Even as Dr Varshney pointed out, 'Our responsibility extends beyond professional development.' We have to contribute to healthier communities, promote physical activity and fitness, prevent disability and improve quality of life. Schools are an important starting point for this preventive approach.”

Dr Nehal and Dr Varshney were of the opinion that physiotherapy can help schools introduce preventive programmes that focus on movement education, early identification of problems and healthy physical activity rather than waiting until pain becomes persistent.

Dr Dharam P Pandey, Manipal Hospitals called for a shift from treating musculoskeletal problems after they develop to preventing them through movement education, physical fitness and early identification of problems.

At the same time, Dr Jha said India's challenge is to make quality physiotherapy accessible beyond major cities. Rural and smaller-town populations often have limited access to specialised rehabilitation services, even though disability and chronic disease can create a long-term need for such care.

One of the important discussions at the conference will focus on back pain as a growing public health challenge. Dr Jha, who will discuss how back pain is influenced by multiple interacting factors rather than being explained by a single mechanical cause, said that the broader understanding is important as back pain is increasingly being seen across age groups.

Prolonged sitting, physical inactivity, poor movement habits, occupational demands, psychological and social factors and previous injuries can all influence pain and disability. The discussion also gains relevance in children, he added.

In fact physiotherapy experts have been raising concerns about musculoskeletal problems among children and the need to look beyond schoolbag weight to factors such as sedentary behaviour, prolonged sitting, physical inactivity and poor movement habits.

Another important theme at the conference will be early ageing and healthy ageing to be delivered by Dr Mike Landry, President of World Physiotherapy.

Experts said the emergence of dedicated physiotherapy hospitals and specialised rehabilitation centres is another indication of the changing demand. Such centres can provide focused care for patients requiring longer rehabilitation and bring together physiotherapists and other rehabilitation professionals.

However, the next challenge is ensuring that this growing expertise reaches patients outside major cities.

“Access to specialised physiotherapy remains uneven, particularly for people in rural areas and smaller towns. Integrating physiotherapy into community and primary healthcare could help address this gap,” said Dr Jha.

The two-day seminar includes dedicated sessions on neurophysiotherapy, sports physiotherapy, orthopaedic physiotherapy, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, paediatric physiotherapy, women's health and geriatric physiotherapy.