Making Waves: A Deep Dive into the role of Aquatic Physiotherapists in Portugal

Characterize the demographic and professional profile of Aquatic Physiotherapists in Portugal, assess their working conditions/job satisfaction, and identify areas for improvement in education, training, and professional recognition.

The Interest Group in Aquatic Physiotherapy (GIFA - Portugal) prepared a questionnaire through the google forms platform and shared it on social media and through it’s mailing list. The data collection process ensured complete privacy and anonymity of participants.This questionnaire consisted of twenty-two questions regarded to the Aquatic Physiotherapy (AP) characterization of the demographic and professional profile. Microsoft Excel was used to analyze the data.

110 responses were received. Of the surveyed physiotherapists, 82.7% were female and 17.3% male (average age - 35 years old). Most hold a bachelor's degree (64.5%), followed by postgraduates (22.7%), master's (12.7%) and specialists (3.6%). Responses were collected from all districts in Portugal, with the majority practicing in Lisbon (37.3%), followed by Setúbal (18.2%), Faro and Porto (7.3%). Regarding professional experience, 20% have 6-10 years, 18.2% have 1-5 years, 17.3% have 11-15 years, and 13.6% have 21-25 years. In AP, 31.8% have 1-5 years of experience, 19.1% have 6-10 years, and 13.6%  have less than 1 year or 11-15 years. 84.5% had AP content in their degree, while only 60.9% pursued additional training after university education. The majority work in public pools (46.6%), with 28.2% in private pools and 20% in clinics. Physiotherapists usually work alone or with teams made up of 1 to 3 Physiotherapists in the aquatic environment (29.1% each). Aquatic physiotherapists primarily work with adults (93.6%) and treat musculoskeletal conditions (80.9%) and post-surgical cases (59.1%). Only 1.8% work full-time in this field, with most conducting 5-10 hours of AP per week (33.6%). Sessions are mostly individual and group-based (49.1%). Most clients come through direct access (66.4%), with the majority referred by doctors (41.8%). The common employment model is permanent contracts (36.4%) or freelance (32.7%). 70% consider themselves "very satisfied" with the recognition of their work by clients, 51% "satisfied" with the recognition from other health professionals. Only 37% consider themselves "very satisfied" with the recognition of their work by other Physiotherapists. Regarding working conditions, 55% are "satisfied" with the physical space and equipment and 41% are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the remuneration.

The practice of AP in Portugal is characterized by a predominantly female workforce, regional disparities, and a high number of part-time practitioners with limited experience in the field. The services are primarily focused on adults with musculoskeletal and post-surgical conditions. While they feel recognized by clients, there is lower satisfaction with peer recognition and remuneration. 

The implications for practice include the need for improved AP education and professional recognition, the expansion of full-time roles and better geographic distribution, as well as encouraging continued professional development to ensure expertise in this field.