DPT is the first professional degree in the field of physical therapy recognized by Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan. It comprises of 5 years (10 semesters), equivalent 17 years of schooling. The degree program will produce physical therapy professionals who will be entitled as Doctors of Physical Therapy and will be competent to diagnose and treat movement dysfunctions due to injuries or diseases.

Physical Therapy is a rapidly growing profession. It has gained tremendous advancement and acceptance within the last two decades in the health care domain and is being rated in top ranked high earning profession in the western world. The DPT curriculum is adopted form of the USA and few local alterations have incorporated to the DPT syllabus in Pakistan. The new syllabus emphasizes on the areas such as differential diagnosis, applied pharmacology, diagnostic imaging, health care prevention and practice management. It gives the autonomy to the physiotherapists that patients can have direct access to them. The rapid growth in the field of physical therapy poses new challenges for professionals to re-evaluate its goals for the future and move toward more autonomy in patient care.

Physical Therapist is now integral part of any health service in the modern word. According to America Physical Therapy Association (APTA) By 2020, physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, activity limitations, participation restrictions, and environmental barriers related to movement, function, and health. Since there is general trend of Physical Therapists to seek employment and admission for further studies abroad. The DPT complies with the initial requirement regarding the educational and employments opportunities all over the world. The program will also meet the requirement for independent practice in Pakistan.

Physical therapy is an essential segment of modern health care system. It is a “science of healing and art of caring”. It pertains to the clinical examination, evaluation, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal, Neurological, Cardio-Vascular and Respiratory systems’ functional disorders including symptoms of pain, edema, physiological, structural and psychosomatic ailments. It deals with methods of treatment based on movement, manual therapy, physical agents, and therapeutics modalities to relieve the pain and other complications.

Hence, Physical therapy covers basic parameters of healing sciences i.e. preventive, promotional, diagnostic, rehabilitative, and curative.