Tell us a little bit about yourself and your profession.
Dibyaprakash Kar: I practice sports physiotherapy. In 2002, I completed my sports-specific physiotherapy training at the Abhinav Bindra Sports Medicine and Research Institute (ABSMARI), Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India.
Because I love sports and the biomechanical aspects of them, I decided to become a sports physiotherapist. What fascinates me the most about human movement is its dynamism. My career is solely focused on two facets of sports: (i) the management and prevention of sports injuries, and (ii) sports performance improvement. Even so, there are other facets of the profession, including research and evaluating and screening athletes. I am currently working at the Sport Science Academy, Bhubhaneshwar, India.
Please walk me through a typical day in a physiotherapist's life, from when you arrive at work till when you leave.
Dibyaprakash Kar: Being a sports physiotherapist, I begin every day at the crack of dawn at the sports field, tennis court, football field, athletic stadium, etc. At 10 a.m., I return to our sports rehab facility and train both athletes and non-athletes there until 1 p.m., when I break for lunch. I take an hour for lunch, then I return to the clinic at 2 p.m. to continue working with athletes until 7 p.m. At 7:30 pm, after delivering my daily report to the appropriate party, I depart my place of employment.
What inspired you to pursue physiotherapy as a career?
Dibyaprakash Kar: First and foremost, I had a strong interest in human biology and the medical sciences at school. I, therefore, desired to pursue a career in medicine. Sports followed as my second area of interest (but I enjoy all sports, especially football). Anyhow, I wanted to combine these two areas of interest, so I did some research and discovered that sports physiotherapists are the medical experts that work closely with athletes. My passion for exercise propelled me into this field of medicine.
Which abilities do you consider to be the most crucial for a physiotherapist when you are deciding to pursue it as a career?
Dibyaprakash Kar: The most crucial ability is the ability to perceive pain. The more accurately we can perceive the pain of a client or patient, the more effective will be our treatment.
What do you like most about your job as a physiotherapist?
Dibyaprakash Kar: The most interesting and likable aspect of my job as a physiotherapist is always the happiness I see on the faces of my clients after getting a long-awaited improvement in their specific health condition.