{"id":10065,"date":"2025-03-23T16:03:15","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T16:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/?page_id=10065"},"modified":"2026-03-10T21:36:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T21:36:25","slug":"perguntas-frequentes-cidadao","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/en\/perguntas-frequentes-cidadao\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"10065\" class=\"elementor elementor-10065\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5691d27f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5691d27f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4af0ce2d elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"4af0ce2d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1251\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1251\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How can I be sure that someone really is a physiotherapist?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1251\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1251\"><p>All physiotherapists hold a professional licence issued by the Order of Physiotherapists. If you want to confirm that an intervention is being carried out by a duly qualified physiotherapist, you can ask to see their professional card.<\/p><p>The Order of Physiotherapists advises citizens to apply for a professional card at the beginning of their physiotherapy session.<\/p><p>You can also search for your physiotherapist in the Directory available on the website of the Order of Physiotherapists.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1252\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1252\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What can a Physiotherapist do for me?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1252\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1252\"><p>The physiotherapist will help you with specific physiotherapy interventions focused on promoting movement and functionality. Physiotherapy is defined as the study, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of health conditions that affect the structures and functions of the movement system, as well as the functionality of people, groups or communities.<\/p><p>When you go to a physiotherapist registered with the Portuguese Bar Association, you're looking for a duly qualified health professional, who must act within quality standards and be subject to a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/codigo-dre.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Code of Ethics<\/a><\/span>, to a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/regulamento-disciplinar-dre.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disciplinary Regulation<\/a><\/span> and the guarantee of professional civil liability insurance.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1253\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1253\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Can the physiotherapist carry out sessions in your own home?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1253\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1253\"><p>No. The physiotherapist cannot carry out physiotherapy sessions in their own home, unless it has premises with access and autonomous reserved areas, duly adapted and licensed.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1254\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1254\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Can the physiotherapist carry out sessions at the home of the person using their services?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1254\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1254\"><p>Yes, legally qualified physiotherapists can carry out physiotherapy sessions at the patient's home.<\/p><p>To this end, they must be registered with the ERS as a mobile unit and comply with all the rules applicable to this type of structure, including, for example, the provision of a complaints book.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1255\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1255\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Can physiotherapists carry out physiotherapy consultations online?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1255\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1255\"><p>Yes, legally qualified physiotherapists can carry out physiotherapy consultations online, as long as they are registered with the ERS as a telemedicine unit and comply with all the rules applicable to this type of structure, including, for example, the provision of a complaints book.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1256\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1256\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Should Physiotherapists explain, in a first treatment session, which methods will use throughout their intervention?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1256\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1256\"><p>The physiotherapist has a duty to provide clarification in order to enable an informed choice. The user, or whoever is authorised to do so, has the right to be informed about the purpose and nature of the intervention, as well as the right to consent, refuse or revoke consent to the intervention.<\/p><p>Article 11 of Chapter IX of the Physiotherapist's Code of Ethics, which can be consulted here, is dedicated to the informed consent of users.<\/p><p>There is a procedure in place to register and review all complaints submitted, depending on nature, which requires a response to the person or entity that submitted the complaint, and the respective referral.<\/p><p>If you would like to submit a report\/complaint\/complaint regarding a Physiotherapist, please fill in the available form <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Formulario-de-Participacao_-Reclamacao_-Denuncia-OF_CJ_14102025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/span> <i>and send it to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"mailto:geral@ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">geral@ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt<\/a><\/span>.<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1257\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1257\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Does Physical Therapy only intends to treat pain?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1257\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1257\"><p>No. Although pain is a frequent and relevant symptom, physiotherapy is not limited to its treatment.<\/p><p>Physiotherapy is a health profession centred on the promotion, prevention, assessment, treatment, habilitation, rehabilitation and maintenance of functionality and movement. Intervention takes place in various areas of clinical practice.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1258\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1258\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">I know someone who does physiotherapy but isn't a physiotherapist. Is that legal?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1258\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1258\"><p>No. Physiotherapy can only be practised by physiotherapists.<\/p><p>The performance of physiotherapy acts by someone who is not a physiotherapist may constitute usurpation of functions and should be reported.<\/p><p>Find out what to do in this situation <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/en\/participacao-reclamacao-ou-denuncia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/span>.<\/p><p>It should be remembered that the Order of Physiotherapists is responsible for reports, complaints or denunciations of cases of usurpation of the professional title. As the profession's regulatory body, the Order endeavours to ensure that the profession is only practised by competent and qualified professionals, guaranteeing the protection and safety of citizens.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1259\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1259\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Does the Order of Physiotherapists receive complaints from the public?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1259\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1259\"><p>Yes. One of the statutory functions of the Order of Physiotherapists is to defend the general interests of users of the services provided by its members, ensuring and enforcing citizens' right to health.<\/p><p>The Order of Physiotherapists has a Jurisdictional Council which, among other competences, can instruct and judge disciplinary proceedings against members of the Order.<\/p><p>There is a procedure for registering and analysing all complaints submitted, depending on their nature, which requires a response to the person or entity that submitted the complaint and for it to be forwarded.<\/p><p>If you would like to submit a report, complaint or grievance concerning a physiotherapist, please fill in the available form <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Formulario-de-Participacao_-Reclamacao_-Denuncia-OF_CJ_14102025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/span> and send it to geral@ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt.<\/p><p>Find out about other channels for participation, complaints or claims <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/en\/participacao-reclamacao-ou-denuncia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/span>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Como posso ter a certeza de que uma pessoa \u00e9 mesmo Fisioterapeuta? Todos os fisioterapeutas s\u00e3o detentores de uma c\u00e9dula profissional emitida pela Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas. Caso pretenda confirmar se uma interven\u00e7\u00e3o est\u00e1 a ser realizada por um fisioterapeuta devidamente habilitado, pode solicitar a apresenta\u00e7\u00e3o da respetiva c\u00e9dula profissional. A Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas aconselha os &#8230; <a title=\"Frequently Asked Questions\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/en\/perguntas-frequentes-cidadao\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Frequently Asked Questions\">Read more<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10065","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10065"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13034,"href":"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10065\/revisions\/13034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}