Abstract

Introduction: studies about the characterization of Physical Therapy professional practice in Spain are limited, and the existing ones are characterized by confusing definitions of the dimensions that compose it. Objectives: to describe the features of Physical Therapy professional practice in Spain according to a standardized and pre-established organization of elements and to analyze the multidimensional structure of this practice. Material and method: a descriptive study with a historical-comparative profile and a qualitative nature in which a 5-item semi-structured interview is conducted with 45 physical therapists after theoretical sampling, categorizing the sample by age (21-40, 41-55 and >55 years old) and professional profile. Regarding data analysis, Atlas.ti 5.0 is used for discourse analysis, SPSS 17 for descriptive analysis and SPAD N for Multiple Correspondence Analysis. Results: the most relevant dimensions of professional practice, according to physical therapists, are: service function (84.4%), professional qualification (46.7%), manual therapy (83.5%) and Electrotherapy (75.6%). Two factors are identified that allow us to visualize the multiple correspondences between variables and that explain 71.6% of the relationship between them. Namely, professional qualification among physiotherapists in the 21-40 age group, the importance of method in Physical Therapy for 41-55 year-olds and identity and professional status among physiotherapists over 55. Conclusions: the profile of professional practice of physiotherapy in Spain in the 2nd half of the twentieth century is described from three generational groups, explaining the trend of relationship inter-dimensions with two factors, highlighting the role of care, professional qualifications and manual therapy as key elements.