A História dos Currículos de Fisioterapia: A Construção de uma Identidade Profissional

Abstract

This study, a result of a teaching professional experience in Courses of Physiotherapy, was performed as an instrument of comprehension/reflection on the influences of political, social and historic forces in the construction of a professional identity of all physiotherapists living in Brazil. It was based in curriculum models adopted in three different moments of history: in the 50’s with technician courses, the 60’s when the technical courses were introduced at college and the 80’s with the introduction of Physiotherapy courses at universities. The aim of this research was to evaluate the impacts on the curriculum models and the reconstruction of the professional identity through the history of Physiotherapy in the world and in Brazil correlating them one to the other. The methodology used involved the analysis of documents and oral interviews. Understanding the professional identity as a collective construction, idealized and concretized through individual actions, we may be able to understand the advances in the processes of profissionalization and the limitations imposed to the occupation.