Weaving Dreams: Building a Physiotherapy Clinic from Unisa Yogyakarta

The 2010 Asian Games and 2011 SEA Games not only left a sense of euphoria among the Indonesian people, but also marked the beginning of Tony Ibnu Yazid’s dream. His admiration for the individuals contributing behind the scenes of the national team’s efforts, particularly the physiotherapists, served as his inspiration.

“The national team’s euphoria at that time was extraordinary, but on the sidelines, there was the medical team always ready to assist whenever a player suffered an injury on the field—the physiotherapist. That’s where my interest began; after graduating from high school, I decided to pursue a degree in physiotherapy,” Tony shared on Thursday (July 17, 2025).

Weaving Dreams from Unisa Yogyakarta

Tony chose Universitas ‘Aisyiyah (Unisa) Yogyakarta in 2019. During his studies in the Physiotherapy Program at Unisa Yogyakarta, he gained a lot. One of the moments that solidified his decision to develop a physiotherapy clinic was also during his time at Unisa Yogyakarta.

Tony recalls one of the nursing lecturers at Unisa Yogyakarta, who is also the owner of Queen Latifa Hospital, Saefudin, who taught the entrepreneurship course. “The material at that time was very inspiring to enter the business world with the goal of not just finding a job after graduation, but starting a business so that I could create job opportunities in the future,” said Tony.  

Tony admitted that after completing his studies, he tried applying for a job at a hospital in Jakarta. However, he was unsuccessful at that time. Failure did not discourage Tony. He eventually applied for a job at Purwokerto Orthopaedic Hospital. There, he interned for six months and was offered a two-year contract, but he boldly declined and chose to resign instead.

“Choosing to start a business from scratch. Opening an independent physiotherapy practice, as the six-month internship was also used for market research. If I were to open an independent practice in Purwokerto, what would the prospects be, since there was only one physiotherapy clinic at the time, and that one was more specialized in pediatrics,” Tony explained.

Tony’s background in sports physiotherapy became the foundation for his bold decision. He eventually mustered the courage to resign and chose to rent a house to set up his independent physiotherapy practice. “I chose the name Physiokerto so that the general public could easily recognize it, because when it comes to physiotherapy in Purwokerto, it’s definitely Physiokerto,” he said.

Establishing a physiotherapy clinic is no easy feat. Tony admitted that challenges are always present, but one must be prepared to face them. It could be said that Tony was acting on sheer determination at the time. “Renting the space required borrowing Rp14 million from my parents, and purchasing equipment came from savings accumulated over six months of work. For the bed, table, and other items, I paid in installments to Reka MAN, who runs a furniture business,” Tony revealed.

Physical Therapy: Serving with Heart, Not on a Whim

Tony utilizes social media to promote Physiokerto. He shares information about treatment and physiotherapy education. Friendly and responsive service are some of the things Tony implements at Physiokerto.

“Maximum service makes patients spread the word to their colleagues, relatives, family, or neighbors. Fast and friendly service is the main weapon. As a result, patients will definitely return with 10 of their friends for physical therapy treatment,” said Tony.

His active involvement in various organizations during his studies at Unisa Yogyakarta has expanded his network. According to Tony, relationships are the best investment during one’s youth. “Seek experiences and learn from those who keep growing. Because the right relationships and knowledge can open up greater opportunities than just material gains. Start growing, not just dreaming,” he explained.

Tony also emphasized that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for physical therapy services must always be followed to ensure patients feel comfortable and receive care that meets standards. “Because physical therapy is about serving with heart, not just doing as you please,” said Tony.

Fokus Pelayanan Bukan Uang

Tony mengungkapkan market fisioterapi di jalur praktik mandiri masih terbuka lebar. Ia berpesan kepada mahasiswa Unisa Yogyakarta agar memiliki mental wirausaha. Memiliki cita-cita untuk membuka lapangan kerja. “Wirausaha itu mental kuncinya, bukan modal,” pesan Tony.

Dirinya berharap kedepan alumni Fisioterapi Unisa Yogyakarta banyak yang membuka praktik mandiri di daerah asal masing-masing. Dengan begitu, fisioterapi bisa lebih dikenal masyarakat luas dan bermanfaat untuk umat. “Yakinlah asal usaha kalian diniati karena Allah untuk membantu menyehatkan Masyarakat, InsyaAllah rezeki bakal terus mendekat. Fokus ke pelayanannya bukan uangnya,” ucap Tony.

Tony mengatakan fisioterapi membantu pasien jalan disaat pasien belum mampu berjalan. Fisioterapi membantu menghilangkan nyeri disaat obat tidak bisa menghilangkannya. Fisioterapi memberikan semangat disaat pasien kehilangan semangat. Fisioterapi membantu atlet cedera agar bisa kembali berolahraga.

Focus on Service, Not Money

Tony revealed that the physiotherapy market in private practice is still wide open. He advised Unisa Yogyakarta students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. To have the ambition to create job opportunities. “Entrepreneurship is about mindset, not capital,” Tony emphasized.

He hopes that in the future, many Unisa Yogyakarta physiotherapy graduates will open independent practices in their respective hometowns. This way, physiotherapy can be more widely recognized by the public and benefit the community. “Be confident that as long as your efforts are intended for Allah to help improve public health, Insha’Allah, blessings will continue to come your way. Focus on the service, not the money,” Tony said.

Tony explained that physical therapy helps patients walk when they are unable to do so on their own. It alleviates pain when medication cannot. It provides motivation when patients lose hope. It assists injured athletes in returning to sports.