Physical Therapy

Logan Martin

HLTH 419

1/27/15

Introduction: What does a physical therapist do?

Review patients’ medical history and any referrals or notes from doctors or surgeons

Diagnose patients’ dysfunctional movements

Set up a plan of care for patients. This includes the workouts, time-frame, and goals. They later evaluate and adjust this plan

Use exercises, hands-on therapy, and equipment to increase mobility, PREVENT further pain or injury, and facilitate health and wellness.

Educate patients and their families about what to expect from and how best to cope with the recovery process

Physical therapists provide care to people of all ages and for injuries in many forms

History

PT dates back to Greek culture and Hippocrates’ influence as the father of Western medicine.

In Europe during the 1500s – 1700s, the use of exercise to treat muscle and bone disorders and disabilities continued to progress. During the 1920s it gained public recognition and validation.

The polio epidemic, WWI, and WWII required the attention of physical therapists for those wounded and affected. In 1946, Congress adopted the Hill Burton Act to build hospitals across the country to increase public access to health care facilities.

By 1959, state regulations for the physical therapist existed in 45 states.

History Cont.

Physical therapy practices in the neuromuscular area expanded significantly during the 1960s, with development of techniques for adults with stroke, cerebral palsy, and other disorders of the central nervous system.

Technological advances have provided new testing methodologies and new intervention methodologies that have expanded practice and the types of diseases and conditions that physical therapy can positively influence.

Salary

The median annual wage for physical therapists was $79,860 in May 2012. lowest 10 percent earned less than $55,620, and the top 10 percent earned more than $112,020.

http://physical-therapy.advanceweb.com/Archives/Article-Archives/Revealing-the-Results.aspx

Job Outlook

At an impressing rate, employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 36 percent from 2012 to 2022.

The rapidly growing elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services. Also, the baby boom generation is entering the prime age for heart attacks and strokes, increasing the need for cardiac and physical rehabilitation.

Environment

There is a large variety of work environments

-school system

-offices

-hospital

-nursing homes

-physicians office

-sports teams

Most physical therapists work full time. About 1 in 4 worked part time in 2012. Although most therapists work during normal business hours, some may work evenings or weekends.

Education

In 2013, there were 218 programs for physical therapists accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, all of which offered a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.

DPT programs typically last 3 years.

Some main classes you need and that I believe are important are anatomy, physiology, biology, some psychology, chemistry, and physics. I have taken all of these classes, with the addition of other relevant course work and average an A in them all.

Physical therapist programs often include courses in biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, and pharmacology. Physical therapist students also complete clinical internships, during which they gain supervised experience in areas such as acute care and orthopedic care.

Physical therapists may apply to and complete a clinical residency program after graduation. Residencies typically last about 1 year and provide additional training and experience in specialty areas of care.

Educating physical therapists since 1973, MUSC is working in state-of-the-art teaching facility and in concert with our world-class teaching hospital, students engage in interprofessional groups that mirror the world beyond our classrooms.

The college houses the Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions with a concentration in two areas: 1) neuro-rehabilitation and 2) risk assessment and prevention of adverse health outcomes.

There are many schools I’m

looking at when thinking about

going to PT school, but the Medical

University of South Carolina is at

the top of the list.

• This university is located in

Charleston, SC and takes about

64 students a year and the

average gpa for those students

admitted is a 3.6.

O*Net Profiler Results

Realistic: 9

Investigative: 9

Artistic: 12

Social: 29

Enterprising: 14

Conventional: 6

People with Social interests like work activities that assist others and promote learning and personal development. They prefer to communicate more than to work with objects, machines, or data. They like to teach, to give advice, to help, or otherwise be of service to people.

People with Enterprising interests like work activities that have to do with starting up and carrying out projects, especially business ventures. They like persuading and leading people and making decisions. They like taking risks for profit. These people prefer action rather than thought.

Why ME???

As shown through my profiler results I love talking to people and I love interacting daily.

I feel like I am a good leader and do well pushing people towards their goals (maybe it would even motivate me).

I am okay with being on my feet all day and I love all the aspects I could pursue with PT; athletics, pediatrics, geriatric, in-patient, out-patient, ect.

Designing programs and routines for patients is something that I would be good at because I could cater to the individual and really have a heart for others.

I have the drive, attitude, experience, and knowledge to get me through graduate school and succeed as a physical therapist

My role as an athletic trainer has helped me greatly with time management and has allowed me to experience things most students never will. That along with all my leadership roles on campus and outstanding performance in the classroom makes me a great fit for MUSC’s program.

Conclusion: What is the take home message???

The field of physical therapy encompasses many aspects of health and can involve many specialties.

Physical therapy is a field that is constantly adapting and changing.

There are many different environments in which to serve as a physical therapist, but it takes a lot of hard work to get there.

Success in a physical therapy education program, and as a physical therapist, requires excellent observation, compassion, communication, motor and sensory skills. I believe my traits would allow me to be a good physical therapist.

References

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-2

http://www.onetcenter.org/dl_tools/IP_zips/IP-Instr-deskv.pdf

http://www.onetcenter.org/dl_tools/IP_zips/IP-SR-deskp.pdf

http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/chp/pt/details.htm

http://physical-therapy.advanceweb.com/Archives/Article-Archives/Revealing-the-Results.aspx

http://www.network-synergy.com/news/the-history-of-physical-therapy.aspx

http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/chp/pt/details.htm