Research Physical Therapy as a career

Physical therapists help people with injuries or disabilities build and maintain mobility.

Quick Facts: Physical Therapists 2010 Median Pay $76,310 per year $36.69 per hour Entry-Level Education Doctoral or professional degree Work Experience in a Related Occupation None On-the-job Training Number of Jobs, 2010 198,600 Job Outlook, 2010-20 39% (Much faster than average) Employment Change, 2010-20 77,400  

Work Environment Physical therapists typically work in private offices and clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes. They spend much of their time on their feet, actively working with patients.

Key Terms Abduction-To draw away from the midline of the body or from an adjacent part or limb. Adduction-To draw inward toward the median axis of the body or toward an adjacent part or limb. Flexion-The act of bending a joint or limb in the body by the action of flexors Extension-The act of straightening or extending a limb.

Abdominal Exercises To be most effective, abdominal exercises should include focus on working the following muscles: The abdominal muscles The lower abdominal muscles The outside (oblique) muscles

Pelvic Tilt Lie on floor with knees bent, feet parallel and arms to the side Tighten lower abdominal muscles, pulling the navel and lower back toward the floor, without using buttocks or leg muscles Hold for 5 seconds 5-10 repetitions

Trunk Curl Lie on floor with knees bent and arms crossed on the chest Using upper abdominal muscles, raise trunk of body off the floor slightly, to about 15 degrees Hold 5 seconds Lower trunk slowly to the floor.

Back Exercises Like stomach exercises, back exercises can be done on a mat and in water, and can incorporate different types of equipment, such as an exercise ball.

Prone Arm/Leg Raises Lie on stomach keeping neck in line with straight legs, and arms outstretched overhead. Slowly raise and lower each arm and leg, one at a time 5 repetitions on each limb Work alternate limbs by lifting right arm and left leg at the same time 5 repetitions; change to work reverse pair

Arm/Leg Raises This exercise is similar to the prone arm/leg raises, except done with hands and knees on the floor, with hands directly under shoulders and knees directly under hips. To work arms, slowly straighten the right arm, reaching forward and keeping neck and back straight, Hold 5 seconds; slowly lower arm to starting position 3-5 repetitions on each side To work legs, slowly straighten leg without arching back, extending the leg behind the body Hold 5 seconds; slowly return to starting position

Knee Exercises These knee exercises are a great starting point if you have difficulty squatting, climbing stairs, or balancing on 1 foot. Practice this routine 1-2 times per day to help rebuild the basic strength in your knee.

#1 Quad sets

Straight leg raise

Knee extension

Balance exercises The balance exercises below have helped many of my clients who have difficulty walking.

Knee lifts

Single Leg Stance

Shoulder Exercises These shoulder exercises are a great starting point if you have a history of shoulder problems. Practice these exercises 1-2 times per day to begin rebuilding the basic strength in your shoulder.

Scapula Circles

Isometric Rotation

Isometric Abduction

TREATMENT PLAN(WS) Date of Submission- Todays date. Initial Care or continuing care Subjective Complaints- What patient complains of Mechanism of Onset for Primary….-When did pain start, when was pt. first assessed. Objective findings- what clinician finds upon assessment.

Summary of clinical findings- “After assessing the pt, I found the pain in the right arm is more evident during flexion…..” Diagnoses- Primary: Left Arm-Pain when moving arm forward-7/10 ADL-All the things that you will allow pt. to do.

Treatment Goals- I expect the pt to have 3/10 on pain scale after 3 months of physical therapy. Treatment Plan- How long will you be treating the pt., 2x’s a week, Home care instructions. Complicating factors- what could make treatment not as easy for the patient. Therapist must sign and date.

The person with the darkest hair will be the Therapist first. Questions???? Go ahead and get started. Remember-2 points for every mistake!!! Starting Blood Pressure, Pulse and Resp., CC, Medical history update, Exercises and reps, Patient Ed, Recall Appt. and a completed Treatment Plan(WS). Please staple the completed treatment plan W.S. on top of the Summary sheet into the chart. The person with the darkest hair will be the Therapist first.