1. All About Physical Therapy By Taylor Gore, Josh Simons, Chris Millikan, Elaine Burden, and Thomas Trail

2. Introduction Hello! As a new physical therapy student, you probably already know a bit about the profession, but you might still have a few questions. You’ve probably also already fielded questions from family, friends, etc. about what physical therapy actually is (let’s face it, most people look at someone in scrubs and immediately say “nurse!”) We decided we’d put together a little slide show for you about the profession so you can better answer your family and friends as well as the future colleagues you will be meeting in your IPE course. Hope you find it helpful!

3. Education Chances are both you and your bank account know exactly the amount of education you need before you can start earning a real paycheck, but other people don’t! Here’s the breakdown: 4 years of undergraduate degree work + 3 years of doctoral level study at a CAPTE accredited university = 1 entry level PT This undergraduate degree work can be completed in any area of study, but there are prerequisite courses that must be completed prior to starting a PT program. Each school determines what prerequisites they require. But WAIT!!! There (could) be more!......

4. Education (cont.) Physical therapists can ALSO complete further training by going through a residency or fellowship program. Here’s some links for the types and locations that they are at: Residency programs: http://www.abptrfe.org/apta/abptrfe/Directory.aspx?navID=10737432672http://www.abptrfe.org/apta/abptrfe/Directory.aspx?navID=10737432672 Fellowship programs: http://www.abptrfe.org/apta/abptrfe/Directory.aspx?ProgramType=Fellowship&navID=1073743267 3 Some physical therapists choose to complete these programs after they have practiced for a while and know what specialty area they wish to go into, while others choose to try and complete a program right after they graduate with their DPT. But what if you are more interested in the research side of things?

5. Yeah, what if i am more into research? Never fear, the trusty old PhD is here! There are also PhD programs in physical therapy, if you are so inclined. Here’s a link to a list of programs out there: http://www.apta.org/PostprofessionalDegree/PhDScDPrograms/ Also, if you find yourself in our department and you like research, talk to the professors! They all have really cool backgrounds to talk about. Dr. Riddle will fill your brain with all sorts of research terms during your fall class with him, and Dr. Pidcoe is definitely the man to talk to about cool research projects (or really just anything at all). Dr. Darter also works on really interesting research in cardiac therapy if that’s your thing. Throughout your education in the program you will meet all sorts of different professors and their research, but that’s a good fall semester intro for now ;)

6. Specialty certifications: Check out www.abpts.org for more There are also all kinds of specialty certifications to be had, in all areas of PT. So if you want to show your expertise to future employers (or just like writing all those letters after your name) there are options for you: Orthopaedics (obviously), geriatrics, cardiovascular and pulmonary, clinical electrophysiology (obviously), neurology, sports, women’s health, and pediatrics ALL require 3 things: a valid PT license, 2000 hours of clinical practice in the specialty area and passing the associated exam.

7. Some other specialties not provided by the APTA! Other niche areas where people specialise: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ), vestibular PT, manual PT (COMT and NAIOMT), hand therapy, McKenzie technique, amputee rehab, aquatic PT (not only for sailors) and more! These are certified by a variety of independent (but respected) organizations.

8. Sometimes The people you treat have 4 legs! There are a couple of post-grad programs in the country that actually train PTs in canine rehabilitation. One of the most notable programs is the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in Wellington, FL. Once you have your DPT degree, you can apply for this educational program which consists of two 5-day courses, and one 3-day course. The courses include topics such as canine anatomy and physiology, assessment techniques, manual therapy, neurological rehabilitation, and the business of canine rehabilitation. Afterwards, you take an assessment to obtain your Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) accreditation. Find out more here: http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/index.htmlhttp://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/index.html

9. So what are we actually allowed to do??? There are 3 components to the PT scope of practice: 1) Professional: practice what you’ve been taught and what is supported by evidence 2) Jurisdictional(state-specific): not every PT in every state is treated equal. A great example is dry needling. Certain states allow PTs to practice this technique (like VA) but other states do not (like WA). 3) Personal: this one requires the most judgement on your part. If you as a physical therapist do not feel competent in a technique, even if you are allowed to perform it, it is your responsibility to not perform that technique. Know your limitations.

10. How do patients end up on a PT’s doorstep? The old school method is to get a referral from a physician. The new method taking the country by storm is to just show up on a PT’s doorstep demanding care. This new method is called direct access. We as PTs like this because it makes us feel important. In Virginia, you can go directly to a PT and receive care for 30 calendar days without a physician’s referral. And you can do this again and again with one catch: you have to wait 30 calendar days after your direct access expires before you can get it again.

11. Where can you find a PT (hint: EVERWHERE 0.o) Whether it’s on the corner, in the alley, or at the club, you can bet PTs are out there. In all seriousness, PTs have a plethora of practice settings. Among them are: Outpatient clinics or offices Inpatient rehabilitation facilities Skilled nursing, extended care, or subacute facilities Homes Education or research centers Schools Hospices Industrial, workplace, or other occupational environments Fitness centers and sports training facilities

12. What do PTs normally see and treat? PTs can see patient’s with a wide variety of impairments. The stereotypical patient has some sort of muscle or joint dysfunction, like an arthritic knee. PTs can also address breathing impairments through techniques like percussion and deep breathing exercises. A lot of what a PT sees depends on the setting. PTs can also see patients with various neurological disorders, or brain damage that leads to motor dysfunction. Examples of this are cerebellar ataxia, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. In other words, PTs see it all.

13. Where are all of these really cool links coming from? www.apta.orgwww.apta.org - This is basically Google for the PT world. Look at it. Please. Seriously, it will make life a lot easier, plus someone is probably going to make you do it eventually so you might as well get excited.