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StretchingOnesKnowledgeonPhysicalTherapy

ErinWright

EnglishIIIHonors
Mrs.Kopp
February26,2014

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ErinWright
Mrs.Kopp
EnglishIIIHonors
26February2015
StretchingOnesKnowledgeonPhysicalTherapy
Thehumanbodyplaysacrucialroleinthequalityoflifeapersoncanachievenomatter
iftheyaretall,short,overweight,small,athletic,notathletic,youngorold.Aphysicaltherapists
job,giventheopportunity,willpositivelyimpactpeople'slivesdaily.Physicaltherapy
responsibilitieshaveexistedsincethebeginningoftimeandcanincludeperformingtasksas
littleasrubbingabruiseorstretchingamuscle,tohealingbrokenbones,mendingtornmuscles,
mendingbraininjuriesandreteachingeverydaytaskslikewalkingandtalking.Overtimemany
differentspecializationshavecomeintoexistence,offeringmorecareeroptionsinthefieldand
jobsintheworkforce.Physicaltherapyfascinatesmanypeopleasafuturecareerchoicedueto
thegrowingneedinAmericansociety,theoverallrelevanceofthecareer,andthemotivating
individualsinthefield.
Physicaltherapyhasexistedmuchlongerthanpeoplebelieveithas.Surprisingly,it
beganasearlyas3,000B.C.whentheChinesepracticedmassage(Moffat13).However,inthe
UnitedStates,physicaltherapystartedforadifferentreason.Theestablishmentofphysical
therapydevelopedduetothepoliomyelitisepidemicandWorldWarI(16).Thepoliomyelitis
epidemiccausedtheinfectedtohavelittleornoeffectsatall,orparalyzedthevictimsinamatter
ofhours.Withthecountlessnumbersofparalyzedvictims,thejobofthephysicaltherapistsin

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thiscasecreatedahighdemandofphysicaltherapistsneededtotrytoreteacheverydaytasks
again,suchaswalking,talkingorholdingsomething.DuringWorldWarI,thedemandfor
physicaltherapistscameintothepicturein1914whensoldierssufferedinjuries(16).Women
heldmanyofthefirstjobsinthisfieldofstudybecauseonlythemen,atthistime,were
paralyzed,injuredorfightinginthewar(Harasymiw8).Womenalsoexhibitedmorecaringand
encouragingpersonalitiesthanmendid.Duringthistimeofwar,themaingoalofthephysical
therapistsincludedhealingtheinjuredsoldierssotheycouldreturntowar.In1921,thefirst
physicaltherapyassociation,TheAmericanWomensPhysicalTherapeuticAssociationwas
formedandtheassociationconsistedof274members.Bythe1930stheassociationchangedto
AmericanPhysiotherapyAssociationandmenhadtheopportunitytotakepartintheit.Atthis
pointthenumberofmembersgrewfrom274womentoalmostathousandincludingmen(89).
Intodayssociety,unlikeothercareers,physicaltherapycontinuestogrowatahighrate,
creatingmanyjobsintheworkforce.Thisgivesconfidencetophysicaltherapystudentsthat
theyshouldbeabletofindajobwellsuitedtowardsthemoncetheyfinishschool.When
pickingacareer,animportantaspecttotakeintoaccountincludeswhetherornottheworkforce
willgrowenoughtohiremoreworkersinthatspecificfield.
Growingup,itcomesintorealizationthatnotallpeoplepossessthesamecharacteristics
andqualitiesorcanperformthesametasks.Duetothefactthatsomepeoplearebornwith,or
endupdiagnosedwithcomplicationsandillnesses,peoplecontaindifferentqualities.Itshould
notmatterifpeoplearedifferent,however,intodayssocietyitdoes.Thepeoplewiththe
qualitiesthatmakethemdifferentmostlikelygetfunnylooksorgetbulliedgrowingup,
loweringtheirselfesteem.Thefactofthematteris,theycannothelpit,andwillmostlikelylive

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withtheirimpairmenttheirentirelife.Forexample,Autismisamentaldisorderpresentinearly
childhoodachildcannothelpthattheyhaveit,andhavelimitationstheirentirelifebecauseof
it.WithAutism,itbecomesdifficulttocommunicate,interactandformrelationshipswithother
people.Teachingachildtheabilitytointeractwithotherpeoplecanhappen,buttheywill
alwaysstrugglewithcommunicationandrelationships.Cerebralpalsy,anotherexampleofa
disorderthatmakessomeonedifferent,limitsachild'smusclecoordination.Cerebralpalsy,also
presentatbirthorbeforebirth,comesfromdamagetothebrain.Thisdisorderwillimpairmotor
skillsandmakeitdifficultforachildtoperformnormal,everydaytasks.Aphysicaltherapist
canhelpimprovebodyfunctionsinordertoletthepersongainmobilityandtakeaway
restrictionsthatpreviouslyexisted.
Inmostoccupations,asuccessfulcareerrequiresacertaintypeofperson.Inphysical
therapyimportantcharacteristicsinclude:strongcommunicationskills,sympathy,andan
encouragingpersonality(Blacketal1420).Communicatingclearlyremainscriticalinthisfield
becausethejobrequiresconstantcommunicationwithotherphysicaltherapistsregardingthe
patient,ormoreimportantly,talkingdirectlytothepatientabouttreatment.Ifthepatientobtains
thewronginformationfromaphysicaltherapisttheycouldendupinmoreharm,ratherthan
benefittingfromthetreatmentprovided.Sympathycanhelpcomfortormotivateapatientwho
strugglesmentallyorphysically.Thiscomfortormotivationcancompletelychangeapatient's
negativeviewoflife,toamorepositivepointofview.Sometimespeoplesimplyneedtohear
consistentpositivereinforcementthatwillinspirethemthroughouttheirrecovery.Apatients
motivationtoworkthroughtherehabilitationprocessprovescrucialinthehealingprocess.
Regularcompletionofexerciseswilldrivethepatienttorecoverquickerthanexpected.All

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patients,ofcourse,hopeforaspeedyrecoverywithlittleornocomplications.Thisbeingthe
case,aphysicaltherapistmustshareencouragementonadailybasis.
Otherimportantcharacteristicsofaphysicaltherapistinclude:thewillingnesstolisten,
abilitytoworkwithoutsupervisionandastrongpersonalfitnesslevel(Lusted13).The
willingnesstolistenwillhelpthephysicaltherapist'sfigureoutwhatproblemsthepatienthas,as
wellasallowthemtoanddevisearecoveryplanfortheirclient.Mostphysicaltherapistsattend
topatientsoneononethereforethephysicaltherapisthastomakedecisionsontheirownand
cannotrelyonotherpeopletotellthemstepbystepwhattodo.Physicaltherapistshaveto
possessconfidenceinthemselvesandtheirdecisions.Thisdoesnotmeanthephysicaltherapist
cannotaskforinsightfromcoworkers,butitjustmeansthatquiteoftentheywillhavetocome
upwithtreatmentontheirown,basedontheirpersonalknowledge.Anunfitphysicaltherapist
willdecreasetheproductivitylevelofthetimespentwiththepatient.Aphysicaltherapistmust
staystandingontheirfeetalldayorthemajorityofaday.Ifaphysicaltherapistcannotperform
atasktheyasktheirpatienttodo,thenthepatientwillassumetheycannotperformiteither.The
patientssuccesscomesfromthepositivityandattitudeofthephysicaltherapisttothepatient.
Asaphysicaltherapist,attitudemeanseverything.
Receivingahighereducationandearningadegreeplaysamorecrucialroleinlandinga
wellpayingjobintodaysworldthaninthepast.Forphysicaltherapytheexpectednumberof
yearsinschoollastsaboutsixyearsandrequiresadegreefromanaccreditedprogram
(Harasymiw28).ThiswouldconsistoffourregularyearstoearnaBachelor'sdegreeandthen
twoextrayearsofschoolforaMastersdegreeoraDoctorateinphysicaltherapy.Inorderto
makeitintoaphysicaltherapyprogram,theclassestakenduringundergraduatemattermore

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thantheactualdegreeearned.Mostphysicaltherapistsmajorinbiology,anatomyoranother
fundamentalscienceandthenundergomorespecializedtrainingatthegraduatelevel.More
than75%ofphysicaltherapyprogramsrequireaGradePointAverage(GPA)of3.0(29).Along
withtheGPArequirementandundergraduatedegree,manyphysicaltherapyprogramsrequire
volunteerhoursrelatedtophysicaltherapybeforeadmittingastudent.Someprogramsmayask
foraletterofrecommendationfromprofessors,orphysicaltherapists(30).Thevolunteerhours
wouldconsistofworkingwithorshadowingaphysicaltherapistwhoservedasmentorsintheir
workplace.Thebenefitsthatcomefromthevolunteerhoursincludeareallifeinteractionwith
patientsencounteringthedifferentspecializationsinphysicaltherapyworld,andworkingin
differentsettings,likeahospitaloranursinghome.Aftervolunteerhourshavebeencompleted,
aphysicaltherapistshouldmostlikelyknowwhichspecializationwillfitthemthebest.
Alldegreesrequiredifferentclassesinordertograduate.Forphysicaltherapy,important
classestotakeincludesciences,maths,Englishandwriting(Harasymiw29).Physicaltherapy
dealswiththebody,thereforeimportantscienceclassesconsistofanatomy,physiology,biology,
kinesiologyandphysics.Anatomyandkinesiologyhaveverycoursematerialinformation
becausetheycoverthestructureandrelationshipsbetweenbodyparts,howthebodyparts
function,andthefunctionalityofthebodyasawhole.Theunderstandingofanatomyand
kinesiologywillhelpphysicaltherapistsidentifyissueswiththepatientandprovideknowledge
onhowtoandtohealitinaproperwayandnotinjureanythingelsealongtheway.Physiology
helpswiththeunderstandingoflivingorganisms,theirparts,andtheirfunctions.Anycourse
thatdealswiththemusculoskeletalsystemwillalsoplaybeneficialroleasaphysicaltherapy
student.

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Inordertogainbenefitsfromchoosingthefieldofphysicaltherapy,onemustfindthe
opportuneschool,whichallowsthemtoreceiveavaluabledegreetothenstartacareer.Elon
Universitygivestheirstudentstheopportunitytostudyandresearchmultiplefieldsofsciences,
mathsandhealthcareinordertofindthespecializedfieldthatbestfitsthem.ThestaffatElon
hopestolayasolidfoundationforthefutureoftheirstudentsandaimstohelptheminanyway
toachievetheirgoals.Elonencouragestheirundergraduatestotakemultipleelectivesand
partakeininternshipsandvolunteerhourstofurthereducatethemintheirfieldofchoice
(
DoctorofPhysicalTherapy
).AccordingtotheCollegeU.S.NewsRankingboard,Elon
UniversityranksamongthetopseventyfivefortheirDoctorsprograminphysicaltherapy,with
aninetyninepercentgraduationrate(ElonUniversity").ThisprovidesevidencethatElon
accuratelypreparestheirgraduatesenoughtosuccessfullyadvanceintheirfuture.Animportant
decisionforstudentscomeswithchoosingauniversitythatsuitsthemwellandhelpsmakethem
abetterroundedindividualwhocansuccessfullyfindafulfillingcareeraftergraduating.The
rightuniversitywillgiveastudentthesuccesstheyneedinordertofindasatisfyingjobandstart
theircareer.
AphysicaltherapistmustpasstheNationalPhysicalTherapyExam(NPTE)inorderto
practicephysicaltherapy.Theexamtakesplaceonacomputerandincludestwohundredfifty
multiplechoicequestionsthatthetesttakerwillhavefivehourstocomplete.Thegradingscale
rangesfromtwohundredtoeighthundred,withapassingscoreofsixhundred.Ifastudent's
scorelandsbelowsixhundredthefirsttime,thestudentcantakethetestagain(Harasymiw33).
Tomakesurephysicaltherapistsknowhowtoproperlytreatdifferentkindsofpatientstheymust
passatest,sonotjustanybodycanwalkinoffthestreetandapplyforajob.

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Thephysicaltherapistoccupationcontainsmanydifferentareasofspecialization.Awell
knownspecializationissportsmedicine.Sportsmedicinephysicaltherapistsfocusonathletes
whoexperienceinjuriesonoroffthefield.Thegoalforthesephysicaltherapistsconsistsof
gettingtheathletebacktotheirsportassoonaspossible,butinasafeandeffectiveway
(Harasymiw12).Let'ssay,AlexMorgan,anexcellentsoccerplayerfortheUSWomens
NationalTeam,breaksherankle.Inorderforhertogetbackoutonthefieldquickly,shewould
needtoseeaphysicaltherapistwhowoulddeviseanexerciseplanjustforherwiththequickest
andmosteffectivewaystogetheranklebacktoplayingability.Thistypeofphysicaltherapist
tendstoactasateachertotheathletes,tohelpthemunderstandtheirbodiesandinformthemon
howtopreventfutureinjuries(Harasymiw13).Whileinrehab,AlexMorganwouldhaveto
completeexercisestomakeheranklestronger.Thiswillnotonlygetherbacktothefieldbut
helppreventfurtherinjuriesfromhappening.
Anothercommonspecializationinphysicaltherapyispediatricmedicine.This
specializationdealswithyoungkids,mainlytoimprovemotorskills,balanceandendurance.
Childrencannothavethesametreatmentasadultsbecausetheirbodiesarestilldeveloping
(Harasymiw14).Treatmentatayoungagecouldchangethechild'slifeforever.Thephysical
therapistwouldgiveexercisestostrengthenthemusclesinordertoimprovebalanceandtakethe
walkeraway.Thechild,asanadult,wouldhaveextraordinarilylesslimitationswithoutthe
walkermakinglifeeasier.Motorskills,suchasholdingapencil,eating,talking,crawling,
walkingandsittingupwithoutsupport,arecrucialtolifetherefore,animportantjobofthe
physicaltherapistincludesgettingachildtoperformthesetasks.Thesephysicaltherapistsalso

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treatconditionsrelatedtoorthopedic,geneticandneurologicaldisordersinbabies,toddlersor
children.
Similartopediatrics,geriatricstreatsolderadults.Geriatricsiswhenanolderpersonhas
anoverallimpairedfunction.Theolderpatienttreatedbyageriatricphysicaltherapistusually
hasachronicillness,physicalimpairment,cognitiveimpairmentormaysufferfromfragile
bones(Harasymiw16).Someofthechronicillnessessufferedinclude:Alzheimer'sdisease,
arthritis,LouGehrig'sdisease(ALS),cancerordiabetes.Itisnotuncommonforapatientto
sufferfrommorethanonechronicillness.Alzheimersattacksthebrainandresultsin
disorientationwithmemorylossorjudgment.Thisillnesshurtsboththepatientandtheir
familiesbecausewithmemoryloss,itremainspossibleforafatherormothertoforgetthename
orwhotheirchildrenare.Dependingonthetypeofcancer,thisdiseasecanthreatenthecancer
patient'slife.Ifthepatienthasaterminalcanceritisimportantforthepatienttohavecomfortso
theydonotfeelliketheyareinpaintheentiretime.
Asaphysicaltherapist,avarietyofworkplacesexist.Theworkplacesdifferduetothe
contrastingneedsofpatientsandhowtheyreceivetreatment.Placesforphysicaltherapiststo
workconsistofhospitals,schools,patientshomes,nursinghomes,privateoffices,sports
facilitiesandrehabilitationcenters.Ahospital,themostcommonplaceforaphysicaltherapist
toworkhasmanydepartmentstochoosefrom.Thedepartmentsincludeacutecare,pediatric
care,orthopediccareorgeriatriccare(Lusted1722).Thedifferentdepartmentsinahospital
comewiththeopportunityforanincreasednumberofjobsavailable.Theplacetoworkasa
physicaltherapistthatcontinuestogrowthemostincludeshomecareinwhichthephysical
therapistwilltraveltothepatientshousetoprovidetreatment.Thepatientsthatreceivethis

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likelycannottravelorleavetheirhomestogotothetherapyfacility(22).Whenchoosinga
placetowork,itdependshighlyonwhatkindofphysicaltherapygetsofferedandwhatone
wantstopractice.
Thedaytodaylifecanchangedependingontheworkplaceandonthekindofphysical
therapythatgetsperformed.Inthetypicalhospitalsettingtheworkdaytendstostartwith
settingascheduleboardofwhatpatientsthephysicaltherapistwillattendtothatday.The
physicaltherapistwillthengathertheirmaterialsconsistingofagaitbelt,pulseoximeteranda
hospitalphoneandthenheadouttoseealloftheirevaluationsfirst.Aftertheirevaluationsare
completedtheyseetheirestablishedpatients.Whenthephysicaltherapistevaluatestheir
patientstheyevaluateforcurrentstatusandsetgoalsforthem.Basedonthepatientsstatusand
needsthephysicaltherapistwillcommunicatewithdoctors,nursesandothersocialworkers.
Whentheycommunicatetheysetupplansforasafedischargefromthehospital.With
establishedpatientthephysicaltherapistwillwalkwiththem,performbalanceexercisesor
performactivitiesofdailyliving(ADLs)withthem.Inordertohavethebestcoursefora
patientthephysicaltherapistwillattendteammeetingswithnursing,doctors,socialworkersand
respiratorytherapists(Cox).
Forapersontoenjoytheirjobonadailybasis,theymusthavefunandachievesuccess.
Foraphysicaltherapistthiswouldincludeseeingpatientsprogresstoapointtheydidnotexpect
themtoachieve,gettingtoknowapatientasaperson,andseeingapatientwhohashappiness
backintheirlife(Cox).Asaphysicaltherapistalargepartofthejobhastodowithforming
relationshipswiththepatientsinordertomotivateandworkwiththem.Ifapatientexceeds
expectations,thatnotonlymakesthepatientsfeelgoodbutalsoletsthephysicaltherapistknow

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thattheyaregivingtherighttreatmenttothepatient.Intermsofgettingtoknowthepatient,that
buildsrelationshipsandletsthephysicaltherapistbondmorewiththepatientmakingthe
recoveryamoreenjoyabletime.Happinessinsomepatientsmighthavegottenlostwhenthey
sufferedtheirinjuryordiagnosedwithanillness,whentheyfinallyrecoverandhavethe
happinessitstartsanewlifeforthem.Thepositiveaspectsofphysicaltherapydonotonly
impactthephysicaltherapistsbutalsothepatientsifthephysicaltherapistdoesnotenjoywhat
theydo,thenthepatientwillseetheeffects.
Linda,walkingdownahallwayaccidentlysteppedonaspring.Thespringmadehere
shoefeelmorelikearollerskateandshestartedtofall.Shetriedtobreakherfallbythrowing
herarmsup.Oneofherarmshitahitacinderblockwall,leavingherwithasprainedwristand
brokenelbow.LindasaidAfterIfell,myarmwasbasicallyuseless,becauseIcouldnteven
raiseit.Icouldntshutacardoor.Icouldntdressmyself.Iwastotallyincapacitated.Oneofmy
doctorshadtoldmethatmyarmwouldneverbethesameagain,anditwouldnteverhang
normally.LikeanybodyinthissituationLindaenduredfrustrationbutherphysicaltherapist
reassuredherthattheywoulddowhatevertheycouldtogetherarmbacktonormalandtheydid.
AtfirstLindahadverylittlehopeinphysicaltherapy,butafterherfirstcoupleofvisitsshe
noticedahugeimprovementandkeptgoingback.Unlikebefore,shecannowstraightenherarm
soithangsnormally,andcannowfocusongettingherstrengthback("LindasPhysical
TherapySuccessStory").Thiskindofrecoverystoryinspiresphysicaltherapiststocontinueto
executewhattheyhavelearnedandtotryandinspireanotherpatient.
Allcareerscomewithnegativeassetsofsomesort,andsomecanhavemorethanothers.
Forphysicaltherapy,anegativeaspectincludesinsuranceorlackthereof.Inallhealthcare,a

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loopholeexiststhatpreventspatientsfromreceivingmuchneededtreatmentandservices
becauseoftheirinsurancecompanyorlackofinsurance(Cox).Noteveryonehastheabilityto
affordhealthcaretherefore,ifthepatientcannotreceivethetreatmentneeded,theywill
continuetosufferandmoreseriouspainsorinjurieswillstarttoshowup.DebbieCox,a
physicaltherapistatLakeNormanRegionalMedicalCentersays,Itisheartwrenchingwhena
personthatwasdoingwellhasacomplicationandbecomeslowfunctioning,orworstcasedies.
Thesituationremainsdifficultnotonlyforthepatientsfamily,butalsoforthephysicaltherapist
themselvesbecausetheythoughttheyhadthepatientontherighttracktorecoveryandthen
everythinggoeswrong.Ifallofthehardworkputintoturnapatientslifearounddoesnotpay
off,itwouldcomeintoquestioniftheblamerestedonthephysicaltherapist.Allcareerscome
withsomedisappointments,butthesmartandstrongpeoplewilllearntoovercomethenegative
partsandturnitintoalessonlearned.
Physicaltherapyfascinatesmanypeopleasafuturecareerchoiceduetothemotivating
individualsinthefield,thegrowingneedinAmericansocietyandtherelevanceofthecareer
overall.Physicaltherapyovertheyearshasgrownandchangedinmanyways,andcontinuesto
today.Likeallcareersthereremainsindividualsthatarebestsuitedforphysicaltherapyand
havetolearnfromthenegativepartsandreallyfulfillthepositivepartsofthejob.Physical
therapyasawhole,continuestogrow,providingmanyjobopportunitiesandbrighteningpeoples
days.

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