Any Physical Therapists on the Board?

[solobiker]

As for volunteer hours or time shadowing...what areas are you interested in. We just had a person shadow the PTAs for the week. She just called and asked if she could and we cleared it with our administrator.

[rubysoho]

wonderful insight. Thank you. I also skated through college getting a comm degree (really, I did have a plan... funny how things can change so drastically) though I did put in many hours at a radio station and the audio/video editing labs.

Looking at the coursework and knowing a few people who are working in the medical or science fields I suspected the answer would be no regarding a full-time job. But, I have a year to figure out that issue, I guess.

(warning, below I started rambling )

I absolutely love biomechanics (it is something I studied in a year long internship) and how it relates to preventing injury or maximizing output so working with athletes is something I would love to do. I am more interested in how the whole body works together rather than strengthening one area. I believe in looking at the entire picture and not just a closeup of the problem. I taught horseback riding to a little girl who had gone to many sessions of pt for her lower back but they neglected to also strengthen other important muscles so she was terribly imbalanced. The frustration of that little girl and her parents who were trying to do the best for her makes me mad. It could have been avoided. Riders have a lot of back problems (myself included). Between my years of experience training horses and riders and this profession I know that I could do a lot of good in that niche market because I understand the muscle groups and have a good base of knowing how they need to work together in order to be successful at anything more than lower level riding. (I don't want that to be my only area of specialization but I am confident that I would be very good with those individuals)

Ok, I am going to stop my ramblings. In short, I really want to work with athletes but working with people in general -like that young girl I mentioned- seems like it would be fulfilling.

I have three weeks before registration for classes begins. Lots of time to think, plan and make a real decision. There is a clinic nearby who has a person that specializes in athletes. The clinic also believes in surgery as a last option so I feel I would be around like-minded people if I could get in to shadow there.

Thanks again for the insight. It is very much appreciated. (And forgive me for any typos, I have to finish getting ready for work and I don't know what the autocorrect on my iPad has done!!)