My Summative Essay

           I have learned a lot through this blogging experience. It's time for me to reflect on all of my research, and give my thoughts on what I have learned.

Learning about my Field

           In order to truly succeed in becoming a physical therapist, it involves a combination of hard work, determination, positive attitude, and especially care. There is a certain personal goal to help people no matter what it takes, because that is why physical therapists do what they do. There is great significance in what physical therapists do that contributes to their patients' well being physically and mentally. The personality of physical therapists are unique. They see people at their lowest points and do whatever they can to bring them back to their full potential. As the going gets tough, the tough gets going. A positive perspective on life is required of this field, as well as believing in never going down without a fight.
           I have read countless articles about different physical therapists who have been through tough situations and never backing down. In a recent post, Dr. Reeder had a new patient who was suffering from a couple big problems. This man was overly obese and had a disease called hemodialysis. He was stuck in a wheelchair and didn't go out. He felt hopeless, until he met Dr. Reeder. Reeder knew this was going to be a tough challenge, for the patient had tried a variety of possible solutions that never actually worked. But Reeder took it up without a question and thought of a plan to change this man's life. It was a long, hard struggle but after some patience and determination, there was success. The patient could walk on his own, and controlled his life again. Reeder had made a huge impact on his life, physically and psychologically. He gave him hope, and motivation. (http://lifeoptions.org/stories/stories.php?story=r13) Like I said previously, there are certain personality traits and goals that go along with this career. This doctor possesses the skills that encourage the patients that they do have the ability to prosper, and there is no giving up until they get there.
            Another cool story I read was about how physical therapists went further into the study of Parkinson's Disease in order to increase the positive outcomes in patients. Most patients who suffer with Parkinson's take drugs to reduce symptoms, but there are people who aren't able to take the drug, or choose not to medicate. This is where the study was helpful, because they had proven that simple exercises such as dance, aerobic and treadmill training, showed clear improvement in the patients physically, and mentally. (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/251159.php) These doctors took it one step further in order to help their patients. It's because they care so much about people. They work hard in order to help others succeed, and do anything to do so.
             I think it is ver respectful to be a physical therapist. I knew that they truly meant something to their patients when I talked to my mom after her life changing car accident. She had to learn how to walk again, and reevaluate her whole life, and her physical therapist helped her through not only her physical well being, but mental well being too. I saw her at her lowest, where she didn't think there was any hope for her future, and her physical therapist was there. And so willing to be involved in making things right, and better for my mother. Her physical therapist made such a huge impact on her life, and my mom will never forget her, or (as she says) be able to thank her enough for the work and soul she put in. (Reason Why, Open Blog) That is what made me realize a physical therapist's importance and purpose in life. I respect them so much, because there are so many things that go along with their career, and certain qualities that you can't find in some people. Learning these things has allowed me to understand if I, myself could fit this career, and the conclusion is definitely quite possibly. We will see.



Learning about my Research/Writing

               This research has absolutely given me experience with this field of work. I had a good idea of what a physical therapist did before this blog, but now that it is over, I feel much more informed. Not only researching articles of stories of physical therapists, but also the process of becoming a physical therapist, different facts about this career, and learning what a person must possess in order to become a physical therapist. The variety of sources gave me a very diverse knowledge of this field, as well as an intellectual knowledge from the different evaluating activities (special blog posts). I believe I have a much more complex idea of what a physical therapist is, and everything along with it, ultimately aiding me in deciding whether this career is for me or not. This blog has brought me to ask more questions, furthering my research into career choice. The process has given me experience in seeing and evaluating many different sources, and putting my own ideas together to come up with discussions about the key points and purpose of the sources, as well as what it meant to me as a whole.
                 In one of my earlier posts, I read a source online that gave me tips for starting my own business  in physical therapy.(http://www.nitin360.com/starting-a-physical-therapy-practice.html) It gave me a good idea of what I needed to do for my future, and taught me that if this is what I want, I need to plan ahead! That is one of the key points I got out of the source, even though it doesn't outright say it. I have learned to infer things through this blog process. I can "read through the lines". The intense researching involved gave me the practice of thinking outside the box, thinking more about what the purpose the author is giving, and if the delivery is affective to the audience. 
                 I have also found that there is always more questions to ask when doing this type of research. It is never ending. It is so instinctive to come up with more questions, because you need more to research and find so you can go deeper into the career. We had to do this in a couple cases involving interviews, for example. It was easier to come up with questions because of the variety of key ideas we were exposed to, through this blogging process.
            Remix is a word I've heard before, but not in the sense we used during this project. I only thought of a remix song prior to the special blog post about Remixing Knowledge. Personally, in that post, I evaluated thoroughly a physical therapy clinic brochure, and all it's different rhetorical elements. (http://www.mmc.org/workfiles/mmc_family_medicine/SPT_SportsMedicine/SM_PTBrochure2009.pdf) Like, who was the audience, what is the delivery style, was it effective, ect. This was good practice to actually consider these things, and write what I thought. Anyway, what we came to realize is that the whole blog could be a remix. I have learned what a remix means and how it can be used, as well as it's effectiveness. 
             I liked that this project opened up our minds a bit. The variety of sources, activities, research, writing, and thinking we had to do really made me consider more when coming to myself and my future. Not only did this blog help with these general tools, but also with my choice of future career path. I now have a good, detailed idea of what my career includes, and I'm happy about it. I also have found many things I like about physical therapy, and a couple things I don't. As for now I do not have any more questions about physical therapy, except if it is really how I want to spend the rest of my life. Sometimes I think yes for sure, and other times I am doubtful. But this information I have learned has helped me through the decision process, and we will see what happens. 
    

One Patient's Story

I read a really inspiring story about a man where physical therapy changed his whole life. He suffered from hemodialysis and was very obese. He was stuck in a wheelchair and didn't do much with his life, so he became increasingly depressed. Life was going downhill for Mr. J, and after failed home care, he almost gave up hope.
So, the author Jo Reeder, PT, put him on a program to try and help him through his physical and psychological problems. It was difficult at first for the Physical Therapist to set something up, because he was at such a bad state, he couldn't get up from his wheelchair and couldn't fit his feet in the exercise bike pedals. But with some adjusting and extra help from other staff, they were able to work it out for Mr. J to do his exercises. After he started doing them regularly, there was improvement shown. So Reeder enhanced his therapy with his improvement. The office provided him with a flexible knee brace, and now, he needs no help from a wheelchair, and can go up the stairs independently. He also can now drive his wife to the grocery store, where before neither of them could drive. He had muscle spasms before, and they now never show up. He keeps on his daily exercise routine, and he couldn't be happier.
It's awesome to see how much physical therapists can help people. Even in the worst conditions, there is always something they can do to help. To help and watch a man turn his whole life around must have been an amazing experience.

Improving Balance and Preventing Falls

The youtube video I watched would be very helpful for elderly people that are worried about falling. It was very informative about the risk of injury if a senior were to fall, as well as what to do to prevent it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GjKk7ZtJsE

There are long term effects with a bad fall for weak elders such as impaired mobility, decreased function, dependence on others, as well as injuries. One third of elderly people fall each year, and every hour someone dies from a bad fall. So there are plenty of reasons for an elder to see a physical therapist if worried about a fall. What a PT does in this situation is they do a balance assessment for the patient, and see what can be done to decrease the risk. There are different tests that can be done to assess stability and balance, as well as the qualities of gait mechanics that can result in a fall. Different things can be worked on as well as exercises that can definitely help.
There are questions that elders can ask themselves about if they've ever fallen, and the details beyond that as well as other impairments that they might have.
A physical therapist can assess the patient to see what exercises may help, which include leg strengthening exercises, coordination exercises, as well as balance exercises.
MoveforwardPT.com is the site for an elder to find a physical therapist.

I liked that this video showed what to do for seniors with or without physical problems, because even those who don't still need some physical therapy at times, and it's a smart idea to seek one out because they're very helpful to their patients. Also the video shows the PT helping an old woman, and it's pretty cool to see how friendly and encouraging they are to their patients.

Hamstring Exercises

I watched a youtube video that showed an exercise for strengthening the back of the knee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjUAH54F6zE

This was a pretty informative video, showing exactly what to do when doing the exercise. What is needed is a resistance band, which I have found is very useful for many different different physical therapy exercises. In this one, you loop it at the end and put your foot in it, while either someone holds the other end or you yourself tie it to to a strong surface. It's good that the exercise can be done on your own too, because it's helpful for people who live alone, or have no one around to assist them. The resistance band creates a tension that forces you to use the muscles in the back of the leg and knee. That is the point of the exercise. The video informs you that if there is pain there, to stop and get professional help about what is hurting and why. This was a helpful video for those trying to strengthen those muscles.

Practicing Your Knowledge

 I visited my mom last week, and she was doing all these different stretches with her leg and ankle, that are still a little messed up from a car accident she was in earlier this year. I asked her if she needed any help, and she wanted me to do what her physical therapist helps her with. So I got a very hands on experience with what a physical therapist does with an accident victim, specializing on the right leg.
It was pretty basic, I helped her stretch her leg while she was laying down at first. Then we worked on walking and going up the stairs. It was a good experience because I was able to practice helping an actual person. Like I used my arm and leg muscles rather than just my finger muscles when typing these blogs, that was the biggest difference between helping my mom through stretches and reading about a woman's stretches. I think these types of hands-on experiences play a big role in helping to prepare for the job being researched. Articles and talking about the job are much different than actually experiencing it. I liked this a lot better too because it gave me the chance to understand how to encourage and support a patient, through words and motions.

Contemplating Controversy

There is a controversial issue in physical therapy on whether or not parents should be involved in physical therapy sessions.
One side says that parents should not be involved because they may interfere with the session or become a distraction for the child in the therapy session, which would waste valuable time for the child to improve and for the therapist who is trying to help improve the childs physical condition.
On the other side, parents want to be involved in order to help their child, and to be aware of the treatment plan. Parents usually are very worried about their children's well being, and want to be there to support them through their disability. Being there could also show them what to do outside of the sessions, at home, so that therapy can be continued outside of the office.
Primarily, the issue here has to do with what will benefit the child most. There is a difference between interference and involvement, and that is what they are trying to decide between.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2732325

Remixing Knowledge

The remix I looked at was a brochure by the Maine Medical Center for Sports Medicine Physical Therapy. This brochure included a lot of information about physical therapy in general, as well as specifically for their medical center.

• The front page consists of the title of the center, the address, as well as a number and picture. The picture attracts people to the brochure, and there are also colors in the brochure. It gives the office policy right away as well, which gives you what to do if you can't make an appointment, and informing you that if you don't show up for 2 appointments, you will not be scheduled again. I think this is probably included because either it happens a lot, so they want to let you know, or they want to prevent it from happening so they want to show you right away. 
• The next page gives you the services provided from the center. These include manual therapy exercises, a therapeutic exercise plan, body mechanics and postural education, and modalities. Each of these services is bolded and includes a list of examples under each one to give the specifics of the services. This is a good way of giving detail, and being organized. 
• The next page is more of a general description of what physical therapy is, and informs that a doctor will refer you to what physical therapy is appropriate to benefit the patient. I think this is a good add on to the brochure because if a person is questioning whether he/she actually needs physical therapy, this will help them decide, and also personalizes it to their company ensuring the patient that they will be personally instructed. 
• Treatment goals and what to expect is what is on the next page. This gives details for what the medical center hopes to do for the patient, and exactly what to expect, allowing the potential patient to get a clear idea of what the center will provide for them. 
• Lastly, the brochure lets you know what to bring and what to wear, so an idea of what a visit will look like.

This brochure did a really good job of including information, general and specific, for potential patients. There were also colors and pictures throughout it to make it better looking and attractive to the eye. It included everything it needed to, but kept it at an organized and light level, so people would not get bored of it. The audience could be any adult who can read, or even a kid who could read could give it to their parents who could set up an appointment. This was a great brochure for the Maine Medical Center.

Brochure site: http://www.mmc.org/workfiles/mmc_family_medicine/SPT_SportsMedicine/SM_PTBrochure2009.pdf