Personal Trainer Certification

Becoming a certified professional therapy professional is no small accomplishment. Whether you have finished your associate’s degree as a physical therapy assistant or have continued your education to become a licensed physical therapist, it’s important to choose a work environment that suits your personality, desired work schedule and income, and professional goals. With a degree in physical therapy, there are several work settings available to you. Choosing the right one will result in greater personal satisfaction and ensure that you are able to offer your very best to the important and growing field of physical therapy.

The Nursing Home

Deciding whether a nursing home setting is right for you may require a bit of introspection. There are certainly advantages and disadvantages to this work environment, some of which may differ depending on your individual preferences and personality traits. Obviously, you will be working with the elderly, so you need to examine any prior experiences you’ve had working with geriatric patients and determine whether they were positive and satisfying. Some people who have worked in nursing homes report it to be a depressing environment while others enjoy the opportunity to help elderly people who are often lonely and more than happy to start a conversation or make a new friend. Volunteering at a local facility may give you a more accurate perception of what the work environment is like and help you decide whether it’s a good fit for you. Another factor to consider—on average, physical therapy professionals working in nursing homes make slightly more per year than those working in hospitals or private doctors’ offices.

The Hospital or Rehabilitation Facility

As a physical therapist in a hospital setting, you will likely have a wider range of patients to work with. You may work with a pediatric patient one day and a geriatric oncology patient the next. If you like variety, this may be the job for you, but keep in mind that this particular setting will require more knowledge and flexibility. You will have to be quick on your feet and ready to switch gears at a moment’s notice. Moreover, this influx of patients may prevent you from developing the kinds of therapist-patient relationships that may be possible in a nursing home setting. Working at a hospital, however, may provide the added benefit of access to newer technologies; hospitals are usually better funded, and therefore, better equipped than nursing homes.

Private Practice

If you are a licensed physical therapist, you have the option of opening your own practice whereas physical therapy assistants have the opportunity to work for a therapist in a private doctor’s office. A private practice presents unique environmental factors to consider. Whereas you will likely see less patients every day, which may be a plus or a minus depending on your personal preferences, you will also work with a smaller number of colleagues which may allow you to develop stronger professional relationships. Working in a private practice may also give you the opportunity to specialize in a certain area of physical therapy such as sports medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, etc. At the same time, this setting also offers less variety in terms of the types of patients you will see and the duties you will be responsible for daily.

Home Health Setting

Physical therapists who work in home health care settings may travel from house to house caring for multiple patients at a time, or they may work full-time for a family or individual on a long-term basis. Certainly, this intimate setting will allow you to build stronger relationships with your patients, but depending on your personality, this level of intimacy may be uncomfortable for you. You should also consider that you will have more contact with the patient’s family than you would in other settings, a factor that would require greater communication and social skills. As a therapist or assistant in a home health care setting, you will likely work alone or with one other health care professional. This will allow you to become more independent, but also require you to be more responsible and self-sufficient as well.

Conclusion

Physical therapy professionals are in high demand and have a great deal of flexibility in terms of working environments, salaries, and schedules. Making sure your work setting is compatible with your individual characteristics and job expectations is the first step in what will surely be a long and satisfying career!

References

Physical Therapy Assistants and Aides. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos167.htm.

Alzheimer’s disease can be a cruel and slow demise and one that is generally considered progressive and irreversible. Families of Alzheimer’s patients will inevitably face some very difficult decisions as they attempt to provide the best possible care for their loved ones. As the memory and mental health of the individual deteriorates, physical well-being may be the least of the family’s concern. However, physical therapy should not be dismissed; instead,  it should be seen as a vital component of an overall treatment program designed to rehabilitate the patient not only physically, but mentally as well.

Exercise

Although exercise has long been acknowledged as a way of preventing dementia, it is now being recognized as a way of slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease as well. A study presented at the 2008 International Conference on Alzheimer’s disease reported that Alzheimer’s patients who routinely participate in an exercise program show more brain activity in the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for memory. Furthermore, it has been shown that the aerobic exercise needed to achieve the desired results need not be strenuous. This is an important consideration for elderly patients who may not be in the best physical health. Alzheimer’s patients often lose motor control and balance in addition to memory loss, making them particularly susceptible to falls. As part of the patient’s physical therapy regimen, a trained physical therapist can prescribe exercises targeted to improve balance and motor skills, lessening the chance that the patient will trip or bump into something. As the disease progresses, the physical therapist may begin to administer manual therapy techniques including bending and flexing the patient’s muscles and joints to prevent atrophy. Caregivers can also be trained to administer exercise therapy at home to increase the likelihood of it making a substantial difference in the patient’s physical and mental functioning.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of physical therapy still in practice today. Considered by some in the Western world to be a “voodoo” alternative therapy, acupuncture has a long and reputable history amongst doctors and healers in the East, and is gaining more credibility in the United States as a viable treatment alternative to sufferers of all sorts of conditions. Acupuncture is used in combination with other more traditional methods to treat some of the mental health side effects associated with Alzheimer’s. Many Alzheimer’s patients become increasingly moody and aggressive as their dementia progresses; acupuncture has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, factors that can significantly affect an individual’s mood and overall sense of well-being. Moreover, preliminary research suggests that acupuncture may also increase patient’s cognitive functioning, motor control, and verbal skills.  Although more research is needed to confirm these findings, they certainly offer hope for the millions of Alzheimer’s patients for whom traditional medicine has been unsuccessful.

Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

A relatively new and controversial treatment, Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation, or TENS, works by transmitting electrical currents into the body through electrodes attached to the skin. Although generally used as a way of helping to alleviate pain, TENS has recently gained some attention for its potential implications for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Some small studies have suggested that TENS can provide several benefits for patients including memory, mood, and sleep enhancement.  The early results have been convincing enough to prompt more research into this potentially groundbreaking new technique.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is a branch of physical therapy that relies on manually applying pressure to certain parts of the body to increase relaxation and relieve tension. Although just about anyone could benefit from a good massage, Alzheimer’s patients appear to respond especially well to the treatment. As these individuals often experience moodiness and agitation, the touch of a skilled massage therapist can alter the individual’s emotional state and promote a sense of calm within.

Although physical therapy is certainly not a cure for Alzheimer’s and it cannot prevent the disease from worsening, it can certainly slow down the process. Different methods of physical therapy may be more advantageous than others for certain individuals depending on their symptoms and the progression of the disease. A licensed physical therapist can help families determine which treatment program will result in greater gains for their loved one, so that he or she can experience the greatest level of independence and best quality of life possible.

References

Alzheimer’s Disease. University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved from http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/alzheimers-disease-000005.htm.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Acupuncture. Acupuncture Today. Retrieved from http://acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=27681.

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation for Alzheimer’s and Dementia. AgingCare.com. Retrieved from http://www.agingcare.com/Featured-Stories/143469/physical-speech-therapy-alzheimers-dementia.htm.

Job Overview

Physical therapy professionals are involved in the care of patients who suffer from certain ailments which affect their ability to function physically. These conditions may be congenital, developmental, or they may develop as a result of surgery or injury. A physical therapist assistant provides aid as needed to a licensed physical therapist in a clinical or home health setting designed to help patients either recover from their conditions, or at the very least, become more mobile and independent.

Depending on the lead therapist’s preferences, this assistance may include interacting with the patient to help him or her perform the prescribed exercises, or the type of assistance may be less hands-on such as monitoring and documenting the patient’s reactions and progress. To become a physical therapy assistant, one much complete a program of study culminating in an associate’s degree in physical therapy and a certificate to practice physical therapy in the state in which the individual plans to work. Physical therapy assistants must have good social skills, be physically fit, and be able to perform certain job-specific tasks.

Qualifications

In order to be a physical therapist assistant, you must:

• have a minimum of an associate’s degree from an accredited school

• pass a test to receive your certification as a physical therapy assistant

• be physically adept enough to perform tasks such as lifting, bending, and standing upright for long periods of time

• have good social skills and conduct yourself in a manner that is caring, compassionate, and respectful

• be willing and able to follow directions and take orders

Duties

Although the duties of a physical therapy assistant may fluctuate in accordance with the particular setting and terms of employment, generally speaking, physical therapy assistants will be required to:

• Work collaboratively with the physical therapist, aides, primary caregivers, administrators and patients to develop and maintain treatment plans.

• Instruct the patient on how to perform exercises properly.

• Help patients position themselves correctly in order to perform the required exercises.

• Help the patient move on and off of exercise equipment and transport them to and from the gym.

• Act as a coach and motivator to assist patients in achieving their therapy goals.

• Evaluate the patient’s progress and assess the effects of certain exercises to determine whether they are benefiting the patient.

• Monitor the patient while performing exercises to ensure the patient’s safety.

• Keep an accurate record of the exercises the patient performed, the number of repetitions, and how long the exercise was performed.

• Help determine what type/size supportive devices the patient needs (i.e. braces, crutches, prostheses, etc).

• Administer and/or guide the patient in participating in treatments such as massage, heat and light therapy, as well as aquatic and electric modality treatments.

• Communicate with the patient’s family and/or caregivers to convey important information regarding the treatment plan as well as any improvements or setbacks the patient has experienced.

Schedule

The schedules of physical therapy assistants vary widely. Depending on your place of employment and position, you may work a traditional 9-5 schedule, or you may work part-time or on the evenings and weekends.  Typically, physical therapy assistants working in hospitals and nursing homes will rotate shifts while those who work in outpatient clinics may work primarily during the weekdays.

Salary

Depending on the region where you are working and how many years of experience you have, your salary as a physical therapy assistant may range from $28,500 to $63,830 with the average salary being around $46,000 a year. Physical therapist assistants working in home health care and nursing home settings tend to make slightly more than their colleagues who work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and clinics.

Advancement

There are many opportunities for advancement in the field of physical therapy. With additional schooling, some physical therapy assistants go on to become licensed physical therapists. Others decide to specialize in a certain field such as pediatrics, geriatrics, or cardiopulmonary therapy. There are also opportunities for hospital and clinic administrative positions for those physical therapy associates interested in this line of work.

Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for job opportunities in physical therapy is very good, and is expected to grow faster than the average career field in 2011. Because of changes in many insurance policies, physical therapy will become more available and affordable for many people, thus resulting in a higher demand for physical therapy services. In addition, as the baby-boomers become older, a greater percentage of the population will require the types of treatment offered by physical therapy professionals. As students and potential employees become aware of this growth, however, the search for jobs in this field will become very competitive.

References

Summary Report for Physical Therapy Assistants. O*Net Online. Retrieved from
http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/31-2021.00.
Physical Therapy Assistants and Aides. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos167.htm