Physical Therapy Internship Paper
The five goals I have for this internship include the following: Learn day to day activities of a physical therapist, be exposed to a variety of patients and treatments, expand knowledge of, clinical techniques and equipment used to diagnose and treat patients, improve professional communication skills by asking clinically appropriate questions, and gain required hours to apply to physical therapy school. Rehability is the physical therapy clinic I have been working with the passed weeks. Rehability specializes in orthopedic rehabilitation, exposing me to numerous shoulder and knee replacements. One of the therapists at Rehability is a licensed LSVT BIG Therapy therapist that specializes in helping patients with Parkinson’s disease.
The first …show more content…
BIG therapy focuses on making every movement bigger. Abby emphasizes that the goal is not to “fix” Parkinson’s, but subdue the symptoms and increase motor function. According to Behavioral Treatment Programs for Speech and Body Movement in Parkinson Disease research journal article the purpose is to “restore normal movement amplitude by recalibrating the patient’s perception of movement execution” (Fox et al., 2012). By having patients focus on making movements bigger, it increases perception of movements and decreases the risk of falling. The article explains a study where one group received LSVT BIG therapy and the other group or Nordic walking--walking on a treadmill as a part of group therapy. The results are as stated in the article “the specific protocol of LSVT BIG and, possibly, individual face-to-face interaction between patient and therapist, was more crucial for successful outcomes than total exercise time” (Fox et al., 2012). Steve Anderson is the owner of Rehability and he uses BIG therapy with a patient who has balance issues. The movements have helped improve balance as well as relieve back pain. I believe this is a valuable rehabilitation technique and I am considering becoming certified after I complete physical therapy school because of this
The first …show more content…
BIG therapy focuses on making every movement bigger. Abby emphasizes that the goal is not to “fix” Parkinson’s, but subdue the symptoms and increase motor function. According to Behavioral Treatment Programs for Speech and Body Movement in Parkinson Disease research journal article the purpose is to “restore normal movement amplitude by recalibrating the patient’s perception of movement execution” (Fox et al., 2012). By having patients focus on making movements bigger, it increases perception of movements and decreases the risk of falling. The article explains a study where one group received LSVT BIG therapy and the other group or Nordic walking--walking on a treadmill as a part of group therapy. The results are as stated in the article “the specific protocol of LSVT BIG and, possibly, individual face-to-face interaction between patient and therapist, was more crucial for successful outcomes than total exercise time” (Fox et al., 2012). Steve Anderson is the owner of Rehability and he uses BIG therapy with a patient who has balance issues. The movements have helped improve balance as well as relieve back pain. I believe this is a valuable rehabilitation technique and I am considering becoming certified after I complete physical therapy school because of this