Official Therapist Blog

What do Physical Therapy Jobs, Sports-Related Injuries and the World Cup have in common?

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 06.30.2010 | Category Allied Healthcare, Ellen Bloome-PT, Ongoing Education, Physical Therapist Jobs, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Travel physical therapy jobs, Videos, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

For those of us who live for sports, it’s all about soccer this summer. Many of us are on the edge of our seats wondering who will capture the World Cup as the competition plays out in South Africa. So what does the World Cup have in common with physical therapy jobs and sports-related injuries?

Whether players are competing at the World Cup or playing on their high school soccer team, physical therapists treat plenty of patients with sports-related injuries who play the game. Here’s a fact to back up the claim: the US Consumer Product Safety Commission reported more than 186,000 soccer related injuries in 2006 alone; 80% of those were owned by players less than 24 years of age. Soccer is a fun game and even better exercise, but videos like the one we’ve included here show what a fierce sport it can be. Watch a physical therapist at the top of her game, administering a third therapy session with a patient who tore her ACL, meniscus and MLC in a challenging game of soccer.

This video helps us appreciate a new reality impacting physical therapy careers: more girls are participating in high school and college sports—and it’s not just them creating more work for physical therapists, in what has become for PTs, a seemingly recession proof industry—it’s the Baby Boomers, too.  Born in an era stretching from the 1940’s to early 60’s, the Boomers are reaching retirement age and with it, the aches, pains and haunts of old sporting related injuries that keep physical therapists in high demand.

As most of you reading this already know, sports related injuries drive a lot of patient traffic through ERs and into the eventual care of physical therapists. If you’ve ever wondered what a PT feels like on the other end of the therapy equation, you can read about one of our own receiving post op therapy after sustaining a sports related injury.

CDC stats on sports related injuries may be grim, but physical therapy careers are providing rehabilitative light at the end of that tunnel. PTs have a lot to feel good about; the press they receive is incredibly positive. In November of 2009, CNN ranked physical therapy jobs at # 7 on the list of America’s best occupations. Since then, physical therapy careers are a continuously rising star; however, experts advise that landing a successful PT career requires a lifelong commitment to continued education. The APTA encourages specialization in one of 8 areas of physical therapy with the long-term goal of (the majority of) PTs earning doctorates by 2020.

Keeping your eyes on the prize is well worth it, as evidenced by the turnout at this year’s American Physical Therapy Association’s Annual Conference & Expo in Boston. Whether it’s the influx of young female athletes matriculating into colleges or more Baby Boomers seeking physical therapy, business is booming for PTs. Observes remarked that the conference made them momentarily forget the country is in a recession; the event reported a surplus of physical therapy jobs in home health systems and large medical centers across the country.

When it comes to finding physical therapy jobs, seeking education at top physical therapy schools or playing the sports that challenge our bodies enough to one day seek physical therapy ourselves, the sporting motto from Nike said it best, “just do it!”

Side note: Until mid-July, we hope you enjoy FIFA. Feel free to post a comment about who you hope wins the World Cup!

Electronic Textbooks Take a Step Closer to Reality

Author Therapy Career Blogger | 02.10.2010 | Category Apple iPad, Gadgets, Ongoing Education, Product Reviews, Videos, physical therapy

Physical therapy students who are tired of paying exorbitant prices for their instantly-outdated health textbooks (and then having to haul the weighty books around!) will be glad to see that electronic textbooks are taking a major step closer to becoming reality.

Just recently, major medical textbook publishers — including Random House, McGraw-Hill, Perseus, Wiley and Kaplan — struck a deal with app developer ScrollMotion to adapt their products for the iPad electronic page.

Rik Kranenburg, an executive with McGraw-Hill Co., was quoted in the Wall Street Journal as declaring:

“People have been talking about the impact of technology on education for 25 years. It feels like it is really going to happen in 2010.”

Publishers have certainly embraced the idea in theory, because electronic versions of their medical textbooks save them time and money in production, printing and storage, as well as enabling them to update the books virtually, rather than having to publish new print editions.

However, in practice, publishers have tended to produce online versions of medical journals, product manuals, study guides and the like, rather than actual health textbooks –  partly because the technology has not been available that makes e-books attractive to students.  (Though their unique features — such as instant access to particular references; and brighter, more lifelike graphics — can make electronic books quite useful, these products have not been as interactive as needed for students in physical therapy programs and elsewhere.)

But the recent release of the highly-anticipated Apple iPad is a game-changer.  ScrollMotion’s development deal with publishers includes iPad applications to let users, such as occupational therapy students play videos, highlight text, record lectures, take printed notes, search the text, and participate in interactive quizzes.

As of now, the iPad seems to be lacking many such features. For instance, there’s no capability to let users play Flash-based videos downloaded from the Web; there’s no camera for video-conferences or virtual study groups; and there’s no handwriting recognition for taking notes. Also, the current iPad does not allow for multitasking.

Here is a video with more details on the iPad’s shortcomings

All of these drawbacks come at a hefty price: $499, plus at least $30 per month in utility charges, not to mention the cost of the e-books. Thus, other competing technologies on the market, such as cheaper netbooks, or Amazon’s Kindle DX, may end up being the e-book devices of choice for students. Or, it very well could be the next generation of the iPad that physical therapy students find themselves hauling around.

Are you a therapy program student? What do you think of the Apple iPad?

Stay tuned!

How to become a Physical Therapist

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 09.14.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Videos, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

Physical therapy is one of the highest rated professions in national job satisfaction surveys, and U.S. News and World Report listed it as of the 30 Best Careers of 2009, but how does one become a physical therapist exactly?

How do I know physical therapy is right for me?

Physical therapists deal with a wide range of patients for any number of issues. Every patient is unique, and every day offers new and exciting challenges. Physical therapy allows you to work hands-on with patients and to see the difference that you can make in a person’s life. You may choose to work with geriatric patients, amputees, children with birth abnormalities, athletes, or any other of a range of populations, but whatever group of people you choose to work with, you will be making a direct impact on their lives.

Physical therapists must have a strong interest in the human body and how it works, but a love of anatomy and physiology isn’t enough. They must also have a love of people, a desire to help others, and a strong set of communication skills. Physical therapists don’t just treat injuries; they educate their patients about their own bodies and how to make those bodies work best for them.

If you are a student interested in physical therapy, spend some time shadowing or volunteering at a local hospital or clinic to see if physical therapy really appeals to you. Talk to physical therapists and their assistants to get their perspectives and advice.

Physical Therapy career video

How do I become a physical therapist?

To become a physical therapist, you must have graduated from an accredited physical therapy program and passed a state licensure exam. Physical therapy programs are primarily post-baccalaureate doctor of physical therapy programs (DPT) that generally take 3 years to complete.

To be accepted into a physical therapy school, you must have earned a bachelor degree. Most schools do not have a specific required undergraduate major, but most physical therapists major in the biological sciences. No matter what your major, however, DPT programs do have a number of prerequisite undergraduate courses that you must have taken by the time you apply for admission. These courses usually include biology, chemistry, physics, and anatomy, among others, but each school’s requirements differ slightly. Admission into physical therapy doctoral programs is competitive, so be sure to work hard in your undergraduate classes. Find a volunteer position in a hospital or clinic to help show schools that you are serious about your career decision. While there is no specific physical therapy entrance exam, most schools do require that applicants take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), so start to prepare for that early to make it one more selling point on your application.

Choosing a school for your physical therapy doctoral degree is not unlike choosing an undergraduate college. The American Physical Therapy Association maintains a list of all DPT schools, with descriptions of curricula, course requirements, clinical opportunities, and admissions information. As you make your decision, think about what is important to you, including location, class size, tuition cost, clinical opportunities, and social activities. Do your research and apply to a number of schools. Most programs will require interviews as part of the admissions process; prepare for those by making sure you can explain why it is that you want to be a physical therapist. What led you to that decision? What qualities do you have that will make a strong physical therapist? Also be sure to know why you are interested in each school and to prepare specific questions that you can ask about the school and the program. While you are on campus for your interview, try to talk to current students to get their take on the program.

Once you start a program, continue working hard to get the grades you deserve and to prepare for the state licensure exam. Take advantage of all of your clinical opportunities, and keep an open mind as you decide what aspect of physical therapy is right for you. Continue to talk to current physical therapists, asking questions and gathering advice for your future.

For more information about physical therapy jobs, visit the Travel Force website.

Physical Therapist Career Video

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 09.11.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, Videos, physical therapy

Do you want to become a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant? Then you must watch this video with  several physical therapists talking about their job and why they chose a physical therapist career.  In addition, the physical therapist career video shows physical therapists on site with rehab patients.

For additional information on physical therapy jobs and a career in physical therapy, please contact Travel Force Staffing

Click here to view additional physical therapist career videos

Healthcare Jobs on the Rise

Author Healthcare Jobs Blogger | 07.10.2009 | Category Allied Healthcare, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Registered Nurses, Respiratory Therapy, Therapist Jobs, Therapy Jobs, Travel Therapist, Traveling Therapist, Videos, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy

Watch video from the Early Show where Consumer correspondent, Susan Koeppen, answers viewers’ questions on state lemon laws, community supported agriculture and insulated job sectors.