Clinical Report/Record/Journal - Physical Therapy 01/23/15

Clinical Report

1. In Physical Therapy I did not have any responsibilities. I asked about some questions about the exercise equipment, and talked to the patients.
2. I learned that the physical therapist will usually see two patients at once, and about 16 per day. At this hospital they usually have older adults come in, and most of the patients there were in to work on their knee(s). 
3. The best thing that happened was being able to observe the different exercises they had the patients doing and talking to the patients. 
4. One thing I did not enjoy was seeing the patients do their workouts and being in pain. That was probably the worst part; however, I know they have to do it to get better.

This week was: Fair

I was not able to do many hands-on duties this week, so I really just observed the exercises and talked to the patients. 

Experience Record

Technology Observed: 

In physical therapy I observed a lot of exercise equipment. They had many bicycle machines that would work on your legs, a total gym that also worked on your legs (it could do a lot more, but they just used it for the lower body). They also had weights and exercise balls. 

Diagnostic Procedures: 

In physical therapy they do not really diagnose patients. Physical therapy is usually where patients go after being diagnosed.

Therapeutic Procedures:

Physical therapy is all about therapeutic procedures. They use various amounts of work out equipment and exercises. I observed a patient who have a full knee replacement done, and she used the bicycle machine, the total gym, and she had to lift her leg high to walk over cones. 

Diseases/Disorders Observed:

I was not able to observed any diseases or disorders, for the patients I observed did not have any. However, I asked the therapist what diseases or disorders he has seen while working, and he said he mostly just sees patients with knee problems. Sometimes there are patients who come in who have had cancer.

Medical Terminology/Abbreviations:

The therapist I was shadowing said one medical abbreviation that we just learned. He talked about ADL (activities of daily living) with one of the patients. 

Journal

  Walking into physical therapy was similar to walking into a gym just not as many work out machines. There was even a little hint of nice sweat smell. In the room were probably about six therapists, and they all had patients with them. They were all working with their patients, and they were helping them exercise. One lady was lifting weights, some were stretching, and a couple were using the bike machines.
  Scattered around the room were medical beds, and around the walls there was work out equipment. The therapists all had black shirts on and khaki pants. They would work together, and they would share the work out equipment. I saw some simple safety procedures such as putting a pillow under the patients head while they used the total gym, so they wouldn't hurt their neck. I observed therapeutic procedures the entire time I was there from stretching, to exercise and balance. 
  In physical therapy I went in with knowledge about what they do. I knew that they stretched their patients, and they would give them exercises to do; however, I learned some things too. I learned that the therapist usually has two patients at a time, but not more than two. I did not encounter any medical terminology, but I did encounter a medical abbreviation which was ADL.
  I enjoyed observing the physical therapy area. Physical therapy is something I have been thinking about doing as a career, so it was really interesting to observe. I think seeing some of the exercises done can also benefit me personally because I have an injured knee. Maybe I can do some exercises and strengthen my knee!