What inspires me? I have found that it helps to ask myself this question at times when it can be far too easy to get bogged down by the negative and uninspiring. Knowing the answer can help to refocus on the positive, find any lost motivation, or maybe even notice some of the smaller, happier […]
Author Archives: fostersunshinept
Physical Therapy Success Story: Rehabilitation After a Near-Fatal Car Accident
What could be more inspiring for therapists than an amazing physical therapy patient success story? Well, I have one such story and a former patient of mine who kindly agreed to let me share it. The Accident Patti Morrow is a travel writer and creator of Lipstick and Luggage, an award-winning travel guide and blog. […]
Anxiety and Panic Attacks: Considerations in Physical Therapy
I have become increasingly aware of the prevalence of anxiety and panic attacks in those around me. In talking with these individuals who experience panic attacks, both friends and patients alike, the relevance of this topic has been staring me in the face. As a society, we have had a heightened level of anxiety over […]
Dehydration in Geriatrics
Working in an acute care setting, the diagnosis of dehydration within the geriatric population is a common one. Dehydration is a major health concern within this vulnerable group and can be a cause of many other serious medical complications. Why is dehydration more common among the elderly? Mobility Impairments Many within the geriatric population have […]
Spotlight: Dry Needling
Dry needling is an intramuscular manual therapy (IMT) technique used by physical therapists to target myofascial trigger points through the application of acupuncture needles. Although Lewit published the first study to recognize dry needling in 1979, the treatment received minimal attention in the following years. It wasn’t until the 2000s that the technique became more […]
An Editorial on Functional Index Measures
Our patients fill out a functional index at their initial evaluation and reassessments as a measure to gauge their status and their progress. I understand the reason behind this; we like objective measures, and insurance companies like them even more. But there seems to be so much gray area and variability in how patients approach […]
Resolution Check-In
Happy New Year! Last year, I talked to my PT friends and colleagues to compile a list of professional resolutions. Now it’s time for us all to do a check-in and take stock. Some people have achieved their goals, and that is so awesome! You should be incredibly proud of yourself, and I can only […]
The Sitting Epidemic
You may have heard it: sitting has become an epidemic, or, sitting is the new smoking. As a population, we are sitting more than ever. We binge-watch streamed shows, we work from home, we drive everywhere, and we stare at our screens. All of this has only been made worse by the pandemic. People are […]
The Physical Therapy Assistant Perspective
Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) are essential to us in clinical practice. They are often the eyes and ears on our patients when we are not the clinician directly treating them. Their perspectives, insight, ideas, and feedback are vital to appropriate clinical decision-making. I hope they know how much we appreciate and value them! Let’s hear […]
Accepting the Physical Therapy Plateau
One of the biggest struggles I have as a physical therapist is knowing when to give in to the plateau. Or rather, I have a hard time accepting it when that time comes. My instinct is always to keep trying. I think that maybe if I just try one more thing, that will be the […]
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