Essay On Physical Therapy Experience

I was wrapping up my junior year of high school and began looking at schools to start my undergraduate career. My sister was accepted into Depaul University. As we prepared for the eventful summer ahead, I was excited for what was in store. Towards the summer’s end, my sister began experiencing migraines a month before she was scheduled to start. For three days she experienced constant headaches and worsening balance issues to the point where she could not stand.
Finally, an MRI was done and she was diagnosed with viral meningitis that lasted 1 week, causing irreparable brain damage. I never witnessed someone so capable become so helpless. Within a few weeks I began to understand just how much the condition changed her life. Among other health …show more content…
She was smiling and motivated to get better. I decided to sit in on a few of her physical therapy sessions and discover what prompted her jubilant attitude. Although there were visible struggles for my sister, the therapist held a casual discussion about theater and their favorite plays they acted in. This occurred while the the therapist was helping her through exercises that would improve her gross motor capabilities. I saw my sister laugh for the first time in a month since her hospitalization, all because her physical therapist connected with her on a personal level.
Since my sister’s diagnosis, I underwent surgery and the resultant physical therapy on a much smaller scale. I have observed several physical therapy appointments, and none that compare to my sister’s experience. Although it was a beneficial experience, the compassion I had seen with my sister was absent. At that point, I realized that in the physical therapy field, connections with patients differ in level of depth and in turn, change the degree of effectiveness the therapist has on the …show more content…
As an aspiring physical therapist, I believe that compassion must be utilized towards patients that require our services. It is vital to incorporate the understanding of patients’ sensitivities and motivate them to improve their mobility and their lives, regardless of constraints of time and frequency. For example, I have witnessed differences in longer-term rehabilitation sessions versus the shorter spurts of outpatient settings. For a physical therapist, consistent sessions provide greater opportunity to foster camaraderie with patients. However, those in outpatient sessions deserve equal compassion to facilitate equally successful patient