Physical Therapy Observation

Happiness and independence are the results of the basic concept of something as so simple as movement. Movement is a task we take for granted; it is a piece of our life that makes us who we are. As an individual, we strive for independence and being able to move our body gives that to us. After finishing my first year as a physical therapy student, I have had the privilege to observe in two different clinical settings. I was able to learn from all different types of age groups and how each responded to therapy. I was also able to study the processes and clinical decision-making skills that the Physical Therapist’s (PT) used in their treatments, plan of care options, note-taking strategy and the techniques of their manual therapy. The first clinic I visited for my observation was an out-patient neuromuscular clinic called Warm Springs. I was able to see …show more content…
Age was definitely a factor when it came to the prognosis of the patients. Although injuries may have been worse for the younger patients, the brains ability to adapt and improve enables them to succeed at a quicker pace than the older patients and that coincides to how movement changes across them lifespan. Their base of support widens with age and coordination declines as well, therefore, relearning tasks such as walking and standing is more difficult. The central nervous system plays a large role in movement and without proper communication between the brain and the muscles, movement becomes nearly impossible. These patients have lost the ability to produce controlled movement or even move at all because of their brain or spinal cord injuries. Therapy plays a large role in the process of recovering what had been lost. Motor control and motor learning play a large role in the life of a PT. PT’s always have to be postulating about how to get their patient back to their prior function and what tasks need to be improved upon to reach those