As a second-year student attending a professional event, I had just sat through a presentation that was, for lack of a better term, Greek to me. The intricacies of the topic had me lost in a maze of jargon and complex diagrams. Yet, mere hours after that presentation, I found myself engrossed in a conversation with the speaker at the event happy hour. The difference? Fifteen minutes of a genuine conversation illuminated what a two-hour presentation could not.

In an age dominated by digital communication, there's an ever-present need for professionals to share their expertise. For physical therapists, this need is especially critical. While the thought of returning to academia for a communications degree may be daunting, it's not the only route.

Person-centered pain management has been the center of recent literature emphasizing the complex and individualized nature of pain. While previous models in pain management emphasized treatment of the ‘average’ patient (ie, patient with non-specific low back pain), person-centered models put the patients’ beliefs, expectations, and goals at the center of the treatment plan. Clinicians who wish to practice evidence-based pain care should update their understanding of how and why person-centered care models should be the gold standard.

We all know the importance of assistive devices in providing modified or improved independence to our patients. Analyzing function and making modifications to maximize mobility and efficiency is one of the primary roles of a physical therapist. This holds true in the world of physical therapy for animals as well. As physical therapists crossing over into the collaborative world of veterinary rehabilitation, we bring our expertise and creativity to help creatures of all sizes and species.

I have always enjoyed learning from my patients. So, when the day came that a just-retired neurologist picked his way through my clinic’s front doors, I had big plans. As the oxycontin wore off and his face brightened, I began the work of persuading him to demonstrate a neurological exam to our staff. Coincidentally, I had been consuming everything possible related to the topic. 

Would it be easier to identify 1 of 1,000 reasons a patient might get better? Is it ever really just one exercise, stretch, or treatment that gets someone better? Or is it a blend of extrinsic and intrinsic factors, physiology, psychology, and many other factors that elicit progress?

Exercise programs commonly incorporate aerobic and strength training components. How far should an athlete be pushed when doing exercise in terms of intensity? Physical therapists who work with athletes aim to use optimal intensity for strength training. The purpose of this blog is to discuss evidence-based exercise prescription and offer a tool for improving precision in exercise recommendations. Exercise prescription incorporates volume, exercise density, and intensity.

Physical Therapy is naturally an activity-focused therapeutic specialty, but what happens when a patient is afraid of moving? Positive motivation during movement supports the delivery of effective therapeutic treatments towards returning the patient to their optimal state of movement and happiness.

I love learning about physical therapy. I love getting other physical therapists' opinions on cases, learning how others apply current evidence to their practice, and I love problem-solving through the physical, mental, emotional, and neurological elements of patient care. If you've found yourself on this page reading this article, you must care too.

As a practicing clinician for 7 years, I have been thinking about my future and how I want it to look. I have been working as an outpatient orthopaedic physical therapist for the same company since I graduated from my DPT program. I have every intention to continue working in that capacity in patient care, and I love direct patient care. However, I do want to continue to grow as a professional and continue to put other skills, knowledge, and passions I have learned to use in my daily work.