Physical Therapy

Ever wonder what physical therapy was? heres an explanation in a nutshell.

Physical Therapy, in a nut shell, is the use of physical means to bring an individual back to near normal function.

Ako, I studied BS Physical Therapy at De La Salle University - Health sciences institute at Dasmarinas Cavite. It's a 5 year course, with the fundamental basics of english, math, science, logic, and filipino in the earlier years, to the Physical therapy proper in the 3rd and 4th years, with a year on internship in the 5th year. Physical Therapy internship is basically nagchachange ka ng centers monthly, and what centers you go to depend on your academic performance during your college years.

What do you do in physical therapy?
Basically, you teach stroke patients on how to become functional again, on how to be able to transfer from positions, if not how to walk. Stroke patients are a big part here in the philippines, and nothing makes me happier seeing a patient improving and actually thanking you for the change you imposed on their lives. Physical therapy treats many cases, including carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, torn ligaments like ankle sprains and ACL problems. Also under the umbrella, is helping people to walk, starting from teaching them to shift their weight in chairs, to preparing to stand, to standing. In fact, the lahat ng sinasakop ng PT will take more than just a blog entry to enumerate. Sa akin kasi, I learned to love Physical Therapy and helping people get rid of their problems. Which i guess further cemented my decision into entering medicine.

Back when I was in Physical Therapy, our dean was no other than the legend of the Philippine Physical Therapy world, Dr. Ramona Luisa Pablo Santos. She was in charge of the College of Physical Therapy, before climbing up the rung of the career ladder, to become the vice chancellor of Academics of DLSU-HSI. Watching her discuss the spinal cord pathways from heart, was one of the many reasons I wanted to enter Medicine.

In a few days, ill be posting some exercises that I have learned over the years, and have given a Filipino twist to. Like the Darna exercise for Scoliosis, and my Super Biceps sets. :) (and maybe even give tips on how to massage, which work great on girls!)

Would i recommend Physical therapy as a college course? Of course. Now that the Nursing boom is dying down, although still strong, since they are needed all around the world, but good evidence that Physical therapy is a good job, my own batchmates in the States, once just commuters, now have good lives, a good house, and a great car in the states.

To my Rosarians, i highly encourage you to take Physical therapy if you are undecided. Besides that we only work during office hours and dont do night shifts (although i heard a rumor that UST have night shifts now to cater to call center agents), you can also make quite a good amount working for private PT sessions after work with your own private clients. And priceless about it, is watching the weak and in pain, walk out with a smile.