There have been quite a few threads about this in the Pre-Physical Therapy board. Call or visit the clinic/hospital. Avoid emailing them, as they receive much more important emails and may choose to delay responding to your message, or potentially forget about it after putting it off. PTs are usually pretty flexible with shadowing; however, if they get a lot of requests, then they usually limit your hours and days, or they may allow one student at a time. Depends. Again, speaking with somebody directly is the best way to get all your questions answered as each facility may do things differently.
Usually, if you're at a outpatient clinic, they'll also ask you to do the laundry in addition to helping around (helping patients in and out of machines, applying cold/heat packs, readying equipment for the PT, tidying up the place, etc). You'll be observing, but you'll may also be performing these jobs for the PT. Free labor. Always a good thing (for them).
