New Pre PT! :)

[j306c954]

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Hello all! I recently made the decision to explore PT as a career path!
I have a couple questions that I wrote at the bottom of this post, so if you would like to skip through my short intro (I tend to write a lot), feel free 🙂

A little background (long story short)...I was originally pre-med, but ultimately decided that it wasn't for me. I hold a B.S. degree in Behavioral Neuroscience and graduated with a 3.9 GPA, distinction, and departmental honors. I have all the requirements for PT school except ANP (taking next year), the GRE, and shadow experience (I am going to start shadowing my PT on Thursday). I have been involved in sports (competitve Taekwondo mainly) all of my life, meaning that I have a lot of exposure to injuries and recovery.

My first major injury was a torn labrum in my shoulder, and there's absolutely no way I would have recovered without my PT. I also had surgery for chronic compartment syndrome in both my legs. Additionally, I have hypermobility syndrome, which caused two discs in my back to bulge. After no relief from cortisone shots or a chiropractor, I went to see a PT...and he was the only person who could ever help me. I truly love the work the PT's do and I love the science behind it. I would love to help people in that way.

So now, more specifically, I am truly interested in neuro PT. My passion is the nervous system (hence my degree in neuroscience). Even before I decided I wanted to explore PT, I have held an interest in helping those with neuromuscular disorders.

So here are my questions...

1. Are any of you also interested in neuro PT, an why?

2. I have a heavy research background, and I really want to do research in the field of neuromuscular disorders. Do a lot of PT's also lead research projects?

 

[shihalud]

I bet the folks over at the PT forum (not pre-PT) would have a lot of insight on your questions if you don't get much response here. I can't contribute to the discussion myself but will be interested to read the responses you get. Good luck!

 

[nd_dpt]

Hello all! I recently made the decision to explore PT as a career path!
I have a couple questions that I wrote at the bottom of this post, so if you would like to skip through my short intro (I tend to write a lot), feel free 🙂

A little background (long story short)...I was originally pre-med, but ultimately decided that it wasn't for me. I hold a B.S. degree in Behavioral Neuroscience and graduated with a 3.9 GPA, distinction, and departmental honors. I have all the requirements for PT school except ANP (taking next year), the GRE, and shadow experience (I am going to start shadowing my PT on Thursday). I have been involved in sports (competitve Taekwondo mainly) all of my life, meaning that I have a lot of exposure to injuries and recovery.

My first major injury was a torn labrum in my shoulder, and there's absolutely no way I would have recovered without my PT. I also had surgery for chronic compartment syndrome in both my legs. Additionally, I have hypermobility syndrome, which caused two discs in my back to bulge. After no relief from cortisone shots or a chiropractor, I went to see a PT...and he was the only person who could ever help me. I truly love the work the PT's do and I love the science behind it. I would love to help people in that way.

So now, more specifically, I am truly interested in neuro PT. My passion is the nervous system (hence my degree in neuroscience). Even before I decided I wanted to explore PT, I have held an interest in helping those with neuromuscular disorders.

So here are my questions...

1. Are any of you also interested in neuro PT, an why?

2. I have a heavy research background, and I really want to do research in the field of neuromuscular disorders. Do a lot of PT's also lead research projects?

I observe in a clinic for people with traumatic brain injuries. It's a very interesting setting. Every single person's injury is different. One awesome thing about it is that it's kind of a mix between ortho and neuro because you get to work on both their cognitive skills while also treating injuries.
Some pt schools have DPT-PhD fast track programs that allow you to work towards your PhD right after finishing the DPT program. This opens up career opportunities for you that include performing research.

 

[redrose424]

Hello all! I recently made the decision to explore PT as a career path!
I have a couple questions that I wrote at the bottom of this post, so if you would like to skip through my short intro (I tend to write a lot), feel free 🙂

A little background (long story short)...I was originally pre-med, but ultimately decided that it wasn't for me. I hold a B.S. degree in Behavioral Neuroscience and graduated with a 3.9 GPA, distinction, and departmental honors. I have all the requirements for PT school except ANP (taking next year), the GRE, and shadow experience (I am going to start shadowing my PT on Thursday). I have been involved in sports (competitve Taekwondo mainly) all of my life, meaning that I have a lot of exposure to injuries and recovery.

My first major injury was a torn labrum in my shoulder, and there's absolutely no way I would have recovered without my PT. I also had surgery for chronic compartment syndrome in both my legs. Additionally, I have hypermobility syndrome, which caused two discs in my back to bulge. After no relief from cortisone shots or a chiropractor, I went to see a PT...and he was the only person who could ever help me. I truly love the work the PT's do and I love the science behind it. I would love to help people in that way.

So now, more specifically, I am truly interested in neuro PT. My passion is the nervous system (hence my degree in neuroscience). Even before I decided I wanted to explore PT, I have held an interest in helping those with neuromuscular disorders.

So here are my questions...

1. Are any of you also interested in neuro PT, an why?

2. I have a heavy research background, and I really want to do research in the field of neuromuscular disorders. Do a lot of PT's also lead research projects?

I am interested in neuro PT but also a few others such as women's health and wound care. With neuro I agree with what the other poster said about the mix. It can be challenging but one of the most memorable aspects of my observation experiences was with a man who had suffered a stroke and his eyes were fixated on one side. The therapist worked with him intensively and one day we got him to follow a caution cone with his eyes until he could just make it to midline for a second. I thought about how something seemingly so simple and that we all take for granted every day was such a challenge for him and how happy we all were for him to be able to do that, if only for a second.

As the previous poster also said lots of schools offer that DPT-PhD fast track. You'll find many professors in the school also do research so you may want to find one who works with neuromuscular disorders and see if you can assist. Also, there are schools that are more research based than others.

 

[PT2019Student]

You might want to check out the University of Washington. They have a good PT neuro program with a residency.

 

[blakn1]

Hello all! I recently made the decision to explore PT as a career path!
I have a couple questions that I wrote at the bottom of this post, so if you would like to skip through my short intro (I tend to write a lot), feel free 🙂

A little background (long story short)...I was originally pre-med, but ultimately decided that it wasn't for me. I hold a B.S. degree in Behavioral Neuroscience and graduated with a 3.9 GPA, distinction, and departmental honors. I have all the requirements for PT school except ANP (taking next year), the GRE, and shadow experience (I am going to start shadowing my PT on Thursday). I have been involved in sports (competitve Taekwondo mainly) all of my life, meaning that I have a lot of exposure to injuries and recovery.

My first major injury was a torn labrum in my shoulder, and there's absolutely no way I would have recovered without my PT. I also had surgery for chronic compartment syndrome in both my legs. Additionally, I have hypermobility syndrome, which caused two discs in my back to bulge. After no relief from cortisone shots or a chiropractor, I went to see a PT...and he was the only person who could ever help me. I truly love the work the PT's do and I love the science behind it. I would love to help people in that way.

So now, more specifically, I am truly interested in neuro PT. My passion is the nervous system (hence my degree in neuroscience). Even before I decided I wanted to explore PT, I have held an interest in helping those with neuromuscular disorders.

So here are my questions...

1. Are any of you also interested in neuro PT, an why?

2. I have a heavy research background, and I really want to do research in the field of neuromuscular disorders. Do a lot of PT's also lead research projects?

1) I am interested in neuro PT as well mainly because I am interested in motor control and its relationship with strength muscle recruitment in the lower extremities. Most importantly, I am interested in motor control and the biomechanics of movement. I did research with a research physical therapist at UCLA whose's specialization is on motor disorders and developmental disabilities such as Duchennes muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy.

2) Absolutely, I co-authored a publication recently with a group of brilliant research physical therapists at UCLA. We just published in the Journal of Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. The gait and motion analysis research lab where I was a research assistant at was led by a renowned research physical therapist, Eileen Fowler PT, Ph.D who is now the President of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. We used motion sensing technology and robots to facilitate motor control in children with developmental disabilities.

There are huge breakthroughs in research physical therapy. I plan on becoming a practicing PT and a research PT in the future. I am not limiting myself to just neuro PT research, I also want to learn more about others as well.

Your extensive research experience will be utilized! Search PubMed to find PT's who are leading research. They often work with MD's or amongst other research physical therapists.