Nonconventional PT - Working "Outside the Box"

[deleted699287]

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Hello,

I feel like physical therapists develop a plethora of skills and knowledge that can be utilized in many different ways. I was trying to figure out some nonconventional, outside-the-box ideas that physical therapists can do to supplement their more conventional work. I have seen some positions where PT's can do treatment and research. I have seen some clinics use yoga, personal trainers, tai chi, etc. to supplement their treatments. If done well, I am sure these things can help with treatment and also increase profitability. I have also thought about after-school programs to improve physical activity with students, teaching groups of elderly about their conditions as treatment and/or prevention, etc. I think that PT's are in a unique role where they can also do a lot of preventative intervention in communities. I wanted to come here and reach out to this community to ask you:

What are some nonconventional, outside-the-box ways to use your skills/knowledge as a PT?

All replies are appreciated! Thanks in advance.

 

[engmedpt]

This is a pretty personal marketing question youre asking. Youll have to research a lot online for the PT journals that are pumping out outcome based approaches supported by stats and EBP. Yoga and those practices youre talking about are good honestly. Just make sure when learning your approaches to patient care, youre citing evidence backed by science. For example, if increasing someone's tidal volume and focusing on expiration during strenuous exercise that is unpleasant is pushed, then that person will be engaging their parasympathetic system more and balancing their sympathetic system and stress. It may make stressful exercise more tolerable and lead to better outcomes. A physician might call you a hippie since theyre not popping a narcotic...........but it actually works. You can look up literature on that.

Im about to start and honestly what I've learned is this: this profession gives you the extra time to explain why things work to patients.....so keep every bit of evidence for therapeutic modalities or exercise and outcomes on your laptop for validity and job security throughout school and into your career. The public perception of many practices only sees the outside perspective without understanding the science of why things work. It's up to you to explain those things for the health of patients and job validity.

............If you want preventative then check out diabetic neuropathy. If you can get patients more active and subtely influence habits you can help them avoid nastiness like that. Again though, save all evidence on your laptop for validity.

 

[Azimuthal]

ADA home remodeling/construction consultation

 

[DesertPT]

Interesting article in PT in Motion about occupational ergonomics consulting. might require some additional training though, and I'm not sure how you'd market yourself or find a position.

 

[Azimuthal]

Interesting article in PT in Motion about occupational ergonomics consulting. might require some additional training though, and I'm not sure how you'd market yourself or find a position.

CEAS I/II/III or CEES

A lot of safety positions look for an ergonomist background, OT/PT preferred or desirable.

 

[deleted699287]

Thank you to everyone that replied. It gave me a lot to think about.

Does anyone have experience or knowledge about physical therapy clinics that also have gyms and fitness programs as part of their clinic model? Such as fitness programs targeted towards older, younger, people with OA, people with disabilities, etc.

One clinic I shadowed at during undergrad (http://mettlercenter.com/) had a PT clinic/gym setup with a more "whole life fitness" approach that I found intriguing. It was very different from the traditional outpatient, such as an Athletico I shadowed at, and it makes me wonder what other models are out there.

 

[engmedpt]

^Many partner with gyms for business

 

[Azimuthal]

Thank you to everyone that replied. It gave me a lot to think about.

Does anyone have experience or knowledge about physical therapy clinics that also have gyms and fitness programs as part of their clinic model? Such as fitness programs targeted towards older, younger, people with OA, people with disabilities, etc.

One clinic I shadowed at during undergrad (http://mettlercenter.com/) had a PT clinic/gym setup with a more "whole life fitness" approach that I found intriguing. It was very different from the traditional outpatient, such as an Athletico I shadowed at, and it makes me wonder what other models are out there.

Many hospital based OP clinics are expanding to include lifestyle gyms.