Question for entering 1st Year students

[thorn22]

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Hey everyone. This is a random question I have for all of you that are starting a PT program either this Summer or in the Fall.

Do any of you plan on studying some Anatomy before your program begins? I know that where I will be attending, the University of Colorado, the 1st summer's Anatomy course is what usually demolishes people. I am just curious if anyone plans on trying to get ahead of the game, so-to-speak, or if you are just going to wait and take it head on at the start of your program.

Any thoughts?

 

[Bigshoguns]

I plan on having fun and relaxing my last semester of undergraduate. I heard from my friends and cousins, who have gone through either PT school or med school or are in it now, that anatomy is chill and you should relax now and study during. No point in stressing over it now, there is no cadaver you can look at, at the moment. I mean you can go over the bones and muscles etc, but you will have time during the semester to study for it.

Some people i know plan to review now or even buy books now and try to get an ahead start, which is great if you have the time... but you will have time during school to learn.

 

[mcc0037]

I've heard the same thing from other students and faculty about how gross anatomy will make or break you during first semester. I also heard, like Bigshoguns mentioned, that you'll have time to study and digest the material during the semester. I'm not going to lie, I did purchase a detailed anatomy coloring book (even though I don't feel very smart coloring in public) and detailed flashcards. I'm not going "balls to the wall" about it but I am making time to reacquaint myself with the material even though it will be nothing compared to the actual gross lab. I don't consider studying anatomy a hassle because I "want" to learn this. I'm still going to relax, play pick up sports games, have fun, read books that I actually like, and take random vacations. Once DPT school starts...ballgame!!! Season begins.

 

[CLGUY]

I had cadaver lab in my undergrad anatomy. I don't know how much more in depth the course will be for PT school. I also had a class "Anatomical Aspects in Athletic Training" in which we learned all the bony landmarks, ligaments, muscles (including origin, insertion and action), and how to palpate them. Unfortunately, I lost all my notecards of the OIAs during the four or five moves I've had since that class, so I'm re-writing them now. I've got the neck and shoulder done so far 🙂

 

[fallbackplan]

Yeah...don't do it. Cherish all of the free time you have. Soon enough you will be buried under stacks of books, buried in OINAV, Bones w/ respective landmarks, and other first year stuff.

You will be able to learn the material just fine during the semester in which it is taking place, you will just have to study 1-3 hours a day (depending largely on how you learn).

Bottom line...enjoy the free time and/or easy classes you have left.

 

[pwrtrainer]

...

 

[kdpt3]

I'm going against the grain on this one. The PT I work for was just telling me yesterday that he spent time studying the summer before school on the advice of others and it was well worth it when the term was in full swing. He said he drilled himself on origins and insertions and nerve roots... and that way he had a solid foundation when the term got in full swing. He said he's given that advice to another aide before me who took it and thanked him. I'm going to keep a balance, though. It's not like I'm going to spend my entire summer cooped up in a library and not have fun. I just think it'll make it easier when the time comes to really know it. I'd say my key word out of this is going to be "balance." PT school's going to be intense, so if I put some work in over the summer and it'll help keep me sane come Fall, why not...

 

[truthseeker]

I had cadaver lab in my undergrad anatomy. I don't know how much more in depth the course will be for PT school. I also had a class "Anatomical Aspects in Athletic Training" in which we learned all the bony landmarks, ligaments, muscles (including origin, insertion and action), and how to palpate them. Unfortunately, I lost all my notecards of the OIAs during the four or five moves I've had since that class, so I'm re-writing them now. I've got the neck and shoulder done so far 🙂

I did the same thing. My undergrad AT anatomy was no different, in fact almost identical to the PT gross anatomy. Best thing you could have done is lose your flash cards, that makes you do them again🙂

If you are looking for a backup anatomy text, consider the Primal series of anatomy CDs, they are awesome, expensive but awesome. they have quizzes, MRI references and anatomy images all 3D and rotatable. I wish I would have had these in PT school. Anatomy is a three-dimensional science and as you know, books and pictures are not. The 3-D renderings are very accurate and illustrative.

 

[Akiramay]

I too, am going to enjoy my summer while I can. I will occasionally look at some things for anatomy, but nothing too hardcore.

 

[xMerryx]

(I'm always in the middle)
I'm not in the school yet, so I'm thrilled that finally I'll have a summer off from school!!! However, I will like to go over my anatomy and kinesiology notes on more time. So, I plan to enjoy my summer (of course) but also go over the material. If you study at least an hour a day in the summer or maybe half morning some days, I don't think you'll be scarifying your relax time, Let's face it, we stress about school because of examinations, not studying.

 

[McFlojoDPT]

I would say to relax and enjoy your time off before the grueling time ahead. If you want to brush up on anatomy I would do it through kinesiology. Knowing the major muscle actions and nerve roots are a good start but don't overdo it, you aren't trying to pass your final for a class that hasn't even started yet. Netter's anatomy is a staple among many PT programs and is a great asset to anyone interested in the science. In the end, they wouldn't have accepted you if they knew you weren't going to succeed. You'll be fine.

 

[teamusaepee]

I am currently a first-year DPT student, and if I had to do it all over again I would have started reviewing anatomy as soon as I got my acceptance letter. My undergrad anatomy was weak at best and early in my undergrad career. By the time I started my DPT last summer it had been a good 4 years since I had A&P. I definitely struggled with it. It wouldn't have taken much effort/sacrifice to study some beforehand.

Unless you had an excellent and/or recent A&P class, I would get a copy of Netter's and start working on it. Emphasize spatial relationships (what is medial/lateral/superficial/deep to any given muscle/nerve/blood vessel, etc.) - IMHO it makes it easier to find on a cadaver. Don't give up a lot of your free time doing it, but some consistent effort now will definitely lower your stress level later.

 

[CLGUY]

Since I've seen a couple posts about Netters, I thought I'd post one about another book. I used "Trail Guide to the Body: How to locate muscles, bones, and more." Great illustrations, OIANs listed for all muscles, how to palpate muscles, ligaments, and bony landmarks, etc. I know all the students in my class (and probably the whole program) loved that book.