Second thoughts about going into PT

[maddenbr]

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I'm starting to have second thoughts about going into PT. I'm finishing up pre-req classes and should be done by Fall 2012. Currently working as a PT aide and I do love the field. I'm just really concerned about risk of injury. One of the PT's at work has been having problems with her hands for the longest time. I'm kind of a small girl, but I heard that size/strength doesn't really matter as long as you know how to apply good body mechanics. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from going into the field, but I'm just really starting to second guess my choice of going into PT. I don't want to have to worry about my body if i were to go into this career in the long run. I was thinking of maybe doing OT or PA (since pre-reqs are pretty much similar, and i'm already going down that route), but I just don't want to worry about having to volunteer to get more hours for OT school, since I've already mostly gotten my vol hours for PT school. I was planning on applying by Fall next year, so I still have time to decide. It's just something that's been bothering me lately, whaa! I thought I found what I wanted to do as a career, but the whole hands/injury thing is what's holding me back from really really wanting to go into PT. Anyone feel the same way? Any advice?

 

[noyceguy]

I'm starting to have second thoughts about going into PT. I'm finishing up pre-req classes and should be done by Fall 2012. Currently working as a PT aide and I do love the field. I'm just really concerned about risk of injury. One of the PT's at work has been having problems with her hands for the longest time. I'm kind of a small girl, but I heard that size/strength doesn't really matter as long as you know how to apply good body mechanics. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from going into the field, but I'm just really starting to second guess my choice of going into PT. I don't want to have to worry about my body if i were to go into this career in the long run. I was thinking of maybe doing OT or PA (since pre-reqs are pretty much similar, and i'm already going down that route), but I just don't want to worry about having to volunteer to get more hours for OT school, since I've already mostly gotten my vol hours for PT school. I was planning on applying by Fall next year, so I still have time to decide. It's just something that's been bothering me lately, whaa! I thought I found what I wanted to do as a career, but the whole hands/injury thing is what's holding me back from really really wanting to go into PT. Anyone feel the same way? Any advice?

Yes, my advice is not to be such a scared little bunny rabbit. This is PT we are talking about, not coal mining.

 

[goyo1010]

I'm starting to have second thoughts about going into PT. I'm finishing up pre-req classes and should be done by Fall 2012. Currently working as a PT aide and I do love the field. I'm just really concerned about risk of injury. One of the PT's at work has been having problems with her hands for the longest time. I'm kind of a small girl, but I heard that size/strength doesn't really matter as long as you know how to apply good body mechanics. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from going into the field, but I'm just really starting to second guess my choice of going into PT. I don't want to have to worry about my body if i were to go into this career in the long run. I was thinking of maybe doing OT or PA (since pre-reqs are pretty much similar, and i'm already going down that route), but I just don't want to worry about having to volunteer to get more hours for OT school, since I've already mostly gotten my vol hours for PT school. I was planning on applying by Fall next year, so I still have time to decide. It's just something that's been bothering me lately, whaa! I thought I found what I wanted to do as a career, but the whole hands/injury thing is what's holding me back from really really wanting to go into PT. Anyone feel the same way? Any advice?

This is all up to you. You will learn techniques in and build your skills in your PT school classes about this type of stuff like applying correct biomechanics and getting feedback to ensure not only the patient's safety, but your safety as well. The PT may have underlying patholgies that have been present but just exacerbated by her use of her hands, e.g. OA or RA.

There are a few small girls in my class and they haven't had a problem yet, well maybe except trying to lift me in a two-man lift or transferring me via drawsheet (I'm about 198 lbs) lol. I'm not sure, but one of them is either osteopenic or has osteomalacia due to the medication she's taking.

 

[thekman]

Yes, my advice is not to be such a scared little bunny rabbit. This is PT we are talking about, not coal mining.

99% of the OP's patients won't be coal miners either, but they'll still present with injuries. It's an issue that we all have to consider; almost all of the PT's I've worked with have half-joked about developing OA down the road.

I've thought about it quite a bit and the risk is worth it for me. As PT's, we'll just need to be aware of proper body mechanics throughout treatment. And we'll be in a great position to address our own problems, should they arise.