Enhancing the Undergraduate Experience: A Student’s Perspective

The University of Southern California is one of the top educational institutions in the country, but it is important to note that even the best universities have room to better themselves. USC (pictured to the left) rightfully prides itself on its central mission, “the development of human beings and society as a whole through the cultivation and enrichment of the human mind and spirit,” and its principle means of accomplishing this mission include “teaching, research, artistic creation, professional practice and selected forms of public service.” Although it is not specifically mentioned, one of the major reasons USC is successful in accomplishing its central mission is its ability to change, adapt, and improve. As times change, the needs and desires of students, faculty, and society as a whole change, as well. These abilities help the institution adopt and grow, facilitating its students and faculty with the proper equipment to change with these times. The university is constantly searching for ways to better all aspects of the institution including curriculum, research, structure, staff, amenities, and so on. An example of this is the university-sponsored College Dean’s Prize, created to receive suggestions from students on how to better their educational experiences. The Dean’s Prize calls for participants to “think seriously about learning, be creative and daring, and inspire us.” With the prize as the inspiration for this post, I am proposing a drastic change to the undergraduate education in my field: to create a major that is dedicated to physical therapy.

Currently, USC only offers a “pre-professional emphasis” on physical therapy, which is another word for a track of prerequisite courses that students follow. Students who wish to pursue physical therapy in graduate school are forced to either pick a major of interest and follow the PT prerequisite courses or choose a major that is somewhat related to the field (such as kinesiology) and also follow the prerequisite courses. Either way, students are forced to take numerous classes that are irrelevant to their field, and often times, have trouble fulfilling their major requirements along with prerequisites within the regular four year period. The majors chosen do not offer any seminars, guest speakers, workshops, advisement, or anything directly related to physical therapy. The only thing these majors offer is help with structuring courses to fulfill the PT prerequisites, which in my opinion, inadequate. The courses that students take for prerequisites are all general science courses; there are no PT courses or even related courses. This puts students in a position that is very frustrating. They will only get a taste of what physical therapy is like in graduate school. College is when students should find themselves and find what exactly they want to do in life, while there is still time to go back and forth between career choices. If a student only gets a taste of physical therapy curriculum in there graduate school years, then what happens if they truly do not enjoy it? The student would have wasted their undergraduate years, and they would be forced to go back to school to study for another field. USC has the best graduate program for physical therapy in the country. With that being said, the graduate program has no connection or ties in any way to the undergraduate “emphasis.” I have approached counselors from the typical majors that PT students usually choose, and each counselor explained to me how they do not work at all with the graduate program at USC. In fact, they said that these two institutions are so separated that the graduate program does not even favor USC students over those from other universities.

The creation of a physical therapy major would not only solve the majority of these issues, but it will also provide a proper platform for the students who are interested in the field to build upon. The major should cover all of the basic science prerequisite courses, but it should also include a few basic physical therapy classes. These classes should at least be able to introduce the students to what they will be learning, and give them an idea of what their future might hold. Within the major, there should be at least a few required seminars. These seminars should educate students about this field and how it is evolving today. They also should address current issues that are surrounding the field, as well as issues that may affect it in the future, such as new technological advancements as well as ever-changing legislation. Along with the seminars, the major should have an internship requirement. There is no better way for a student to realize if this field is right for them than to actually work at a physical therapy clinic. This would put them into a real life situation where they will take in knowledge that can never be taught in a classroom, and it would help students build connections with clinics and physical therapists that may later hire them. . A counseling department dedicated to a physical therapy program is crucial; students would be able to receive assistance on their coursework, and in depth information on internships and graduate programs, which as of right now, is not existent. Finally, a connection would have to be made between the USC physical therapy graduate program and the undergraduate major, such as bringing in speakers and representatives. This would provide students with valuable insight and information, as well as a relative understanding of what is expected and required of them to get into the graduate program and prosper as a successful physical therapist.

Developing a physical therapy major would provide students with the fundamentals, proper groundwork, and education to prosper in their profession. Under the USC strategic plan, one of the core approaches in its vision for the University’s future is to “focus our educational programs on meeting the needs of qualified students worldwide, from undergraduates through continuing professional development. This commitment will guide our choices regarding pedagogy, instructional technology, curriculum, admissions, and support services.” The implementation of this major would truly exemplify USC’s strategic plan and will meet the needs of students from all over the world who are interesting in pursuing physical therapy as a career and in need of an undergraduate program that will prepare them for the graduate level. This would set the school apart from the rest of the educational institutions because it would be offering an undergraduate program that is rare. The undergraduate program could easily increase USC's academic excellence, status, and reputation, which is what USC’s strategic plan strives to achieve.

USC Honorary Degree: Scott Ward

With USC graduation commencement ceremonies fast approaching, this week’s blog post is dedicated toward my nomination for the prestigious honorary degree. We were faced with a challenge this week; we were to find an outstanding person in our field of study that not only deserves this nomination but truly exemplifies the characteristics that the University of Southern California strides to represent. I have chosen non other than the most influential and powerful man in the field of physical therapy, Scott Ward, for the doctoral degree in science.

The University awards these degrees to “honor individuals who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary achievements in scholarship, the professions, or other creative activities, whether or not they are widely known by the general public,” to “honor alumni and other individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the welfare and development of USC or the communities of which they are part,” to “recognize exceptional acts of philanthropy to the university and/or on the national or world scene,” and to “elevate the university in the eyes of the world by honoring individuals who are widely known and highly regarded for achievements in their respective fields of endeavor.” While I do agree with the majority of the criteria for this award, I have decided to strain away from using financial donations or contributions with any influence toward my nomination. I feel that these awards should be based on achievement rather than as a tool to say “thank you” to financial supporters of the University. In his comments about the honorary degree, James Freedman, president emeritus of the University of Iowa and Dartmouth College, noted the recent trend; the “purpose of honoring distinguished personal achievement has been widely modified.. to flatter generous donors and prospective benefactors.” I agree with his outlook on these nominees as being “ill-chosen,” and that this award should instead “celebrate distinguished and sublime achievement.”

Scott Ward is a perfect candidate for the honorary degree at USC, and a pinnacle of “distinguished and sublime achievement.” Ward (pictured to the right) is an accomplished physical therapist who always took an active role to advance the field of physical therapy as a whole. Ward received his BA in physical therapy in 1980 and has been very active in the field ever since. He joined the American Physical Therapy Association that very year. The APTA is a national organization that represents over 66,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students nationwide. The goal of the association is to further advancements in physical therapist education, practice, research, and to address current issues in or related to the field. Throughout his years in the association, Ward has held numerous positions and has worked his way up to becoming the president of the association just last year. The president of the APTA is arguably the most influential position that someone can hold in the physical therapy field. Ward has taken a proactive role in the field; since day one, he has been involved in research as well as countless case studies. Ward has focused his research toward physical therapy for burn-related wounds, and he has published countless papers on his case studies, research, and findings. He has always encouraged physical therapists to reach out of the field and take a proactive role in problem solving. In his acceptance speech for the presidency of the APTA, Ward commented, “I am looking forward to contributing to creative solutions for physical therapists to focus on evidence-based practice in delivering consistent, quality care and being proactive in networking with other organizations related to issues involving physical therapy.” Ward is an extraordinary character in the field; he is both an outstanding physical therapist and leader. Ward is not only the president of the APTA; he is the chair of the Rehabilitation Committee in the American Burn Association as well as the chair of the Division of Physical Therapy at the University of Utah, where he received his PhD in physiology. Ward values education greatly; this is evident in his own personal pursuit for the highest level of education (B.A., PhD, and ongoing research) as well as his years as a teacher of Physical Therapy in the University of Utah.

Ward has received many awards since his entry into the field in 1980. A few of the awards include APTA’s Lucy Blair Service Award, Utah Chapter of APTA’s Physical Therapist of the Year Award, and the Barbara Knothe Burn Therapists Achievement Award from the American Burn Association. Ward’s accomplishments are enough to qualify him for the honorary degree on its own, but it is his character and values that make him stand out as the perfect person to give a commencement speech to the graduating class. Ward would deliver a speech that will not only inspire, but will urge students to take a proactive role in whatever field they pursue. He would stress the importance of education, as well as furthering your knowledge as much as possible with your own research and studies. He would urge to challenge norms and go out and make changes. Ward has done just that since he began as a physical therapist; he has constantly sought out to work hard and make changes to better the field as a whole. He has worked his way from being an average physical therapist all the way up to the president of the APTA, and he has contributed so much through his research and countless studies. In response to Ward accepting the presidential position of the APTA, a member mentioned that “Scott brings a broad view of the physical therapy profession to his presidency… He will challenge both the APTA and the profession to achieve great things for physical therapist patients in the coming years.” In Ward’s twenty-seven years in the field, he has done just that, constantly challenging and advancing the field as a whole.

This I Believe: Familial Responsibility

Up until now, my posts have generally been directed toward innovations and advancements in the field of physical therapy. For this week’s entry, I am going to follow the steps taken by thousands of writers that took part in the This I Believe project and share with the world what it is I believe in, and how this belief affected my aspirations to become a physical therapist. This I Believe is a “national media project engaging people in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values and beliefs that guide their daily lives.” Simply stated, my belief in responsibility has led me to my career choice, which, in turn, sparked my interest in the field and led to the creation of this blog and all the posts within. Responsibility can be directed toward anyone or anything, but in this post I am going to concentrate on my belief in responsibility toward family.

Ever since I was a child, my parents have always pointed me in the direction of pursuing a career in medicine. They would always mention how my father (pictured to the left), grandfather, great grandfather, and so on have all been doctors and how it is the best field to go into. This pressure to become a doctor did nothing but push me further away from the profession. Not surprisingly, therefore, with the start of my college career, I majored in business. The subject interested me, and I loved the thought of becoming an entrepreneur. Needless to say, my parents were disappointed, but, at that time, I was too stubborn and immature to realize why exactly they were disappointed in me. It was not until the middle of the first semester of my sophomore year that my belief in responsibility truly formed and propagated.

At this point, my mother had already accepted my career choice outside of medicine. She sat me down to have a talk, and it was this talk that triggered my realization of my belief in responsibility to my family. My mother’s intent was not to convince me to go into medicine; it was just to inform me of the reality of the situation that we were in. She reminded me that we are all living a privileged life because of my father’s physical therapy clinics. She explained that the clinics’ success relies heavily on my father and his reputation. He puts his heart and soul into these clinics, and it has unfortunately taken a toll on his health. The reality of the situation was that my dad was aging, and his health was deteriorating. My mom was unsure of how long he could continue working as hard as he works to maintain these clinics, which are the source of financial support for our family. The reality of the situation was difficult to take in, but it was nothing but the truth. He no longer has the health or energy to continue running the business for much longer. The business would suffer greatly without someone to take it over and I am the only child. It was at this exact point in my life where I truly realized my responsibility and what I had to do. The combination of self-growth (age, maturity) and my mother’s talk allowed me to come to my belief.

I knew that at this point in time, I had to drop my immature and stubborn act and accept the responsibility to my family, specifically the responsibility to my father. I realized that the right thing to do was to pursue a career in physical therapy and ultimately help my father with the clinics. I finally made sense out of all his speeches about how he accomplished everything he did just for me. He started and developed these clinics so that one day I can become a physical therapist and take over from where he left off. I realized how monumental my father’s accomplishments truly were. He is an immigrant who has lived in the United States for only sixteen years. He left behind a surgical degree (and countless years of education to become a surgeon) in Russia to come to the United States in pursuit of a better life for our family. We came here with nothing, and my father had to start his education from scratch. I can only hope to one day comprehend the sacrifice and hardship that my father went through to get to where he is today. He worked very hard throughout the years and took a huge risk when he decided to leave his job and open his own practice. It all paid off in time, and I am thankful for everything that he has done for the better of our family. It is with my strong belief in responsibility toward my family that I made the decision to pursue a career in physical therapy. I feel responsible to help my parents with the business and allow them to rest easily knowing that all their hard work and sacrifice throughout the years to accomplish what they did with these clinics will not go to waste.

Robotics and Physical Therapy: Closer Than You May Think

Robotic technology is slowly making its way into the field of physical therapy. Two recent advancements exhibit the vast potential of robotics in therapy applications. The remarkable technology is offering hope to many patients suffering from spinal injuries and partial nervous system impairment, especially those who are recovering from a recent stroke. Stroke is the number one cause of adult disability; many stroke survivors are left with movement disabilities including weakness in limbs and muscles, partial or full paralysis, and the inability to move or walk. One of the more common disabilities is the loss of movement or the ability to grasp of the hands. A robotic therapy device was developed by a research team at the University of California, Irvine to treat these hand impairments. The device is named HOWARD, which stands for “Hand-Wrist Assisting Robotic Device” (pictured to the left and right). According to a press released just a few weeks ago, the device is designed to “help people regain strength and normal use of affected hands.” The robotic device is designed to wrap around the patients’ hands while they attempt to grasp and release various objects. The device works with a computer program that guides the patients through a physical therapy program. The device does not perform the whole motion for the patient; patients must first initiate the movement and the robot just assists and monitors. As Steven Cramer, a professor at UCI who was involved with this project, stated. “The HOWARD therapy isn’t passive; the patient has to jumpstart the program and initiate the motor command… but if the hand is weak and can only budge one-tenth of an inch, the robot helps to complete the task so the brain relearns what its like to make the full movement.” The studies that have been performed on this robotic device have had positive results. The study was performed on a number of people who recently suffered from a stroke that left their right hand functionally impaired. All patients, after a three week treatment program, improved their abilities to grasp and release objects. Their scores on the Action Research Arm Test (which measures the ability to perform real world tasks) rose by almost ten percent, and their scores on the Box-and-Blocks Test (which assesses skill as the patients move blocks in a given time) improved by twenty percent. The patients also developed a seventeen percent increase in the range of motion of their hands. The research showed that this brilliant application of robotics into physical therapy can be very effective. The device is currently being reworked and is going to be continuously tested, and it may one day become a regular in physical therapy clinics.

Another advance in robotic technology focuses on lower body rehabilitation. Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a robotic exoskeleton that targets lower body motor disabilities. The “exoskeleton” is a robotic device that is attached to patients’ lower limbs to aid them in their motor function (pictured to the left and right). An amazing attribute of this device is that it is controlled by the user’s nervous system. Muscles from patients who suffer from various neurological disorders or spinal injuries do not receive proper signals from the brain that stimulate movement, which causes the motor disabilities. Through the use of electrodes attached to the patient’s leg, the device is able to receive these signals transferred from the brain and translate them into movement by the exoskeleton. The exoskeleton is designed to function like an exterior muscle; when the signals reach the robotic device, it contracts along with the patient’s muscles. Daniel Ferris, a professor in movement science at the University of Michigan, described how the device works; “The artificial muscles are pneumatic. When the computer gets the electrical signal from the wearer’s muscle, it increases the air pressure into the artificial muscle on the brace… the artificial muscle contracts with the person’s muscle.” So far, the device has been tested on healthy subjects to analyze how it affected the movement and function of the lower limbs. Although the researchers do not plan to commercialize the device, their research provides a tiny glimpse to the vast potential of this device in physical therapy applications. The robotic brace can be used directly in physical therapy treatment sessions or indirectly by simply helping patients walk and move more effectively. It is exciting to imagine that this is just the start of advanced technology being applied into the medical field. Due to their proven effectiveness, it would not be much of a surprise to see robotic devices like the two mentioned earlier in physical therapy clinics all across the world within a few years.

Technological Advancements: Aiding or Replacing Physical Therapists?

This week, my blog entry is once again directed at exploring the blogosphere and commenting on two entries from outside blogs. The entries explore two technological advancements that may one day become standard in physical therapy. Technology is constantly evolving, which is why it is very important to stay updated on the latest advancements. The first entry discusses a new robotic surfboard that is being used to aide in physical therapy. The second entry explores a new robotic exoskeleton that performs physical therapy onto the person it is attached to. While they are both advancements that may one day be used in physical therapy, they differ in that the robotic surfboard assists the physical therapist, but the robotic exoskeleton replaces the physical therapist. My comments on the two entries can be found below.

Comment on “Virtual Surfing Used in Physical Therapy”

First of all, I believe this is a great technological advancement that has a very bright future in the physical therapy field. With its great range of motion and requirement of the user to exercise balance, the robotic surfboard appears to have great potential to be a very effective treatment tool. It is perfect for treating patients with lower body injuries, especially those with ankle and foot impairments. The robotic surfboard could bring fun and excitement to an otherwise dull and boring treatment room. Incorporating this device into treatment programs will probably not appeal to the elderly, but children and young adults will definitely opt for it. One of the key benefits to this device and the many devices similar to it is that it allows patients to concentrate away from the pain and more effort into the treatment. Patients would ultimately forget they are even in a treatment session which would make the treatment experience that much more enjoyable. I have to agree with you that this technology cannot be a replacement of the standard treatment/healing process; it can only assist it. This is a very crucial point because many people look at these technological advancements and think that they can replace standard physical therapy treatments. They can, however, be effectively incorporated into a treatment program that a physical therapist prescribes.

Comment on “Smart Tech to Cut Physiotherapy Waiting Times”

While I do see this as remarkable technology, it is hard to imagine that this piece of machinery can be used as a replacement for a physical therapy treatment with a physical therapist. This device is exceptional to say the least, and there are numerous potential applications of this device in aiding in therapy. The device can be of great value to therapists; they can treat patients without physically doing the treatment. They can strap the device onto the patient, dial in the proper settings, and continue to another patient while the device performs the treatment. It is in this manner that I agree that the device can cut waiting times for patients since more patients can be treated at once. I do not, however, agree that this device can be used in replacement to a physical therapy session with a doctor. The treatments need to be performed with a doctor around. The device can be incorporated into a therapy session, but it should not replace it. There are countless risks that I think are overlooked in the post. What if the patient gets hurt during treatment, what do they do with no doctor around? What if the device malfunctions and does something wrong; what is the patient to do? How can the patient make sure they are doing the right movements during the therapy? I believe it is necessary for this device to be used in conjunction with therapy sessions with a doctor in a medical office. This way the doctor is always around in case any problems occur, any questions arise, or just to make sure the treatment is going smoothly. Like I stated earlier, I do agree that this device can cut waiting times, but I don’t agree with the way it is proposed to do so. I do not believe it is right, nor safe, for treatment to be performed outside of a doctor’s office without a doctor present. Even if the device is used within doctors visits, wait times can still be cut because multiple patients can be treated at once. In my opinion, this is one of the many potential benefits of this new technology.

Therapy Caps: A Notion of the Past?

New legislation has been introduced that marked a watershed in the ongoing battle for the removal of Medicare therapy caps. The bill, titled the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2007, was introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives on January 31, 2007. The bill calls for a complete removal of the law that placed caps on Medicare outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology. The law is a huge stride for Medicare beneficiaries across the country; this is the first attempt at a permanent fix to the Medicare therapy cap problem. The therapy caps were originally introduced in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Besides obvious budget problems, one of the main reasons the caps were introduced was to fight against over treatment of patients by doctors, but many factors were overlooked with the introduction of the legislation. Legislation was passed in 2006 to put these caps into effect, but they also authorized Medicare to exercise an “exception process.” These exception processes involved extending treatment passed the caps “if they meet diagnostic and clinical criteria.” In December 2006, new legislation was introduced, the Tax Relief and Health Care Improvement Act, which extended the exception process for the year of 2007. These legislations were just temporary fixes for the problem.

The new bill calls for a permanent fix; it calls to completely wipe out the therapy caps. Scott Ward, the president of the APTA, commented that “passing this important legislation to completely repeal the therapy caps is the best long-term policy solution- rather than passing 1-year fixes.” Currently, the limits are set at $1,780 for physical and speech therapy combined and $1,780 for occupational therapy. What this means for patients is that once they reach this therapy cap, they are forced with the difficult decision of paying out of pocket for the treatments or avoiding the necessary treatments altogether. People with serious injuries who require extensive ongoing treatment are mostly affected by these caps, and avoiding necessary treatment may put them in the surgery room. As Ward stated, removal of the therapy caps “would eliminate the ongoing threat to seniors and individuals with disabilities who may have to pay out-of-pocket expenses or alter the course of their care by changing providers or facilities.”

The new legislation is the result of intensive efforts made by the AOTA (the American Occupational Therapy Association) as well as members of Congress. The bill is gaining wide support from both Republicans and Democrats across the Senate and House of Representatives. In the senate, the chief sponsors are Senators John Ensign (NV), Blanche Lincoln (AR), Ben Cardin (MD), and Susan Collins (ME). In the House of Representatives, the chief sponsors, led by Representative Xavier Beccerra of California (pictured above), are Representatives Phil English (PA), Mike Ross (AR), Chip Pickering (MS), and Roy Blunt (MO). Representative Ross (pictured to the right) stated “whether a person receives speech, occupational or physical therapy, it should be a decision made between a doctor and patient, not by accountants monitoring a set limit.” This is a crucial point and is one of the main reasons behind this new bill. The current “exception process” extension expires on December 31, 2007, and for the new bill to be addressed before then, the AOTA, along with other organizations, require considerable grassroots action in order to encourage members of Congress to support the new legislation. It is not going to be an easy journey, but if successful, it will mark the end of physical, occupational, and speech therapy caps for good.

Video Games and Therapy: Another Look

This week, my blog post is directed at commenting on two other blog posts from outside blogs. The two posts explore outside uses for video game technology by applying it into physical therapy. As a potential future physical therapist, this is a very important new topic as it may one day become a standard in physical therapy practice. I wanted to explore the blogosphere to find out what is being said about the concept of combining physical rehabilitation with technology that is generally used for pleasure and entertainment. In the first blog post, the author discussed how an engineering science student developed a physical therapy video game through a system which incorporates a modified Play Station 2 video game console, which was being used to help a young girl who suffers from hemiplegic cerebral palsy physically rehabilitate. The author of the second blog post explored the potential uses of the new video game system, the Nintendo Wii, which included weight loss and physical therapy. You can either follow the links to the original posts to see my comments or continue reading.

Comment on "Game Tech Proves Therapeutic for Young Girl":

The device created by William Li is not only remarkable, but I believe it holds a strong future in terms of being applied into physical therapy programs. In my research of the topic, there are similar machines all across the world being built and tested successfully. In Megan Sherwin’s case, nothing is more important than for her to keep her left arm and hand moving. The method that was proposed of putting her right arm and hand in a cast to encourage movement in the left is preposterous. That would basically immobilize the young girl since that is her only strong side that she uses to perform all her daily functions. The option of having the young girl perform therapy by playing a video game is probably much more appealing both to the girl and her family. This allows the girl to perform all her daily functions by using her strong side, while rehabilitating her weak side. This is a huge benefit to the device created by William Li and devices like it; it opens doors to new and exciting ways in which physical therapy can be approached.

Comment on "Is the Wii Really Good for Your Health?":

I believe it is very important to not downplay the Nintendo Wii’s fitness and therapy potential. The physical movement and exertion that the Wii provides should be looked upon as a benefit rather than a nuisance. The system’s design, which puts the user’s movements at the control of whatever they are playing, allows it to easily be adopted into a physical therapy setting. Although this advantage is mentioned in the post, I think it is important to recognize the far reaching benefits. In the future, physical therapists can come together with game developers and create video games for the Wii that are targeted at various physical therapy exercises. Because of the Wii’s popularity, the Wii has already found itself in millions of people’s households. Combining the fact that the Wii is already set up to be controlled by user’s motion and that it is very widespread among households really opens the door and makes it possible for a physical therapy application in the near future. The system does not have to be modified; the only thing that has to be done is that a game needs to be made. It is amazing to think that one day your physical therapist can actually prescribe you to play a video game on your Wii as part of your physical therapy!

Canines and Physical Therapy: A Successful Collaboration

Throughout the world, dogs are well known for their ability to help mankind in many ways. They have been used for hunting, tracking, search and rescue, assisting the deaf and physically challenged, and leading the blind among many other things. The bond between man and dog has been evident for thousands of years, but only until recently has the idea of dogs aiding in the physical rehabilitation of humans come about. Dogs all across the United States are being specially trained and used in conjunction with physical therapy programs. These type of dogs fall under the category of “therapy dogs” (pictured to the left). There are two categories in which therapy dogs help humans- through Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). A.A.A. are just simple programs in which people and animals interact. On the other hand, A.A.T. involves the animal actually playing a crucial role in a person’s emotional or physical therapeutic activities. This is an involvement of physical therapy.

There are many ways in which dogs can be utilized in these special physical therapy programs. The dogs can play a very simplistic role in which they just walk with the patient or just sit while the patient pets them (as you can see in the lower two pictures). A more complex role the dog can play is to perform specific motions with the patient or play various interactive games such as catch. Many patients believe that these activities do not even feel like physical therapy, rather just normal everyday activities. Glenda Hinton, a 63 year old patient at the Forsyth Medical Center, suffered from a stroke which left her right hand curled and stiff. A therapy dog was introduced to her, and, with her injured hand, she began to pet the dog by raking her hand along its back. Glenda was more worried about hurting the dog with her stiff hand rather than paying attention to the fact she was actually receiving physical therapy. Moving her hand in various motions became essential to her therapy. Another hospital which is currently experimenting with utilizing dogs within their physical therapy programs is the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana. For the past six months, a seven year old golden retriever has been incorporated into the physical therapy program at least twice a month for pediatric rehab patients. Phyllis Comeaux, director of pediatric rehab services at the hospital, pointed out a benefit to the program, “sometimes they don’t realize that what they’re doing is therapeutic… their focus is on the dog.” In a nearby hospital, Lafayette General Hospital, a similar program has been experimented with for quite some time. A 90 year old patient who was admitted for therapy in the hospital, Betty Sirkis, interacted with a therapy dog during one of her physical therapy sessions. Betty played a game of fetch with the dog, where she threw a tennis ball and it would then go to retrieve it. The various movements involved in this simple activity are once again crucial to her rehabilitation. A therapist at the clinic commented that “with the dog, they’re not thinking about what they can’t do.”

This type of therapy is specifically beneficial to younger patients. A head trainer of a team of therapy dogs, Melissa Kielbasa, stated “therapy dogs … provide both emotional and physical therapy for kids. These dogs like to play and snuggle, and they make kids feel good.” Younger patients are often distracted and unwilling to perform therapy. It becomes a task and something they definitely want to avoid doing. With a dog being involved in the program, the younger patients are more willing to participate in the sessions and put forth effort into them as well. As for patients of all ages, they respond more positively and enthusiastically when a dog is involved; it makes the exercises seem more interesting, attractive, and enjoyable. Patients are also distracted from the pain that is associated with many exercises that they have to perform. There are many benefits to dogs being used in physical therapy programs, and it is exciting to see what the future holds for this interesting merge.

Virtual Technology: A New Approach to Physical Therapy

The unlikely merge between computer technology and physical therapy has opened a door to a completely new outlook on rehabilitation. Many physical therapy clinics across the world are successfully experimenting with this new method of rehabilitation. This method involves performing therapy in a controlled, virtual environment which very closely mimics a video game. Not only do these systems vary in design, but they usually consist of a life-size video projection screen, speakers, sensors that attach to the patient’s body, and a very complex software system. Once the sensors are attached, the patients find themselves immersed in a virtual reality video game. Several “games” in this complex computer system target a variety of workouts and therapy programs for different patients. This system provides such an experience that some people often forget that they are in a physical therapy session. While patients participate in these games, they are working out their injured muscles and tissues through both simple and sometimes complex movements, which aid in their recovery. The “levels” of the games are workout routines set by the physical therapists, and the “points” that the patient receives are used to monitor progress. Many benefits are already being documented from the use of this new type of rehabilitation.

A report was conducted two weeks ago by the Fox News Network that discussed a teen by the name of Merril Backounds (pictured to the left), who received rehabilitation through one of these virtual gym programs. Merril suffered a sever ankle sprain while playing soccer that kept her out of the game for months. Her physical therapy was done at Cleveland Clinic, which calls itself “the world’s first virtual only gym.” Barry French, the creator of this virtual gym, argues that the gaming generation is addicted to video games and that this form of rehabilitation is nothing more than a life size game “good for the body.” To receive the proper therapy, Merril’s therapist programmed an exercise program, or level, into the computer system which was specifically designed to help strengthen her ankle. Merril attached a special belt which gave off an infrared signal that acted like a controller to a video game system. The belt communicated with the game and allowed the computer simulator to monitor her movements, as well as put her into the game. Some therapists argue that the problem with younger patients is that the therapy is a lot of work and it usually comes off as being boring. Merril commented that “this type of physical therapy was fun and felt more like a social event rather than therapy”. The virtual gym provided her with a speedy and enjoyable recovery, which often is not associated with typical physical rehabilitation.

Other benefits were shown in a report documented in mid December by MSNBC which involved another version of this virtual reality rehabilitation (pictured to the right). The computer system is found at the Chaim Sheba Rehabilitation Hospital near Tel Aviv, Israel. The system is designed and used to help disabled patients, many of whom were wounded during the war last summer with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. The system is very similar to the one found in the Cleveland Clinic; it is a virtual reality system in which the patient acts as the “joystick” to the video game. With twelve high speed infrared cameras, a moving platform that reacts to patient’s weight distribution, tiny sensors that are placed on the patients’ body, and a life sized 3-D projection screen, this $650,000 computer system should not be underestimated. The system forces patients to use damaged muscles while teaching them basic skills necessary to recover. Zvulun Muola, one of the patients whose legs are partially paralyzed, stated that the system “gives more confidence… it improves stability and helps the patient trust himself.” Doctors who use the system argue that it makes the rehabilitation process easier for the patient because it distracts them from the pain. They also concluded that the system can cut rehabilitation times. Another patient, Idan Borovski, commented that, “For one thing it was fun… You are actually in a game. You are playing. You don’t notice the pain and you can work harder.” This is the goal of the system; as Dr. Itzhak Siev-Ner, head of orthopedic rehab at Sheba, puts it, “the video game scenarios distract the patient from pain and involve more complex coordination than normal physical therapy. The system helps to strengthen muscles, to improve stability, balance, and to translate it to everyday life.” The future possibilities and applications for this technology are endless. Many new systems, just like the ones described, are being built all across the world. The future looks so promising that maybe one day these virtual reality rehabilitation systems will be standard equipment for physical therapy clinics worldwide.