Here is an inspiring video about a bride fulfilling her dream after a lot of hard work, I am sure. As PT’s we get to help people fulfill their dreams, one step at at a time. (You may shed a tear now…) Click “read the full story” below, then Click here to watch the video.

I have been following The PT Project for sometime now since there is nothing good on tv tonight I figured now would be a good time to write about them. I mean I’m sooooooooo busy normally.

What makes the PT Project cool and unique is that the majority of their content comes from volunteers, which brings a nice mix to articles they publish.

They cover a variety of topics ranging from things related to clinical practice, practice management, stuff for students, stuff for patients, continuing education, videos, and so much more!

Below is a little excerpt from their about page:

The Physical Therapy (PT) Project is a unique initiative dedicated to the development and advancement of physical therapy professionals within the United States, as well as throughout the world.

The PT Project was developed to strengthen and improve the entire physical therapy industry by creating a resource where quality information, case studies and medical research is shared among those professionals within the industry that are dedicated to providing the best quality care for patients. This is about physical therapists teaching other physical therapists so that everyone, including the public, benefits from the expanded knowledge and information.

I read something on their facebook awhile back that I feels like should be repeated.

[The PT Project] Needs help with the running of the website. We always need good content, editors, and help rounding up content and formatting the monthly newsletter. Email jon@theptproject.com – if you could help. We don’t sell ads on the site to preserve integrity – that means there’s no money to keep it going – and we rely on volunteers.

I think it’s safe to say we have a decent amount of visitors each month, so hopefully this little shout out helps a bit! If not I will buy them a cupcake. A cupcake you ask? Yes, that’s right! Why you then ask? Because they are so delicious and I am tightwad.

Their facebook page has a ton of useful stuff as well and can be found here

I definitely think The PT Project is a site that should be bookmarked!  So do it! Peer pressure!!!!

I ran across this little gem the other day that lists different areas to specialize as well as links to some websites where you can find information about these areas.

I figured I would pass it along to all my rehab student friends.  Here you go!

Acute Care/ICU http://www.acutept.org/

Animal Rehabilitation

• http://www.utc.edu/Faculty/David-Levine/Veterinary.HTM#LinksGeneral
• http://www.orthopt.org/sig_apt.php
• http://www.canineequinerehab.com/the…ofessional.asp
• http://www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/rehab/home.html
• http://caninerehabilitation.com/index.html
• http://www.animalptcanada.com/

Aquatic http://www.aquaticpt.org/

Craniofacial

• http://www.aaop.org/
• http://www.cranio.com/index.htm

Cardiopulmonary http://www.cardiopt.org/

Education http://www.aptaeducation.org/

Federal http://http//www.federalpt.org/ (Link may be faulty)

Health Policy & Administration www.aptahpa.org

Geriatric

• http://www.geriatricspt.org/
• Osteoporosis SIG

Neurology http://www.neuropt.org/

Spinal Cord Injury
· http://www.neuropt.org/index.cfm?obj…32D7C61E90E48D

Stroke
· http://www.neuropt.org/index.cfm?obj…A3FB61AB6959F9

Brain injury
· http://www.neuropt.org/index.cfm?obj…393C2DF051C032

Degenerative diseases (ALS, MS, PD, etc.)
· http://www.neuropt.org/index.cfm?obj…7EBE2528801C2F

Oncology http://www.oncologypt.org/csm08/index.cfm

Hospice & Palliative care:
· http://www.oncologypt.org/sigs/hospice.cfm#1

Orthopaedic http://www.orthopt.org/

Occupational Health
· http://www.orthopt.org/sig_oh.php

Hand
· http://www.handrehabsection.com/
· http://www.htcc.org/
· http://www.asht.org/

Foot & Ankle
· http://www.orthopt.org/sig_fa.php

Performing Arts
· http://www.orthopt.org/sig_pa.php

Pain Management
· http://www.orthopt.org/sig_pm.php

Manual Therapy
· http://www.aaompt.org/
· http://www.naiomt.com/
· http://www.ifomt.org/ifomt

Prevention Health & Wellness SIG
Pediatric http://www.pediatricapta.org/

• Adolescents & Adults With Developmental Disabilities SIG
• Early Intervention SIG
• Pediatric Section Sports-Fitness SIG
• Sports – Pediatrics SIG
• School-based Physical Therapy SIG
• Neonatology SIG

Private Practice http://www.ppsapta.org/

Research http://www.ptresearch.org/

Sports http://www.spts.org/
(Most require membership to view)

• Athletes w/ Disabilities SIG
• College, University and Professional Sports SIG
• Emergency Resp. SIG
• Female Athlete SIG
• Golf and Golf Performance SIG
• Knee SIG
• Shoulder SIG

Vestibular/Balance

• http://www.neuropt.org/index.cfm?objectid=95F4846F-E1B4-9807-640A5A93383FD3C6
• Balance & Falls SIG

Women’s Health

• http://www.womenshealthapta.org/
• http://www.ioptwh.org/

Wound/Burn Unit/Electrophysiology

• http://www.aptasce-wm.org/
• http://www.burntherapist.com/

You can view this information and all other associated posts by clicking here.

Well, if you are in or near Oregon and you have been rejected by one PT school after another, you have another option.  George Fox University has plans to begin their DPT program in the fall of 2012.

This will make GFU the second physical therapy program in the state and an addition to the few in the surrounding states.

The school is currently searching for professors and will soon apply with Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).  GFU plans on beginning with a first class of 30 students.

To read more about the program, you can visit the school website at: http://www.georgefox.edu/physical-therapy/.

If you are a visual learner like myself, you might enjoy this little gem I ran across while researching strokes.  It mainly provides general information and associated photos with signs and symptoms of a stroke and what will follow afterwards.

If you would like to view this visual guide to the stroke, click here.

I am sure that everyone of us has heard of working our core. The question is why are core exercises so important? Are the guys in the gym with rippling six packs an example what we mean by core stability?

Surprisingly, most of Americans (including the ones with ripped abs)  are at risk of low back injuries in the future. These core muscles include small intricate connections of muscle within the spine along with the larger strap like muscles that surround the spine and anterior portion of the abdomen. Read the full story

The National Institute of Neurological  Disorders and Stroke have given new light to the fact that patients who participate in intense physical therapy at home show the same amount of improvement compared to using expensive high tech body weight supported treadmill devices.

These researchers also demonstrate that these patients continue to improve walking ability up to a year following the initial stroke. This is yet another pat on the back for those of us in PT who work so hard with patients during the recovery. Neuroplasticity is a very slow and sometimes agonizing process for the therapist and patient. Read the full story

Recently I have just finished reading a book entitled Body By Science which was written by Doug McGuff M.D. and John Little. All of the chapters within the book are backed by research and the research articles are listed at the end of the chapters.

This was a very interesting read for anyone interested in the fitness realm. We have all been taught the basic strategy of weight training a body part every other day and mix in some cross fitness cardio somewhere in between. Well these guys take the latest research and really put some theories to the test. Lets dive in and take a closer look to see what kind of gold nuggets we can dig up. Read the full story

I have been sitting here going through my review for the NPTE. I know that many of us would rather live in the world of muscle and bones, however without the neurological anatomy providing the hard wiring for all those muscle and bones we wouldn’t function at all.

This is why I have decided to include a little neurological anatomy review to refresh those of us who tend to dwell in the realm of Orthopedics.

I heard that groan !…. Trust me its not as bad as it sounds. Read the full story

Here is a list recently released by AOL of the most secure jobs in 2011.  It is no surprise that health care jobs are near the top as they have been in recent years past.

So I’m sure you’re wondering where physical therapist is on this list.  Well, our profession ended up number two just behind nurses.  With unemployment rates currently over ten percent, it is nice to know that our jobs are continuing to stay secure.

To read this article in its entirety, click here.