Hummel Physical Therapy

Academic Internship Carly Holthausen

August 2015 – December 2015

Physical therapy overview.

Physical therapists play an important role in today’s healthcare system. They are recognized as vital providers of rehabilitation,

habilitation, prevention, and risk-reduction services. These health care professionals work with patients of all ages to maintain, restore, and improve movement, activity, and health, enabling these individuals to have optimal functioning and quality of life, all the while ensuring

their safety and applying scientific evidence to provide efficient and effective care. Physical therapy is often considered a safe, meaningful,

and positive alternative to surgery and pharmaceutical treatment. A career in this profession is increasingly one of the most desirable

careers in the health care field in the nation.

http://www.hindscc.edu/departments/health_related_professions/pta/default.aspx

https://www.actx.edu/phys_therapist/index.php?module=article&id=17

http://nau.edu/chhs/physical-therapy/

Internship Introduction

This semester I had the invaluable opportunity of pursuing an student internship at a Hummel Physical Therapy. The following presentation will provide an overview of my experience

Hummel Physical Therapy

Hummel Physical Therapy is an independently owned, private physical therapy practice located in Seneca, South Carolina

Jeff Hummel is the owner and one of the two practicing physical therapists at the site

135E Eagles Nest Dr. Seneca, SC 29678(864) 882-7965

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/16811360/135-Eagles-Nest-Seneca-SC/

Hummel Staff.

Jeff Hummel, PT, Owner1986 Graduate of the Medical

College or Georgia

Kristi Haley, PT2005 Graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina

Facility. Hummel Physical Therapy is a well-designed facility with appropriate

equipment, machinery and adequate space for effective rehabilitation treatment

Besides a gym area and common treatment tables, the facility also includes private treatment rooms with e-stim and ultrasound machines, a room for traction therapy, employee offices, and room for laundering linens

Gym area

Private treatment room

Common treatment tables and equipment

Conditions Treated.

The staff at Hummel Physical Therapy is trained to treat a variety of physical conditions including:

They also perform rehabilitation services following:

• Total joint replacements• Tendonitis/bursitis• Nerve impingement • Extremity pain • Rotator cuff repair• Whiplash

• Sciatica• Back/neck pain• Plantar warts• Headaches• Neuropathy

• Adhesive capsulitis • Parkinsonism • Fractures• Arthroscopic surgery• Disc surgery • Diabetic neuropathy

• Fibromyalgia• Strokes • Sprains/strains• Degenerative disc disease• Osteoporosis • Vertigo

• Motor vehicle accidents • Sports injuries • Illness

• Surgery • Workmen’s compensation injuries

Internship Experience.

As a student intern, I was very limited as far a my duties and responsibilities in a physical therapy setting. Because of my lack of education and training in the field of physical therapy, a majority of my experience and learning opportunities were verbally and observationally based. Limitations included treating patients using TENS units, ultrasound,

whirlpool, massage, or dry needling techniques However, I was able to observe the professionals as they treated patients,

and subsequently picked up on techniques and modes of treatment

Intern Duties – Exercise Treatment

While I was limited to certain responsibilities in the physical therapy setting, there were still plenty of hands-on duties to keep me involved at my site

After the first few weeks of training and learning proper use of machinery, proper demonstration of therapeutic exercises, and correct medical terminology, I was able to walk patients through the exercise portion of their treatment on my own

Exercise Treatment Demonstration.

Here I am demonstrating an exercise with a theraband to strengthen the

muscles that work in external rotation. This is a common light

resistance exercise for patients with shoulder conditions.

The finger ladder is a tool used in strengthening muscles

in and around the shoulder both concentrically and

eccentrically.

The arm bike pictured here is mostly used for improving range

of motion in the shoulder, but could also be used as a cardio warm up for patients before beginning more strenuous

exercises. Here I am setting the resistance of the pedals for the

next patients’ use.

Here I am demonstrating a wall stretch, beneficial and common

in treating patients for lower back pain. In performing this

stretch, it is important patients look straight ahead as to not

strain their neck.

Intern Duties – Modality Preparation Part of my responsibilities as a student intern working in a physical

therapy setting included preparing hot and cold packs for patients and refilling ultrasound lotion bottles

<<< Here I am preparing a low back

hot pack for a patient. Moist heat therapy is

often used in conjunction with e-stim and massage therapy.

Moist heat aids in heats penetration to the

muscles, and often times patients reported

that it provided the most pain relief.

Ultrasound lotion is used >>>on the head of the probe to aid in transmission of waves through the skin. This type of therapy has been shown to increase tissue relaxation, local blood flow, and scar tissue breakdown. Sound waves pass through skin and cause vibration of the local tissue that initiates a deep, sensationless heating locally.

Intern Duties – Charts and Case Study Managing patient charts (under careful supervision of my preceptors)

was also one of my responsibilities as an intern. Documented completed patient exercise and subjective assessments (i.e.

pain level and other complaints) Printed and filed patient charge slips and home exercises sheets Performed a scientific case study using an individual patient chat

This is me filing a patient chart after the completion of his physical therapy encounter.

Treatment Processes Electrical Stimulation Pictured is one of the electrical stimulations units used as part of therapeutic treatment at Hummel PT. The most common uses of electrical stimulation are for acute pain management and the reduction of swelling. Most often at my site, e-stim was used in conjunction with hot or cold packs on knee, shoulder, neck, and low back pain patients. It works in many different ways including: stimulating muscles to contract; stimulating nerves to decrease pain; increasing blood flow to speed healing and reduce inflammation; stimulating cells to reproduce and speed healing; and improving the flow of medication through the skin.

Treatment Processes (con’t) TractionSpinal traction is a form of decompression therapy that relieves pressure on the spine. It is often used to treat herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, and many other back conditions. Both cervical and lumbar traction are treatment options available for patients at Hummel Physical Therapy. Spinal traction works by pulling the vertebrae apart from each other. The idea is to create more space for nerves where they exit the spinal column or to relieve pressure on the cartilage disks between the bones or on the small spinal joints themselves. Pictured is the traction treatment table at Hummel set up for cervical traction. While I was not allowed to practice this type of treatment on patients, I was able to observe and talk to patients about their experience with this type of treatment. I discovered that most patients enjoyed this type of treatments, especially when combined with moist heat.

Treatment Processes (con’t) Dry needlingDry needling is a growing form of treatment in the world of physical therapy. Before interning at Hummel Physical Therapy, I had never heard of such treatment. Because of its apparent novelty, I decided to conduct research of my own on the practice. Trigger point dry needling, or TDN, is effective in treating conditions such as arthritis, nerve irritation, muscular strain, ligament strains and herniated discs.  It has been termed “dry” needling because there is no solution injected into the body. In fact, it is the needle itself and the effects it produces within the tissue that is the treatment. When the small needle(s) is inserted into a trigger point, it can cause a minute muscle spasm in that location. This spasm, called a local twitch response, essentially tricks the brain into stimulating the body’s anti-inflammatory effect which helps break up the pre-existing cycle of pain in that area.

These are the needles utilized for treatment at my site. Upon completion of my fieldwork at Hummel, I had seen dry needling treatment performed on patients with hand, neck, foot, neck and back pain.

Conclusion.

My internship experience at Hummel Physical Therapy has definitely been an enlightening and rewarding one. I have been exposed to a side of physical therapy that I never have before. Previously, all of my physical therapy experience has been on the Sports Medicine and Pediatrics side. My internship has exposed me to new kinds of injuries and conditions, different modes of treatment, and a new demographic population to interact with. I feel as though this fieldwork has not only bolstered my communication and research skills, but also my confidence in my ability to pursue and education and a career in this field.

I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to work with such knowledgeable and experienced professionals. While I was limited in my interactions with patients, my preceptors made sure that my experience was a positive and educational one. I feel as though my time at Hummel Physical Therapy did not only reinforce my educational and career goals, but also prepared me for pursuing these goals by strengthening necessary skill sets and providing me with a unique hands-on experience.

Works Cited|Resources

"Electrical Stimulation: Opinions of Sports Medicine Experts | Dr. David Geier - Sports Medicine Simplified." Dr. David Geier. N.p., 23 June 2012. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.

Postollec, Mike. "E-Stim." E-Stim. Advance HealthCare Network, 18 Jan. 1999. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.

Saunders, H. Duane. "Lumbar Traction." JOSPT. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 1979. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.

http://www.studentscholarships.org/salary/359/physical_therapists.php http://www.jblearning.com/samples/0763740691/40691_CH01_FINAL.pdf