By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Physical therapists and traveling physical therapists are in great demand by all ages and types of patients in many different clinical settings from home, to assisted living and long term care facilities, clinics, and of course in hospitals. A career in physical therapy is widely considered to be one of the most, solid “recession proof” paths that a new college graduate or an individual in career transition can embark on, especially in this unstable economy.

But, according to some including the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), there is still more awareness to be gained about the importance of physical therapists and travel physical therapists, and increasing patient access to these skilled rehabilitation therapy providers. Earlier this year in May, two hundred therapists, PT assistants and students of the profession converged on Capitol Hill to make lawmakers aware of how critical it is for all patients to have better access to physical therapy services. The group was compromised of APTA members. The three key issues of the day were: removing therapy caps on Medicare part B outpatient rehabilitation services, benefits of direct access to PT services and the importance of academic debt repayment for physical therapy program graduates those chose to practice in underserved areas where they are needed the most.

Similar issues are currently at the heart of the national health care reform debate. These issues include raising public and lawmaker awareness about the important role taken on by health care providers, the challenges the system faces with distributing providers across the country where they are most needed, and tackling reimbursement challenges. It is important for the APTA and their physical and physical therapy travel job holders, as well as all health care providers to ensure that their voices are heard in this game changing debate.  To learn more about travel pt jobs, visit our website.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

As an orthopedic nurse, I saw for myself the thriving cottage industry that is total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. What alarmed me, was the age differential in TKR surgery patients and total hip replacement (THR) patients. While relatively older individuals were the classic THR candidates, I saw younger to middle age folks routinely going under the knife to have their fragile, worn out, cartilage depleted knees replaced, bionic style. The most common reasons for this include obesity, a hyperactive lifestyle of repetitive use (athletes). These reasons in younger patients, along with aging of course, are making osteoarthritis a more and more common occurrence, with approximately 500,000 TKR’s done in the U.S. annually.

Physical therapists and traveling physical therapists have always been one of the most important players in a patient’s recovery and rehabilitation from total knee replacement procedures. Now, ongoing research is finding that the faster and more aggressively that physical therapists rehab these patients, the better their outcomes. A study published in Arthritis Care and Research showed that the patients who worked with their therapists on progressive strength training had the most function restored in their legs and fastest. This is a technique that does not reduce range of motion and does not cause increased swelling or pain (the issues that prevented such an aggressive approach before, primarily keeping patients on bed rest of non-ambulatory). Study participants showed a 53% increase in stair climbing speed, 32% increase in walking time and distance and 70% increase in quadriceps muscles strength.

As America ages, continues its battle of the bulge, and as weekend warriors continue to underestimate the fragility of their joints, physical therapist and traveling physical therapy job holders will play more and more of a vital role in health care. For traveling physical therapists, these unprecedented job opportunities are coupled with the opportunity to travel and work in dream destinations across the country.

Source: CBS News

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Physical therapists are needed across a range of specialty areas and departments in hospitals. Intensive care units (ICU’s) are one of the places where PT’s and traveling physical therapists on physical therapy travel job assignment are needed the most. Research and studies are now showing the benefit of early physical therapy in the rehabilitation of critically ill patients in the ICU.

A University of Chicago study showed that patients who underwent physical and occupational regimens of exercise and mobilization within 72 hours of being placed on a ventilator, experienced improved levels of independent function by time they were discharged from the hospital. Patients receiving physical therapy interventions also experienced more days off of ventilators. ICU patients frequently experience long term complications after surviving a life threatening illness, such as weakness and neuropsychiatric diseases. Rehabilitation therapy interventions can help prevent these complications. The interventions in the study included passive range of motion exercises in the extremities of unresponsive patients and in alert patients, assisted range of motion exercises while still in bed. The physical and occupational therapy interventions then progressed to sitting up in bed and performing balance activities, activities of daily living, sitting and standing transfers and eventually ambulation.

The study revealed that there are benefits to incorporating physical and occupational therapy in the treatment of ICU patients. Therapy interventions help to reorient patients who have been sedated on a ventilator. Assisting patients to ambulate early in the ICU led to a decrease in muscle atrophy and an increase in independent function. Traveling physical therapists and travel occupational therapy job seekers with an interest in assisting ICU patients should contact a travel recruiter today to check on the availability of assignments in this area.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

I recently had my first golf lesson by my significant other. His major critique was that I should stop swinging the club more like a baseball bat (what can I say, it’s my favorite sport). Other than that, there was no serious damage done and no injuries or pulled muscles that would send me screaming to a doctor or in, increasingly more cases of sports injuries, a physical therapist.

Many physical therapists and traveling physical therapists are likely to see an increase in golf related injuries this time of year, due to that sport’s peak popularity in the summer when the sun is shining and the lush greens start to beckon. When the amateur golfer, especially the “weekend warrior” golfer, is not in proper shape, they are in danger of sustaining a variety of injuries from the swing of the club. One bad swing (not “bad golf game” bad either) can lead to lower back, shoulder, knee and hip injuries. This is because one golf swing greatly multiplies the stress that the body weight places on the spine.

I credit my injury-free day to some good luck and also to my regular fitness routine, which incorporates total body conditioning. This is important in the sport of golf, which uses basically every major muscle group in the body, from quads, gluts and abs to delts, pecs, triceps and biceps. Physical therapists and travel pts can cite evidence of this in the types of specific injuries seen in golfers including: back pain, tennis or golfer’s elbow, shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome (from repetitive use), tendinitis, knee pain, wrist impaction, tendon subluxation and hand and wrist fractures. Physical therapists, traveling physical therapists (especially ones on attractive assignments to golf resort areas), and others working in sports and fitness training, recommend a good solid regimen of stretching before play and a fitness regimen in between that includes core work, squats and push-ups. Happy golfing!

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

When I was first diagnosed with scoliosis as a young teenager, chiropractic “exercises” were initially prescribed for me, in lieu of a brace or other more traditional care. This was largely because my mother was a long time chiropractic patient and fan of this alternative medicine practice. I remember the exercises basically as variations of bending at the waist. I have nothing against chiropractic medicine, but the exercises did not work and a few years later I ended up undergoing Harrington Rod surgery to correct my much more severe curvature. The exercise regimen I received after the surgery by my physical therapist, however, was incredibly effective in strengthening the muscles around my new hardware and improving my flexibility.

The “surgery vs. brace vs. other” treatment solutions for scoliosis have been debated for several decades. Physical therapists and traveling physical therapists may also find themselves involved in that debate. A physical therapy method called the “Schroth Method,” developed in Germany during the 1960’s, is a sequence of targeted exercises and posture intended to slow or halt the curvature of the spine caused by scoliosis. The physical therapist works with the patient while they are sitting, lying down and hanging from a bar. The idea is apparently to reprogram the body’s natural symmetry and ultimately reduce pain, improve posture and prevent the need for surgery.

You may guess correctly that I personally have my doubts about the effectiveness of procedures like this. However, as physical therapists and traveling physical therapists I would like to hear from you and get your take on such “alternative” scoliosis treatments.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Kat Sanders

The job outlook for physical therapists (PT) has never been better, what with the advances in medical science increasing the life spans of older people and improving the prospects of survival for accident victims and babies with chronic conditions and diseases. A PT is a god-sent blessing to people who need their services because of the immense contribution they can make in improving the quality of life of people who need rehabilitation or occupational therapy. They play a large role in regulating and minimizing their pain and in helping them get back to normal life or live as normally as possible.

A qualified PT must graduate from an accredited physical therapist education program (a Master’s or Doctoral degree) in accordance with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education and be licensed according to the requirements in the State he or she chooses to practice in. Besides this, they are required to continue their professional development through continuing education courses and workshops in order to maintain licensure.

Physical therapy job opportunities and physical therapy travel jobs are usually available in hospital and home settings for rehabilitative, therapeutic and orthopedic care. According to the US News & Career Report, the employment of PTs is expected to grow much faster than the average for all other occupations until the year 2014. While hospitals remain the largest employers of therapists, jobs are aplenty in private homes, nursing care facilities, offices of physicians and corporate offices (to develop exercise programs and teach safe work habits to employees in order to reduce injuries). Some therapists prefer to go into business on their own and freelance at various hospitals, adult day care centers, home health centers, rehabilitation centers and private homes, as and when their services are needed. Others choose to enter the field of consultation or teach in schools and colleges; a small number also choose to dedicate their lives to research.

If you’re looking to travel and see new places, a career as a traveling physical therapist could just be the opportunity you’re looking for. When your reputation is well established, you could gain employment in various parts of the country and work at jobs that pay well, provide you with decent accommodation, and make it worth your while with medical benefits, relocation allowances and other incentives.

You can expect to earn around $50,000 a year at the entry level and go on to make as much as $95,000 with experience and skill gained with the passing of the years. The average salary for physical therapists is around $78,000.

So if you’re good with people and are able to treat them with kindness and patience and help them cope with and get over their physical disabilities, you could check out the physical therapy profession – it could be your cup of tea.

This article is written by Kat Sanders, who regularly blogs on the topic of physical therapy assistant schools at her blog Physical Therapy Blog. To contact Kat, visit her website.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

If an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure than physical therapists, occupational therapists and traveling rehab therapists in these fields have many reasons to be optimistic. It is important for rehab therapists including traveling physical therapists and travel occupational therapists to remind the public that it’s not necessary to wait until something is broken, pulled, strained, dislocated or twisted before seeking the services of a therapist.  Here are some specific patient demographics for traveling therapists with a passion for patient preventative education to target for assessments and consultations.

Elderly Patients: Fall prevention, balance and core stability are key preventative measures for this age group. Traveling occupational therapists can also focus on risks that elderly patients encounter in their activities of daily living.

Weekend Warriors: Teach these ambitious folks to seek out therapy before they find themselves sprawled on the basketball floor or at the bottom of a ski slope. They can benefit from ROM assessments, teaching about proper warm up and stretching techniques and an assessment to determine their health level for desired sports and activities along with recommendations for maximum exertion levels.

Office Workers: Therapists are a valuable source of info for employees at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive use injury and other ergonomic issues.

Child Athletes: Physical therapists are an excellent resource for young athletes and their parents to learn about how to prevent injuries and assessments for any movement, alignment or balance issues that place the child at a higher risk for problems.

All of the Above: All individuals suffering the regular aches and pains of life can benefit from a therapy assessment to learn how a more conservative therapy approach may benefit them more than their medications or other forms of current relief.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Physical therapists aren’t the only ones touting the benefits of non-surgical and alternative therapies for back pain.  An article in the May 2009 issue of Consumer Reports Magazine reports that 55% of the 14,000 back pain sufferers interviewed were highly satisfied with physical therapy as a treatment for back pain.  Ranking lowest on the satisfaction scale for back pain treatment was the care these patients received from primary care physicians (34%).

This data may be a revealing glimpse into patient perceptions of pharmaceutical care for pain (most often dished out by primary care doctors) versus a more hands-on approach utilized by physical therapists, rehabilitation therapists, acupuncturists and other therapeutic practitioners.  Since nearly 80 percent of American adults report suffering from some level of back pain at some point, this is encouraging data that will most likely drive more back pain sufferers to physical therapists.  It’s no wonder that U.S. News & World Report recently ranked a career in physical therapy as number one, of “5 jobs that may be your best shot at finding work.”

Physical therapists and traveling physical therapists have seen the debilitating effects of chronic back pain in their patients.  The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has expressed their optimism about the Consumer Reports data, particularly in regards to back pain patients looking at conservative treatment approaches first.  Orthopedic surgery and narcotics are of course viable solutions for many patients, however, seeing a physical therapist first may be a wiser approach for patients seeking more conservative treatment.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN BSN

Basketball is a big deal at the University of Rhode Island. The staff, players, and fans are very passionate about the “Rhody Rams” men’s basketball team. I should know, since I’m a URI alumni, former basketball pep band member and former campus ambulance EMT. I know exactly how passionate the fans are about URI basketball because, as an EMT, I got to see on a regular basis the results of the fans trying to emulate the players.

Physical therapists and traveling physical therapists – how often have you heard this oldie but goodie? “I landed wrong.”  Yes indeed, Kobe wannabe, landing on any other extremity than your feet is certainly landing wrong. Our ambulance corps saw enough ACL knee, Achilles and ankle injuries to realize that just because people have seen a sport being played by others and are very passionate about emulating those players, doesn’t necessarily mean that they should try a flying slam dunk their first time down the court.

Professional athletes have personal trainers (and traveling physical therapists/trainers specifically assigned to professional sports – lucky ducks) to remind them to stretch, warm up, cross train, and perform regular range of motion exercises to prevent overuse injuries. Fans and weekend warriors, especially the aging baby boomer demographic of warriors, don’t have that luxury. The first time these novices encounter a physical therapist is usually when the damage has already been done and the warrior is looking to get back on the feet and back on the court as soon as possible. Some weekend warriors develop lasting relationships with their physical therapists, especially when they share the warrior spirit exhibited by their favorite professional athletes. Now they have someone else to emulate – President Weekend Warrior, playing hoops in the White House while also trying to implement universal health care so that every weekend warrior has access to physical therapy when slam dunks turn into slammed knee caps.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

A few seasons back on the popular television show “Dancing with the Stars”, a friend of a friend tore his bicep muscle while competing. I really didn’t know much about ballroom dancing at that point, apparently in opposition to the rest of America. That was the moment that I realized Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers may have been bonafide athletes after all, prone to all the same types of injuries. The list of celebrity injuries on the show is mounting by the season – injured ankles and feet, scratched eyes, ruptured Achilles tendons, and fractured knees and shins. Are celebrities really this accident prone and out of shape or are they just unprepared for the physical rigors of ballroom dancing on such an intensive schedule?

The good news for physical therapists, other than the increased business for those in Los Angeles, is the publicity. Physical therapists and by association traveling physical therapists, are getting the praise they deserve for their hard work in rehabilitating these types of injuries. In virtually every article concerning yet another “Dancing with the Stars” injury, the celebrity mentions their rehabilitation treatment with a PT. This show is taking the “weekend warrior” trend to a whole new level.

As the show’s popularity increases, along with other physically demanding reality shows like it, there will undoubtedly be even more injuries for the public hear about and hopefully learn from. How much stress, strain and repetitive movements is the human body expected to endure, especially in a body not used to it? Stay tuned!

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.