Physical Therapy Specialization?

[WonderDerek]

I want to specialize in SCI's as a physical therapist. Does that exist or do you have to work with all types of injuries? If you can't specialize I'd still like to be a PT.

[sjean423]

Derek, I don't know if it's official, but my PT deals mostly with SCI patients. She says that a lot of her co-workers would rather NOT, and since she prefers it, it works out well all around.

[WonderDerek]

Originally Posted by sjean423

Derek, I don't know if it's official, but my PT deals mostly with SCI patients. She says that a lot of her co-workers would rather NOT, and since she prefers it, it works out well all around.

Oh, okay. Hopefully that'd work out for me that way. I'd love to work only with SCI's and I think I'd do better than a non-SCI PT because I have been through it and have tips for SCI's close to mine. When I was in rehab I always told my PT, it's not as easy as it looks, you do it without using your legs. I messed with all my PT's.

[Surf_Sister]

You could Specialize in Neurophysiotherapy. That also includes TBI, Stoke and other neurological impariments in addition to SCI, but the variety could be nice

[sjean423]

Originally Posted by WonderDerek

Oh, okay. Hopefully that'd work out for me that way. I'd love to work only with SCI's and I think I'd do better than a non-SCI PT because I have been through it and have tips for SCI's close to mine. When I was in rehab I always told my PT, it's not as easy as it looks, you do it without using your legs. I messed with all my PT's.

I know, I hated it when they would demonstrate how "easy" it was to do a transfer or to scoot, by "not" using their lower body. At the time I was thinking "yea, pretend you have broken ribs and a fractured shoulder too!"

No matter how well-meaning and knowledgable an AB PT is, demonstrations from peers are so much more convincing. You would have the benefit of being BOTH.