Excel Rehab and SportsPhysical Therapy Internship

Lindsay Burton

Introduction During the summer between

my junior and senior year at Clemson University, I was fortunate enough to complete an internship of 180 hours at Excel Rehab and Sports. This internship provided the opportunity to obtain many hours of observation, a chance to interact and learn from the therapists and patients, and confirmation that this is the field that I wish to pursue.

Excel Facilities Excel Rehab and Sports has 3 locations in the area. Each of

the facilities seem to draw a different population Seneca

Patients mainly consisting of an older population Easley

Majority of the patients are of the working class or high school students

Clemson Patient base includes a large amount of college students/athletes

and university faculty

I had the opportunity to intern at the newest of the three facilities located in Seneca

This outpatient clinic consists of physical, occupational, and hand therapy

Site locationLocated in Seneca, SCOff of Highway 123 on North Radio Station Rd

Mission Statement

“Patients and their families know quality care when they experience it. It’s a result of great people and skills, and Excel has both…There is a

difference.”

Goals of Excel Provide quality care to patients in order to reach both

the goals of the therapists and the patient Educate patients so they are able to complete their

home exercise program in order to continue their progress

To be flexible and accommodating to help as many people as possible

Keep up with their continued education to ensure the best treatment for their patients

Create a professional and enjoyable environment

Roles and Duties • Observing and absorbing as much knowledge as

possible• Interacting with patients • Assisting with PT aide responsibilities

Observation and Interaction Although there are legal issues prohibiting students from

taking patients through exercises, it was vital to still learn everything I could from observing the work of the therapists Asking about initial diagnosis of the patient Following up with the plan of care to address the condition Inquiring about the purpose of exercises

Interaction with patients Talking with patients about their history, injuries, and goals

provided a perspective that can not be taught otherwise Learning what cues patients respond to and different

mechanisms of explanation

Clinical Aide Duties Bringing back patients and getting them started on warm-

up equipment Includes: NuStep, SciFit, treadmill, elliptical, and stationary

bike.

This machine, the NuStep, provides a warm-up for patients that focuses on extension.

The SciFit bike allows the patient to complete their warm-up while emphasizing leg flexion.

Clinical Aide Duties • Wiping down

equipment and tables after use

• Retrieving and setting up ice packs and heat packs for patients • Ice packs are mainly used

after the completion of the exercises in order to reduce inflammation

• Heat is often used either before or after visits in order to relax and reduce tension in the injured area

Clinical Aide Duties Setting up exercises according to the guidelines

of the therapists Setting up: ankle weights, resistance bands and

cords, stretches, balancing exercises, leg press shuttle

Additional Opportunities• Patient Initial Evaluations• Dry Needling• Graduate Student Perspective• Interesting Cases

Patient Initial Evaluations Having the opportunity to sit in on

initial evaluations of new patients was a rewarding experience Receive patient medical history Ability to follow the patient’s

progression from day 1 Developed a stronger connection

with patients due to knowing what individual goals they are striving for

See the variety of notes and measurements taken initially to determine the treatment plan of action Introduction to S.O.A.P notes

Goniometers are used during initial evaluations and following visits in order to measure and track progress of range of motion

Dry Needling Dry needling is a new alternative method of

treatment that releases tension in muscles and promotes natural healing by creating lesions in your muscles

I was fortunate to be a part of a clinic where two of the physical therapists were certified in this upcoming treatment

While I was there, I observed needling in the neck, back, legs, shoulders and face to treat a variety of issues

PT Graduate Student Perspective During the last few weeks of my internship I was

fortunate enough to have the chance to work with a PT graduate student from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Acted as a mentor from a different stage of the pathway Advice on applying to PT schools, what to look for in

schools, and what to expect in the first year Explained anatomical information and reasoning

behind the mechanics of exercises from a students perspective

Interesting Cases The opportunity to interact with a plethora of

patients with a wide variety of conditions Lumbarization – a congenital abnormality in

which the S1 vertebrae acts as a L6 vertebrae rather than being fused to the rest of the sacrum

Type C Niemann-Pick disease- Fatal genetic mutation that prevents the

metabolism of cholesterol and other lipids Only 500 worldwide documented cases

Compartment syndrome Swelling or bleeding within the compartment of

muscle, nerves and blood vessels

Compartment syndrome in shin

Projects:Case Study Report

I chose to do my case study on a patient with osteoarthritis of her lumbar spine, and severe nerve tension of her femoral and sciatic nerve

This patient appealed to me because her diagnosis was something out of the ordinary from many of the patients I had seen

Hearing her goals of wanting to be able to keep up with her family when they traveled made her transform from a collection of conditions to a patient I was anxious to help

Projects:Public Health Determinants Paper

This paper consists of three parts: Social determinants that affect the care of patients

Healthy Places Employment and decent work

Organizational Behavior and Governance Impact of the scheduling of one patient every 30 minutes at

Excel Rehab & Sports Pre-professional Concentration question

Importance of professionalism with interaction of both patients and one’s surrounding health care team

Projects:Internship Guide

This brochure contains a guide of what one should know prior to beginning a physical therapy internship at Excel Rehab and Sports Includes a brief look at:

Patient Warm-Ups Therapeutic Dry Needling Common Terminology and Abbreviations Writing a Case Study Report Creating a rewarding experience e

Conclusion I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity

to intern at Excel Rehab and Sports. Based on the relationships built and the knowledge gained, I would say the internship was nothing less than a success. I am very eager for the future, when I have my own patients and am able to help them treat their conditions and get them back to the activities that make their lives complete. Hopefully one day, I will have the opportunity to have interns of my own who I can create a lasting effect on.