A Physical Therapist Guide to Treat and Manage Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

By Bijal Shah

Congestive heart failure is a series of conditions when cardiac output cannot meet the metabolic demand of the body. Approximately 5 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). More than half a million people are diagnosed annually. Heart failure is mainly due to a structural or functional defect in the heart. The aim of this article is to talk about the role of physical therapy and the importance of an exercise regime in patients with congestive heart failure.Congestive Heart Failure

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A comprehensive guide to different types of transfer in Physical Therapy

By Bijal Shah

There are many types of transfer a clinician can guide a patient to perform.  As physical therapists, we come across different people with different limitation and abilities. While providing a PT treatment or assessing the patient, our goal (along with patients and families) is to make our patients independent in the majority of functional tasks.

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Tips on Prescribing Exercise as a Physical Therapist

By Bijal Shah

How a physical therapist decides/prescribes the exercise for a patient to make meaningful changes.  You may be wondering, exercise prescription??  We have heard about prescribing medication but not exercises, right?  Why do I bother to spread awareness that exercises, just like medications also have a prescription? Yes, you read that right.  We, physical therapists, don’t just come up with exercises and resistance that patients need to do.  Its also not just a guess when we say the frequency and intensity of exercises like 10 repetitions for twice a week.  Exercise is a prescription; just not written on a prescription pad!  exercise prescription Continue reading “Tips on Prescribing Exercise as a Physical Therapist”

Six Tips on performing Successful Wheelchair Evaluation

By Bijal Shah

As physical therapists, we prescribe a wheelchair based on our patient’s needs. We look for things like ambulatory status, weight-bearing precautions, arm or leg injuries, cardiopulmonary problems, etc while prescribing an appropriate wheelchair.  Wheelchair evaluation can be very simple and straightforward when it is used for short-term use.  Contradictorily, it can be tricky for patients with neurological disorders. It starts with getting information regarding past history, checking muscle strength and balance, finding the cognitive abilities and the usage of the chair.   Yes, it is your full-fledged thorough physical or occupational therapy evaluation. And let me tell you, it does not end only an evaluation! A patient needs to be well trained to propel the manual chair or drive the power chair for the safety of himself and the safety of others.  WheelChair evaluation Continue reading “Six Tips on performing Successful Wheelchair Evaluation”

Types of wheelchair and a guide to selection

By Bijal Shah

A proper wheelchair provides the required comfort and necessary support.  Transport chair, Geri chair, and electric chair are just some varieties of wheelchairs.  With so many types of wheelchairs available in the market, it is crucial for people working in a hospital or a subacute care facility to find a proper wheelchair for their patients.  It becomes more challenging if you work with neuro patients as I do. The reason being, patients with neurological disorders change their presentation frequently due to change in tone and tightness. That is why a proper wheelchair evaluation is important.   The aim of this article is to provide you with basic information regarding different types of wheelchairs and their use. 

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Group Exercise: Seven Reasons to Consider as a Treatment Of Choice

By Bijal Shah

Having an exercise partner is helpful in many ways. Exercising in a group not only benefits a patient but also is useful for a therapist. 

Have you ever had a situation where you are actually working with one patient? While your patient is resting, she starts talking with other patients sitting in the rehab gym. They become friends, start going to some activities together, go-to dining room together and to stretch it a little further, they stay friends even after going home! Yes, I never thought about it, but socialization is very important and magical (to some extent!) for the majority of our patients. It gives them courage, positivity, and hope that they are not the only one in their fight. It motivates them to fight harder, achieve their goals and go home. 

group exercise

This brings me to our topic for today – Group exercise and its benefits in Physical Therapy.  Group therapy is not only cool from a patient’s perspective, but it is also very efficient and productive from the therapist’s side. What more as a therapist you can ask for when your patient is already motivated to come down to the gym happily and do all her exercises!! Happy patients and happy therapist, win-win on both ends. So let’s talk about the benefits of group exercises. Continue reading “Group Exercise: Seven Reasons to Consider as a Treatment Of Choice”

Physical Therapy Patient Evaluation Form – Format and Sample

By Bijal Shah

I have developed this Physical Therapy evaluation form based on what I usually need to know from my patient.  It was designed mainly for sub-acute or inpatient setting,  but it can also be utilized in various other settings such as outpatient and home health.  The purpose of this article is to help other therapists have information quickly available when they need it.  Feel free to add/remove items based on your professional needs.    A downloadable version is attached at the bottom of the post. Continue reading “Physical Therapy Patient Evaluation Form – Format and Sample”

Life in a Day of a Physical Therapist

By Bijal Shah

The physical therapy program is becoming more and more popular. Physical Therapy school is hard and it can become challenging to hold onto your hopes till the completion sometimes. I want to write this blog to educate current Physical Therapist students how a day looks like a Physical Therapist routinely.  So here is to the life in the day of a Physical Therapist!!

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Guide to prepare for an interview as a PT(Physical Therapist)

By Bijal Shah

So its time for the interview.  Maybe first; maybe one after other unsuccessful interviews.   Once we finish our internship and final semester, it is time to look for places where we can actually use our knowledge and help people!  Granted, after having a PT degree, you are going to get a job.  If you have some contacts in the field, you may even start working under direct supervision prior to clearing your NPTE.   In any case, yes, you will get a job – no worries there.

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Mastering Difficult Conversation as a Physical Therapist

By Bijal Shah

Often times, physical therapists are put into a place where we need to have a conversation with family explaining their loved ones cannot go home, can’t live alone, won’t be able to drive, can’t feed themselves, or their impulsivity or memory causes harm to their independence.   Sounds so familiar, isn’t it? Being able to have a difficult conversation is a key part of the physical therapist’s routine.  We may have to have this kind of conversation once a week or month or more often!!

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Succeed in a Physical Therapy career at a sub-acute care facility.

By Bijal Shah

Time management and being Organised are tow key factors to be successful in a day. It takes good skill, a lot of patience and of course a smiling face to complete daily requirements in a given time and to go home to the family. This is especially true in a career involving human service like healthcare. with over ten years of experiences, training and trailing many different ways, I want to discuss some key factors that will land you a successful day in Physical therapy career. 

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