Numerous case reports and journal articles later, I'm contemplating two separate case reports for my final project in the quest for my DPT. The position I'm in now is trying to decide between two trauma patients and their complicated surgical procedures, and the interesting approach taken to treat them. A while ago I had no idea what case to ...

The following post was written by ADVANCE guest blogger Brian Knutsen, OTR/L, CHT, president of Buzzards Bay Hand Therapy LLC, located in Marion and Lexington, MA. SAN DIEGO -- One of Tuesday's hand rehab sessions, ''Infant Brachial Plexopathy: Nonsurgical and Surgical Management,'' presented by Susan V. Duff, PT, OTR/L, EdD, CHT, Gregory G ...

As this year comes to a close, I'd like to reflect on a most productive, busy and emotional past 12 months. Final grades have arrived this morning for the fall semester of the DPT program. My capstone project will begin very soon. After narrowing down my choices to two patients, this week I came across two more interesting patients who are ...

One thing is true in the field of rehabilitation: Change is constant. This has never been more true than at the present time. Within the past year, there have been staffing shortages followed by staffing surplus; needed equipment, but not enough room; along with insurance changes that are limiting patients' ability to obtain necessary help. ...

Within the next few months, it will be necessary to choose a patient as a case report in order to complete my DPT. Initially, I had seriously contemplated using a patient from more than 10 years ago, a young woman who suffered a complex pelvic fracture with an accompanying femoral and obturator nerve palsy. Her return to activity was phenomenal, ...

This past week has been quite exciting at my home. My oldest graduated from high school on Monday, and my youngest finishes freshman year of high school today. Proudly, I see my young ladies growing and progressing through their teenage years with the usual bumps along the way. However, this week has shown me that they are contemplating their ...

Lecture handouts are printed, lectures are downloaded. ''Women's Health'' and ''Vestibular Rehabilitation'' are the classes I'm registered for and currently working on, along with the final exams, which are printed. This is going to be a quick semester. June 29 is the date for the exams to be turned in, which should not be a problem. I've learned ...

One year down, one to go! The next six weeks will be filled with lectures and articles pertaining to women's health and vestibular rehabilitation. This should be exciting, as a classmate of mine is certified in vestibular rehabilitation, and I have been treating both men and women with pelvic floor dysfunctions for the past 18 years. It will allow ...

Another semester of school, finished! What an amazing journey this has become. ''Differential Diagnosis'' and ''Pharmacology for Physical Medicine,'' so appropriate for therapists in so many ways. The past semester has brought up some interesting situations in our department, from a therapist who had severe abdominal pain and was sent to the ER by ...

It may have been my last therapy session, but my work is far from over. As my Physical Therapist, Mark LeBoeuf, MSPT, at Hawthorn Medical Associates explained, ''This is a marathon, not a sprint.'' In the last month and a half, Mark has given me the tools I need to challenge my vestibular system in various ways. The hope is that, over time, my ...