Not "just" a physical therapist. (Letters to the Editor).To the Editor: I would like to congratulate you on a well-thought-out, well-written, and accurate editorial ("Who We Are Versus What We Do") in the July 2002 issue of the Journal. Although I have no data to support my feelings, I have often felt professionally belittled be·lit·tle tr.v. be·lit·tled, be·lit·tling, be·lit·tles 1. To represent or speak of as contemptibly small or unimportant; disparage: a person who belittled our efforts to do the job right. by what others call physical therapy. Unfortunately, the sin is most often committed by my relatives! I am a new physical therapist. I practiced for 1 year in a large, urban teaching hospital in Philadelphia and have recently made a switch to outpatient care, mostly orthopedics. Although there is much that I do not know, I do know that I am not a "grunt" who massages people, rubs an ultrasound device over their sore spots, and hooks them up to any electrical stimulation machine I can find. And I certainly do not throw darts at a wall to decide what to do! I also appreciate your comments regarding the plethora of titles that have sprung to life after some physical therapists' names. Sometimes I get the impression that if one is not a Feldenkrais or McKenzie or Craniosacral cra·ni·o·sa·cral adj. 1. Associated with both the cranium and the sacrum. 2. Relating to the parasympathetic nervous system. craniosacral pertaining to the skull and sacrum. or whatever therapist, then one is "just" a physical therapist. In my opinion, the title "physical therapist" is the pinnacle, and the rest of these designations are tools that helped one reach the pinnacle--not vice versa VICE VERSA. On the contrary; on opposite sides. . Michael Gallagher, PT Penobscot Bay Medical Center Rockport, Me To the Editor: Your July 2002 Editor's Note Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. was well written and insightful. However, I believe that the "irreparable ir·rep·a·ra·ble adj. Impossible to repair, rectify, or amend: irreparable harm; irreparable damages. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin harm" of which you speak is a self-inflicted wound This article should not be confused with Self-Injury, which can include this general term but self-inflicted wound is more specific to self wounds inflicted during a war A self-inflicted wound (SIW), was the act of harming one's self during military combat. . If our colleagues in research and medicine are lacking in knowledge of our professional scope, it is because we have failed to educate them. Our competitors have gotten a "leg up on us," so to speak, by using aggressive and clever marketing strategies. I am also disappointed that many in our ranks fail to read what literature is out there and fail to adjust their practice patterns accordingly. (Please, at least go to PubMed and read a few abstracts once in a while!) In the past, I believe our Association also has failed to be proactive in marketing the profession and in encouraging sound, clinically relevant research. However, I do not believe that the damage is irreparable. APTA APTA American Physical Therapy Association. has done an incredible job over the past 5 years in the legal and legislative arenas. Managed care and prospective payment also have been a wake-up call of sorts to those in lethargy lethargy /leth·ar·gy/ (leth´ar-je) 1. a lowered level of consciousness, with drowsiness, listlessness, and apathy. 2. a condition of indifference. leth·ar·gy n. 1. who would treat with hot packs and ultrasound 3 times a week forever. I also applaud those in research who are doing a great job of closing the gap between science and science fiction. Becki Puskar, PT Scottdale, Pa |
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