stress in PT school

[jesse14]

I know this kind of discussion is usually seen on the Med forum, but i think it also can apply here as well.
I'm a first year student in an MSc.PT program in canada. I'm really stressed a lot of the time.. I often wonder if i have what it takes to be a good, evidenced based physio. I want to go on to do my manip therapy designation, but don't know if i'll be able to. I mean, we have 4-7 hrs of lecture a day including labs. Some days, even more.. today was 8:30-7:00 with a 2 hr break (which was spent doing a group project). I got home and started on our next projext due. Basically, this program is taking up my entire life. When i'm not studying I feel guilty for it and feel like i'm falling behind..

On another note, i feel inadequite to many of my classmates. Many of them are VERY bright and learn quite quickly. I on the other hand need to constantly review my notes over and over before it "sticks"... this leads to me falling behind even though i'm putting in more time than most. It's a frustrating cycle..

I'm not sure why i wrote this...probably just needed to vent lol

Thanks for reading and any comments would be great!

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[MinnDasota]

Hey, we all were/are/will be where you are. PT school is intense and full of long days, grueling projects, and NO TIME!!! There is a lot to learn in such a short amount of time. Everyone studies/learns differently and at different speeds. You think that everyone in your class is bright, but remember, you got into the same program so that must say something about you! I felt the same way you did throughout PT school. I saw many of my classmates study and ace tests while I studied what seemed much harder and did mediocre. In the end, I made it through and passed the boards the only way I knew how....through a ton of hard work. Keep on studying hard and everything will fall into place. I would be willing to bet that most of your classmates are feeling the same way your are.

Oh, and best advice I can give to you is....even though you have a ton of work and no time, you still have to make time for yourself. My profs kept telling me that there is life outside of PT school and you have to make time for it no matter what. It's what will keep you sane. Go watch a movie, hang out with friends, go to the gym, etc. Trust me!

 

[durandel]

This very much sounds like how I expect it to be. There are those that seem gifted in being able to quickly absorb large amounts of information at first exposure, and then there are those that spend 5x more time to learn the same information. I'm definitely one of the latter like you.

I have a short attention span so I keep getting sidetracked while studying or listening to a lecture, but I go back over the material and spend the time to commit it to memory. I've found that doodling and doing simple sketches works well for making forgettable words stick in my memory. This visual technique has probably saved me many hours of time, so I recommend that even as you look at a new word the first time, find some creative way that appeals to you to make it stick in your mind, right there, on the spot. This helped in AP, and I imagine it'll be invaluable in grad school as well. I plan on using it for the anatomy, pathology, and even health care courses.

Also, in some ways I think it's better to be a hard worker who's highly motivated. That ethic will allow you to overcome diverse obstacles that may stump the scholastically more gifted.

 

[kcgregor]

One thing that I feel has helped me pick up information quickly is to take the time to figure out what my best learning style is. I'm a visual/kinesthetic learner so I use methods that are geared towards those kinds of learners.
try http://www.learning-styles-online.com/inventory/
If that doesn't work, try googling "learning styles inventory".
Hope this helped!!

 

[lee9786]

So this begs the question... how can one prepare better for PT school? What classes/ concepts are imperative and giving you a hard time/taking up time? I'm in a position where I'm able to try and establish the knowledge/skills needed to help with the PT school process. Ideally I'd like to make it so whenever I'm in PT school much of the material is review. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but I'd like to think I can actually do this to a certain degree due to the position I'm currently in.

I'm in a position currently where I am the Anatomy/Physiology tutor at the school I'm taking prereqs. So this is a great learning opportunity and I'm looking to find out what concepts are invaluable to success in PT school so I know them inside and out.

What other concepts besides anatomy and physiology are imperative to know for success in PT school? I'm trying to learn the concepts prior to school so I will have an "easier" time through the program so I can have some type of life outside of class. It's looking like I may have to put off applying to a PT program until 2010 so I have some time. I want to utilize the time I have. thanks for your help.

 

[kcgregor]

I'm not in PT school yet but I am taking some PT classes and knowing the prereqs (particularly the science classes) very well has helped me tremendously. However just knowing the prereqs isn't going to make all of the classes review because they're taking what you learned in those prereqs and going into much greater detail. Most of the time they will not review the concepts because they expect you to know them already.

 

[jesse14]

I'm not in PT school yet but I am taking some PT classes and knowing the prereqs (particularly the science classes) very well has helped me tremendously. However just knowing the prereqs isn't going to make all of the classes review because they're taking what you learned in those prereqs and going into much greater detail. Most of the time they will not review the concepts because they expect you to know them already.

The classes that take up most of my time now are anatomy....so much detail!! And neuro.. both neuroanatomy and clinical neuro. We're doing cardioresp now too and i took 4 physiology courses in undergrad but the speed we go now is MUCH faster than in undergrad. We spent 5 minutes or so on the O2/Hb dissociation curve and its expected we know it cold for lecture...not hard, just a very fast pace.

 

[lee9786]

I'm not in PT school yet but I am taking some PT classes and knowing the prereqs (particularly the science classes) very well has helped me tremendously. However just knowing the prereqs isn't going to make all of the classes review because they're taking what you learned in those prereqs and going into much greater detail. Most of the time they will not review the concepts because they expect you to know them already.

Taking PT classes but not in a PT program? How does that work? So what concepts are expected to be known and what topics are they going into great detail? If anyone has info regarding what textbooks they are actually using for their class I'd be interested in possibly getting an older edition and reading some of the material. I'm in a position right now where I can go into more detail and become better prepared to attend PT school. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[MinnDasota]

Honestly, I feel what you learn in undergrad will only cover the first couple lectures in PT school, if even. It's just a whole new ball game with different concepts altogether. Also, as stated before, the pace is much faster. I don't have an answer as to how to make it easier as the school work is just at a different level. I had biomechanics in undergrad and it's not even close to what we learned in PT school. Same goes for anatomy (knowing the origins, insertions, vasulature, and innervations of every muscle in the body and how it relates to human function and pathology vs. just knowing the muscles). It's good to get a grasp of all of the required prereqs as some of it will be familiar, but remember, what you learn in undergrad is much more generalized and not specific to the PT field.

At this point in your studies, there really isn't a better way for you to get ahead outside of having as much clinical exposure as possible. At least it is much more tangible and you will be able to look back at these experiences while in PT school and maybe say, I remember the PT doing so and so for this type of injury and now it makes sense why they did what they did. That said, I am very much a visual type of person so this is what worked for me.

 

[kcgregor]

Taking PT classes but not in a PT program? How does that work?

I go to CSULB and the first year of PT classes are considered "upper division prerequisites" so they are open to the upper division undergraduate students.

 

[lee9786]

Honestly, I feel what you learn in undergrad will only cover the first couple lectures in PT school, if even. It's just a whole new ball game with different concepts altogether. Also, as stated before, the pace is much faster. I don't have an answer as to how to make it easier as the school work is just at a different level. I had biomechanics in undergrad and it's not even close to what we learned in PT school. Same goes for anatomy (knowing the origins, insertions, vasulature, and innervations of every muscle in the body and how it relates to human function and pathology vs. just knowing the muscles). It's good to get a grasp of all of the required prereqs as some of it will be familiar, but remember, what you learn in undergrad is much more generalized and not specific to the PT field.

At this point in your studies, there really isn't a better way for you to get ahead outside of having as much clinical exposure as possible. At least it is much more tangible and you will be able to look back at these experiences while in PT school and maybe say, I remember the PT doing so and so for this type of injury and now it makes sense why they did what they did. That said, I am very much a visual type of person so this is what worked for me.

So the idea is to start studying the material that they are going over in PT school so it's more of a secondary exposure when I'm actually going through it. I'm in a position where I can research this info in more detail. I feel pretty good about my current knowledge on the basics of anat/physiology. I'm looking to study more indepth. So if anyone has information regarding what textbooks they are using I'd be interested start advancing my knowledge. I usually just get the older edition and save some $$.

 

[MinnDasota]

So the idea is to start studying the material that they are going over in PT school so it's more of a secondary exposure when I'm actually going through it. I'm in a position where I can research this info in more detail. I feel pretty good about my current knowledge on the basics of anat/physiology. I'm looking to study more indepth. So if anyone has information regarding what textbooks they are using I'd be interested start advancing my knowledge. I usually just get the older edition and save some $$.

By all means, study ahead. The more knowledge the better right? Generally, some of the most common books used in PT school are:

1. Orthopedic examination evaluation and intervention (Dutton)
2. Orthopedic Physical Assessment (Magee)
3. Clinical Orthopedic Rehabilitation (Brotzman/Wilk)
4. Therapeutic exercise (Hall and Brody)
5. Physical Rehabilitation (Osullivan)
6. Guide To Physical Therapy Practice (APTA)
7. Netter Anatomy book
8. Management of Common Musculoskeletal Disorders (Hertling/Kessler)
9. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System (Neumann)
10. Physical Exmamination of the Spine and Extremities (Hoppenfeld)
11. Muscle testing (Daniels/Worthingham)
12. Patient Care Skills (Minor)
13. Measurement of Joint Motion (Norkin)
14. Physical Agents (Hayes)
15. Rapid Interpretations of EKGs (Dubin)
16. Pathology (Goodman)
17. Principles of Neural Science (Kandel)

Good luck!

 

[jesse14]

Here are the texts we use:
Muslces: Testing and function with posture and pain-kendall

Principles and techniques of patient care- pierson

Measurment of joint motion- norkin

Orthopedic physical assessemnt- Magee (GREAT text)

Grays anatomy for students

Physical agents in rehab: Cameron

Therapeutic exercise- Kisner and colby

Cardiovasclar and pulmonary physical therapy- Frownfelter

Rehab specialist`s handbook- Rothstein

I have a neuro exam next week and studied all day. I have 20 tracts running through my brain... usless info if you ask me

 

[thorn22]

Minn and Jesse-

Thanks for those lists! I wish my school would just send out the booklist earlier than a week before class. Geez.

 

[lee9786]

thank you. appreciate it

 

[lirpa]

i can send you my booklist???

 

[thorn22]

i can send you my booklist???

I dont know how much that would help, as every school's program is different. I would hate to buy books that arent even used in my curriculum. Thanks for the offer though, maybe others will take you up on it

 

[lee9786]

I dont know how much that would help, as every school's program is different. I would hate to buy books that arent even used in my curriculum. Thanks for the offer though, maybe others will take you up on it

I welcome the information. The thing that's funny about textbooks is that they all say pretty much the same thing. At least for the physical sciences. The only time I've actually purchased the "required" textbook for class is whenever there are problems assigned from it and it would be a burden to do the assignments without it. I usually try to purchase the edition prior to the book that is required to save cash. There really is little difference most of the time. The difference can be picked up in lecture. On top of that there are numerous sources on the web that can be used for cross reference with the notes taken in class. This being said, if I was starting a PT program I would definitely be looking to purchase their "required" text to assure I wasn't behind.