PT Clinic Reflection Journal

10/10/07

P: Today I worked with a new patient who has MS. I did a hip flexor, hamstring contract relax, scalene, and pec stretch. I also work on trunk control with alternative isometrics and rhythmic stabilization. I also did soft tissue mobilization to the upper traps.

The second patient is the same patient I have been seeing since the beginning of clinic. Today, I practiced PROM, tilt table, and balance exercises with this patient. While on the edge of the tilt table I had the patient in proper posture and we work on head control with verbal stimulation. I also did a total assist transfer.

O: Today I observed the first year student I am working with asking my first patient questions for subjective information, and perform a hamstring stretch. I also watched the first year student perform PROM on one side of my second patient.

L: Today I learned that I need to review massage because that is one skill I don’t feel complete comfortable with. I never feel like I am being effective while doing it. I also need to be more comfortable being more assertive and in getting the patient to talk and do his treatment. That was a main difficulty with my first patient. I didn’t get a lot of the things done that I wanted to because the patient really has a lot to say, but is not necessarily relevant to the treatment. While I am interested in what the patient wants to talk about, I feel we needed to get more done in the treatment.

K: I already knew how to perform the skills I used today. I just need to practice some of the skills to become

A: The action I am going to take is to practice massage on classmates and ask for feedback, so I am improve and become comfortable giving a massage. I am also going to practice being more assertive, so I can be more effective in my treatment.