This post was written by Ashley Wolf, physical therapist at our Chicago Midway clinic. In honor of National Physical Therapy Month, Ashley shares with us why she loves her job!
Reaching into the cupboard to put dishes away….. holding your child in your arms…..walking up the stairs to sleep in your own bed at night……driving your car…..these are all ordinary everyday things that we all do. Now imagine a life-altering injury, surgery, or chronic pain that impacts your ability to do these everyday ordinary things that we all take for granted on a daily basis – that’s where physical therapists come in!
Physical therapists help people with injuries, chronic painful conditions, or those that have just had surgical procedures regain the ability to perform everyday ordinary activities like they used to. We focus on improving deficits such as strength, balance, motion, and flexibility to allow people to reach 100% or more of their prior function. We work with a wide range of individuals from those who are just trying to get out of bed on their own to elite athletes trying to return to play.
In reality, many of the patients we see are not elite athletes and don’t aspire to do things with their bodies that most of us only dream about doing. They want to be able to fully return to their normal lives without “watching from the sidelines.” They want to take their kids to the park and get back to work full duty so they can provide for their families. We get to work closely with these individuals, get to know them and their families as well as what their goals are, and are a vital part of helping them reach their goals, no matter how “ordinary” those goals may seem. As a physical therapist, it is very rewarding to see someone get excited about regaining the ability to reach over their head or about being able to drive their car again. Most of us do not get excited about those kinds of things…. but maybe we should!
I encourage young adults who are researching future career paths and adults who are considering a career change to consider physical therapy. I encourage everyone I meet who I think may benefit from treatment by a physical therapist to discuss the possibility with their doctors. I truly believe physical therapy is an excellent way to avoid more expensive and invasive medical procedures as well as recover from those procedures when necessary.
I feel that I have found a very rewarding career in a field that is necessary, beneficial, and growing. Helping to make the ordinary, extraordinary is why I love being a physical therapist and why I think physical therapists are a vital part of any healthcare team.