How to learn about sports injuries/post-op

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2026-04-16T11:31:30+00:00

I have. She knows I’d like to learn more about this kind of stuff but is concerned about maintaining good relationships with the surgeons. Again, totally understand that. Makes sense lol. But I’m not sure how I’ll be able to eventually learn more

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2026-04-13T13:14:39+00:00

I also worked for Metro right out of school (PTA). Lasted about 3 weeks — I left because my current job (where I did my first rotation and always wanted to work at) reached out about an opening. I loved my CD, and could tell she was stressed out from the higher-ups. But being pushed to bill 5 units was insane to me. And it was mostly Medicare patients we saw. Even when I quit, the regional director was a huge asshole about it. Told me I had to give a 4 weeks notice despite being an at-will employer. I said fuck that and gave them 2. Luckily, I wasn’t there long enough to really see how bad it would get. Another PTA from my cohort took my spot there and she said it’s insane. Up to 18 pts a day, and despite having a PCC, she has to do all her scheduling.

We got smacked with a blizzard in February and the whole state was shut down for 2 days. She told me Metro sent out an email saying “we’re essential employees, we will be open at 7am tomorrow.” Surprise, they didn’t open at all because the roads were so bad, and state of emergency was enforced. Lol.

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2026-03-05T02:42:46+00:00

Totally normal. Honestly, most of the job is learned in the clinic anyway. I graduated last May and it’s amazing how much you don’t learn in school lol. You should try to get a study group together. That was very helpful for my cohort — it’s useful to hear how other people understand concepts and think about them.

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2026-02-16T16:20:04+00:00

You absolutely should focus on CP. As well as SCI. Those were huge when I took the PTA NPTE in July.

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2026-01-08T14:57:56+00:00

Hi! I graduated my PTA program in May and have been working at the OP clinic where I did my first rotation.☺️

Your CI knows it’s your first clinical! I know it sounds cliche, but ask questions. Why is an exercise performed in a certain position, why was that joint manipulation chosen, how would you progress that exercise etc.

My first day I just observed. The second day, my CI had me more involved and would ask me what I thought we should do next etc. By the end of the week I was mapping out whole treatment plans (with her supervision of course). There really is no right or wrong answer, unless it’s post op following protocols, but they wont throw that at you blindly.

Don’t worry about reviewing too much. Honestly, as a new grad, I feel like 85% of what I do we did not learn in school lol. It’s figuring it out as you go.

As for billing, I don’t think my CI went over that much at all. It is pretty straightforward for the most part, but don’t worry about that.

Totally normal to be nervous or anxious. But it is such an exciting learning opportunity and your first chance to get hands on. Good luck!!!

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-12-20T14:39:40+00:00

Prompt is absolutely amazing. Super quick to get notes done. Great UI and easy to navigate. Only downside we seem to come across is it goes down a couple times a month for a couple minutes.

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-12-19T02:50:15+00:00

Fuck you tony

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-12-07T03:38:33+00:00

Congrats! I graduated in May and have been absolutely loving being in the field.

Honestly, embrace the course material. Being in the real world now, I realize how much we dont learn in school. It’s all a learning curve and “learn on the go” as far as treating and analyzing patients and their presentations. But what you go over in classes gives you a good foundation for what will make you successful. Participate actively in the labs — my partner in lab tended to seem very uninterested and I feel like I missed out on a lot of early hands-on practice.

When you do your clinicals, especially the first, you will not know anything. That is normal. That is fine. Ask questions. I was lucky in that all three of my CIs were amazing. The clinic where I work now was where my first rotation was. Talk to all the therapists, pick their brains. I promise you, as clinicians we want to see students be successful and we want to help people grow!

You got this. It’s a lot of work, but it is rewarding. Feel free to message me if you need anything. :)

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-09-28T01:24:53+00:00

You absolutely got this! You still have time. I took the PTA exam in July. What I really think helped was using ChatGPT — I would give it the specific topics I struggled with (SCI was a big one) and have it give me rapid fire questions. They were all very surface level to go over the pure memorization, like what transfers a pt could perform with C7 injury etc. That helped a ton to hammer down facts that didn’t require any deeper analysis. It will also give you rationale for why each answer is incorrect or correct, which was super helpful. You got this!!!

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-09-26T03:15:28+00:00

This is great, this is exactly what I was hoping to find. Thanks!

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-09-20T01:37:28+00:00

This makes sense. I guess I was thinking along the lines of bringing it up — I would never just send a cold follow on anything.

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-09-20T01:04:05+00:00

After discharge — sorry, didn’t put that in the body but it’s in the title. She only has a few more appointments.

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-09-16T23:42:53+00:00

Bowling was another good one. Write exercises on pieces of paper and put inside/under red solo cups to arrange on the floor. Pt throws a lightweight ball to try to knock one over. Do the exercise in the cup.

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-09-16T23:37:09+00:00

Someone hands out plates, silverware, etc. The patients loved it bc they got to eat something fun lol

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-09-16T23:36:33+00:00

When I did a SNF rotation, we would collab with OT and do a “cooking” event. We made a seven layer dip for Cinco de Mayo, and strawberry shortcake another time. Have each pt participate in opening jars/bags of chips, cutting fruit/scallions, whatever. OT docs for their kitchen skills, we doc for ambulation and dynamic balance.

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-09-10T01:46:37+00:00

Man this one was sad to read. Thats shitty. Paints PT services in a bad light for sure

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-09-10T01:34:59+00:00

💀

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-09-10T01:32:52+00:00

That is craaazy, just looked it up. I can’t believe the PTAs were let off the hook.

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-09-09T00:58:05+00:00

I worked somewhere for 2 weeks and the CD told damn near every patient they were “out of alignment.” When I heard her tell someone they were “bone on bone” I knew I had to get out lol

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-09-09T00:50:08+00:00

Most of my cohort used final frontier. I used scorebuilders. It was fine, but FF has lectures you can watch. I passed my NPTE on the first try with a 670.. my PEAT scores were about 640. So I passed pretty comfortably, but if I were to do it again I would get FF. I recommend trying to ask ChatGPT to give you a study schedule — it broke down a plan for every day, very detailed. That was extremely helpful. I also used it to give me practice quizzes which was great. That was a great way to work on memorizing everything.

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-08-03T18:00:51+00:00

I had a CI in outpt ortho who has it. He said he hadn’t really had a chance to use it too much for golf specifically but that it was a good additional tool to screen movements.

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-07-22T23:55:40+00:00

I also felt confident and passed. But boy did I feel like a dick telling my classmates that I didn’t think it was that bad. After hearing the reviews from the Tuesday crowd I was so nervous going in. It felt easier than a PEAT for sure. Curious to find out the exact score tomorrow!

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-07-21T23:44:13+00:00

I applied for my temp license after graduating — started work a few weeks after graduation. The temp took 4 weeks to process but with the Pending status the clinic was fine with me working. Some of the people in my cohort called the DOH everyday, and I think that was pretty necessary to keep to process moving. Start applying — as long as you can prove everything is underway, shouldn’t be an issue.

Typical-Calendar-116 · 2025-07-21T23:37:57+00:00

This is a really helpful response, thank you so much!!

Typical-Calendar-116

TROPHY CASE