Working in the pool

Just in case you don't know. I work as a Physical Therapist here in US. Since I started my endeavor, I have been what we say inpatient therapist. Basically it means I get you up walking same day or day after your surgery. Don't get me wrong. My job descriptions entails more than that. I just want to give you a differential definition with being an outpatient therapist. 

Right now, I am in transition from inpatient to outpatient therapist. I have been one when I was in the Philippines. I still know my "stuff"; but being in this foreign land, I need to observe and learn the system. 

One way to help our patients is Aquatic therapy. This program is created to improve core stability, muscle strengthening, and flexibility. 

So today, I was in the pool learning and "feeling" how these aquatic exercises will affect our patients. I was walking back and forth in swallow water. Walking forward, walking backwards, go sideways, move your arms fast underwater, standing and balancing on a rocker board. I tried vertical stabilization in deep waters, running in deep waters, and skiing in deep waters.

Being able to understand how muscles and joints make and affects movement in land, I need to apply how water buoyancy and water resistance changes the dynamics of movements. 

Looks easy and fun at that start but it gets exhausting at the end. It is a work out! 

It was a different perspective for me today. I will be responsible for patients with limitations and pain. I look forward to the days where I can make someone's life better because he can travel again, he can work again, he can lift things again. 

I like to say I was a swimmer. I did complete some swimming meets in my HS and college days. I still love the pool and love to spend time there with my siblings. 

In the next months to a year, I guess I will be looking at pool activities differently. From being a swimmer perfecting his strokes and improving his lap time, to making crazy dives and jumps with siblings, to improving postures and improving balance and making your muscles stronger. 

I am truly and really in a GO! GO! GO! state of mind. But with fingers crossed! Because I hope for nice persons to work with.