AAOMPT –sSIG Executive Elections

Now Requesting New Platforms!!!

The purpose of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy – student special interest group (AAOMPT-sSIG) is to serve its members by fostering active student involvement in the AAOMPT. This will be done by facilitating the advancement of the orthopedic manual physical therapy practice and enhancing the use of current evidence-based manual physical therapy practice.

Goals of the AAOMPT-sSIG
-To provide extra opportunities to grow as a student PT
-Promote discussions between students, faculty, and fellows
-Accelerate decision making skills and processes
-Networking with future colleagues

The AAOMPT-sSIG will start requesting platforms for executive positions on June 2nd and will run until June 30th. Platforms will be posted for active student members to view and elections will be held on the July 7th. If you are interested in running for a position please send platforms kwong2@kumc.edu by June 30th. See below for instructions on elections process.
-Executive Committee Positions two year term – the first year will consist of learning and assisting; the second year you will play the active role and mentor the incoming committee.

Requirements
-AAOMPT student member ($15 to join at aaompt.org)Starting the 2nd year of PT school (to allow for a 2 year term)
-Manual therapy experience (education background and/or clinical rotation background)

Description of Positions:
President: The President shall be responsible for preparing agendas and conducting all meetings of the AAOMPT-sSIG Leadership Committee. He/she shall report biannually to the AAOMPT-sSIG membership. The President will play a supervisory role to ensure the promotion and action of the AOMPT-sSIG Mission. He/she shall serve as a liaison between the Leadership Committee and the members of the sSIG. He/she shall be the chief liaison between the Leadership Committee and the AAOMPT Executive Committee
Vice President: The Vice-President shall assist President in all duties and assume those duties in the President’s absence. He/she shall assume responsibility for maintaining internal relations among members of the sSIG.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be responsible for managing the funds allocated to the SSIG by the AAOMPT and any funds collected through fund-raising events. He/she shall be responsible for accessing funds in accordance to the decisions made by the Leadership Committee. He/she shall maintain accurate and complete records of financial transactions and make these available to the SSIG or AAOMPT upon request. The records of transactions shall be reviewed and audited by the Secretary at least on an annual basis. He/she shall be a source for understanding the financial system within the AAOMPT-SSIG in regards to purchase orders, check requests, deposits, etc. He/she shall assume duties of Secretary in the Secretary’s temporary absence.
Secretary: The Secretary shall conduct the election of AAOMPT-SSIG officers The Secretary shall be responsible for taking, recording, and distributing minutes from each leadership meeting to members of SSIG within 10 days. He/she shall compile and distribute agendas for future meetings. He/she shall act as the auditor of the financial transactions of the AAOMPT–SSIG and shall review these records at least on an annual basis.
Member at Large: The Member at Large shall be responsible for representing student members of the AAOMPT within the Leadership Committee. He/she shall bring ideas from the member base to the Leadership Committee table for discussion. He/she shall serve as liaison between the Leadership Committee and the members of the SSIG and shall coordinate regular communications/ updates with the SSIG.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the election process please contact:
Kelli Wong, SPT, AAOMPT-sSIG President
University of Kansas Medical Center DPT class of 2009
kwong2@kumc.edu
913-907-9887

WHEN IT COMES TO BACK PAIN “LESS IS MORE”

More surgery, more drugs, and more injections are not what the doctor ordered.

Tallahassee, Florida, May 20, 2008 – When it comes to chronic back pain management patients should know that “less is more.” The American Pain Society at their annual meeting unveiled a current review on invasive procedures for the treatment of chronic low back. The scientific review concluded that most invasive interventions, including spinal joint injections, radiofrequency denervation, intradiscal electrothermal therapy demonstrated no evidence of effectiveness. Furthermore, surgical procedures for chronic low back pain demonstrated only small improvement in pain and disability but were accompanied by considerable risk.

"The expert panel reaffirms its previous recommendation that all low-back pain patients stay active and talk honestly with their physicians about self care and other interventions. "In general, non-invasive therapies supported by evidence showing benefits should be tried before considering interventional therapies or surgery," said Chou."

“The American Pain Society panel has acknowledged the central role of an active physical therapy program in managing low back pain patients,” noted Timothy W. Flynn PT, PhD, President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. “The key in chronic low back pain is avoiding too much medicine. There is no magic bullet but a combination of hands on care and an active exercise approach is the best solution.”

Grade V Baby - University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA

The new version of Grade V Baby!!!

Prosthetics Part 3

Prosthetics have been a topic of conversation in all forms of sports lately and continuing with that trend here is the season premier of American Gladiators which featured a contender with a transfemoral amputation. This clip on youtube is only "the eliminator" but the rest for the show can be found at this link.

Youtube clip of the Eliminator

full episode

Prosthetics in Sports: Follow Up

In a follow up to the article about sports and prosthetics, here are a couple other athletes that would probably destroy you in their respective sports.

Other images and stories of prosthetics in sports

Clinical Prediction Rules

Texas States PT students put the Ottawa Knee Rule and the CPR for stabilization to good use in CSI Miami and the Bachelor.

CSI Miami (Ottawa Knee Rule)

The Bachleor (CPR Stabilization)

ESPN The Magazine- Prosthetics and Sports: The Superabled?

Here is a story about athletes and prosthetics. Is the use of prosthetics an unfair advantage right now and into the future? The Mag examines the situation...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3357051

Fox 5 SR on Chiropractic

Fox news special report on Chiropractors from March 2008.


Click Here

Tuition Relief Bill

As posted on earlier, here is an update on this important bill. HR 4137 is The College Opportunity and Affordable Act, which allows for federal loan repayment support for some professions. Congress recently revised this act to include Physical Therapists. This could be a great opportunity for those of us who enter the career swimming in debt.

"Physical therapists (PTs) who choose to work with children, adolescents or veterans would be eligible to apply for student loan forgiveness under legislation approved Thursday, February 7, by the US House of Representatives. Rep Joe Sestak's (D-PA) amendment to the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 (HR 4137) authorizes the US Secretary of Education to forgive a portion of qualifying student loan debt to PTs practicing in areas of national need."


Now the bill must make it through the Senate. If approved this could be HUGE! Stay tuned for updates.


See the original article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/92277.php



Brett Neilson
PTWA Student Liason

New Legislature

This year the House of delegates will be discussing several issues.

The first being branding and name recognition. Many people feel that all the credentials behind physical therapists names "muddies the waters" for the consumer. The goal will be to drop all credential initials besides PT and an academic degree such as a Ph.D.

Another issue will be the creation of grants from APTA to stimulate educating youth about activity and physical therapy.

Lastly, there is an idea to allow students who have been members of good standing for two years, and who renew within a certain timeframe, to obtain free attendance to a national conference or preview 20/20.

Chiropractors v. Manual Physical Therapists

How many times have you been asked what's the difference between a physical therapist and chiropractor? Sadly, like the general public, I think many PT's aren't clear on exactly who chiropractors are. Below is a link to a video to help us answer these questions. I hope it also instills in you reasons why WE are the future of manual & manipulative therapy, not them.

Kinsigner Talk To Oklahoma PT Students

Welcome

NEW PTIA student blog. The purpose of this blog will be to keep everyone up to date on upcoming events, discuss related issues, as well as to chat with other physical therapy students in the state of Iowa. Please feel free to post comments or anything you wish to this blog.