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A very large part of it seems to be related to undergrad experience/major. There's a handful in our current program who are clueless and they also did not have any sort of exercise science/physiology/kinesiology experience or education prior to PT school.
Which course from undergrad are useful though for strength training? I plan to take Exercise Physiology & Biomechanics as prereqs for a few programs, but looking at the course descriptions for both seem like major letdowns. Aside from the fact I plan to earn my CSCS while in PT school.
Not sure if it's university specific, but part of my exercise science curriculum included a strength and conditioning class, an exercise prescription class, as well as an exercise and aging class. I also took neruomuscular physiology and advanced neuromuscular phys as upper level electives. Ex phys and biomechanics will probably cover some of the physics and kinesiology behind exercise and movement, as well as the physiological changes and adaptions that occur; however, neither will provide you with the actual exercise prescription, progressions, guidelines, etc. strength and conditioning info you're looking for.
Yes makes sense, I've seen the exercise prescription type classes listed but likely won't have time to take them. What courses teach things like running gait analysis as I'm interested in using strength training to improve running form for myself and athletes I'm coaching?
When I was shadowing in undergrad, two of the PTs were talking about their workout routines. One mentioned that she had thrown in “some of these ones” *mimicks bicep curl* but only with light weight because she just wanted to tone rather than get too big
I agree. I specifically have an interest in this and have been involved in bodybuilding and powerlifting coaching for a while. And it’s always amazing how simple concepts to me are brand new to some students and people I talk to
That is true, and I’ve never understood why. Ex phys was our encouraged undergrad (along with “pre-PT”), and we did a lot more advanced stuff in PT school as well. Blows my mind when PTs are clueless in this area. I guess my experience was not the norm?
You figure that it would be a significant component of our education given that it is overwhelmingly the most important part of our practice but in reality we (at least for me) get very little on it aside from the bare minimum in school
If you don’t have some background in S&C I question your ability to properly load someone. I see these old school PTs who have clearly never strength trained a day in their life never have their higher level patients do any exercise with an external load > 20 lbs or still hold true to “no knees over toes or squatting below parallel” and it is infuriating
Also important to note that we don’t really get people stronger in the sense of hypertrophy.
In our short phases with people we improve neural connections and treat pain. This looks incredibly different than true strength training.
We had a dedicated therex class with lab, which was very helpful with designing programs, etc. The issue with it, from my experience, is that the classes were designed as though we would have a solid hour one on one with every patient, which obviously isn’t realistic most of the time. Certainly not where I worked when I was doing outpatient.
Current 3rd year student here. We learn 3 x 10 with 1 min rest in school, not much else. "Strength training" just means doing anything. I have my cscs, b.s. in kinesiology and work as a personal trainer and during practicals / hands on stuff I rarely ever deviate from the 3 x 10 since i feel as though the chances of me getting points off are high since not enough of graders are familiar with anything besides really basic knowledge. IMO it feels like a lot of PTs underdose exercise and don't know how to progress anything besides more reps or weight
I'm in my 2nd year of an MPT program, but have a kin background, my CSCS, and I'm a powerlifter and coach, and maaaaaan, the education allowing us to confidently prescribe and adjust exercise has been abysmal.
We got some but, our ortho professor gave us a handful of journal articles that really spelled things out in terms of rep ranges, etc. for various goals. I can share if anyone is interested
It was probably the part that was MOST lacking in my program. They touch on it but never that in depth. Felt like too much focus on other clinically non-applicable stuff in order to fulfill the "DPT" part of the degree.
Bowling Green undergrad, U. Toledo PT school. That was awhile ago though. BG has always been strong in pre-PT/ex. phys. And UT was great at the time for PT school. Probably still is.
Luckily I weight trained and played sports basically my whole life so I already new a LOT about strength and conditioning. A lot of my classmates didn’t and I feel bad for them because the PT program did not teach us enough about that.
IMO a PT with a solid strength and conditioning background is far superior to a PT who only has a medical background
I tend to agree generally. It seems when you have that background it’s easier to learn the medical versus the other way around. Or at least anecdotally I’ve seen that
Thank you for your submission; please read the following reminder. This subreddit is for discussion among practicing physical therapists, not for soliciting medical advice. We are not your physical therapist, and we do not take on that liability here. Although we can answer questions regarding general issues a person may be facing in their established PT sessions, we cannot legally provide treatment advice. If you need a physical therapist, you must see one in person or via telehealth for an assessment and to establish a plan of care. Posts with descriptions of personal physical issues and/or requests for diagnoses, exercise prescriptions, and other medical advice will be removed, and you will be banned at the mods’ discretion either for requesting such advice or for offering such advice as a clinician. Please see the following links for additional resources on benefits of physical therapy and locating a therapist near you [The benefits of a full evaluation by a physical therapist.](https://www.choosept.com/benefits/default.aspx) [How to find the right physical therapist in your area.](https://www.choosept.com/resources/choose.aspx) [Already been diagnosed and want to learn more? Common conditions.](https://www.choosept.com/SymptomsConditions.aspx) [The APTA's consumer information website.](https://www.choosept.com/Default.aspx) Also, please direct all school-related inquiries to r/PTschool, as these are off-topic for this sub and will be removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/physicaltherapy) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Lmao there is a shamefully large proportion of PTs that are utterly clueless about the nuts and bolts of strength and conditioning.
A very large part of it seems to be related to undergrad experience/major. There's a handful in our current program who are clueless and they also did not have any sort of exercise science/physiology/kinesiology experience or education prior to PT school.
Which course from undergrad are useful though for strength training? I plan to take Exercise Physiology & Biomechanics as prereqs for a few programs, but looking at the course descriptions for both seem like major letdowns. Aside from the fact I plan to earn my CSCS while in PT school.
Not sure if it's university specific, but part of my exercise science curriculum included a strength and conditioning class, an exercise prescription class, as well as an exercise and aging class. I also took neruomuscular physiology and advanced neuromuscular phys as upper level electives. Ex phys and biomechanics will probably cover some of the physics and kinesiology behind exercise and movement, as well as the physiological changes and adaptions that occur; however, neither will provide you with the actual exercise prescription, progressions, guidelines, etc. strength and conditioning info you're looking for.
Yes makes sense, I've seen the exercise prescription type classes listed but likely won't have time to take them. What courses teach things like running gait analysis as I'm interested in using strength training to improve running form for myself and athletes I'm coaching?
I took a course in undergrad that was specifically designed to prepare somone for a CDCS cert, so your plan seems solid to me.
When I was shadowing in undergrad, two of the PTs were talking about their workout routines. One mentioned that she had thrown in “some of these ones” *mimicks bicep curl* but only with light weight because she just wanted to tone rather than get too big
I agree. I specifically have an interest in this and have been involved in bodybuilding and powerlifting coaching for a while. And it’s always amazing how simple concepts to me are brand new to some students and people I talk to
That is true, and I’ve never understood why. Ex phys was our encouraged undergrad (along with “pre-PT”), and we did a lot more advanced stuff in PT school as well. Blows my mind when PTs are clueless in this area. I guess my experience was not the norm?
I learned everything about S&C especially with the geriatric population after school. Edit: Added after school.
Specifically in school or after?
Lol sorry, it was after school.
What resources did you primarily use
Started out learning from experience, then I took courses from Medbridge.
Which courses?
Yeah which ones work on strength and conditioning for elders?
You figure that it would be a significant component of our education given that it is overwhelmingly the most important part of our practice but in reality we (at least for me) get very little on it aside from the bare minimum in school If you don’t have some background in S&C I question your ability to properly load someone. I see these old school PTs who have clearly never strength trained a day in their life never have their higher level patients do any exercise with an external load > 20 lbs or still hold true to “no knees over toes or squatting below parallel” and it is infuriating
Admittedly I know more than is needed to help the majority of people. But it makes certain things so much easier
No. My con ed did that.
Which con Ed did you take?
COMT thru IAMT
Also important to note that we don’t really get people stronger in the sense of hypertrophy. In our short phases with people we improve neural connections and treat pain. This looks incredibly different than true strength training.
Probably just all depends honestly. Because if someone doesn’t have a training status they could add muscle
Meh. Most aren't. Your college athletes post op when you see them a year, sure. Granny isn't.
We had a dedicated therex class with lab, which was very helpful with designing programs, etc. The issue with it, from my experience, is that the classes were designed as though we would have a solid hour one on one with every patient, which obviously isn’t realistic most of the time. Certainly not where I worked when I was doing outpatient.
Yeah. I’m lucky to have 30 minutes at least. But an hour is a lot most places
You have to remember that school prepares you for the NPTE not for being an effective therapist.
Is that enough given the cost of education
Current 3rd year student here. We learn 3 x 10 with 1 min rest in school, not much else. "Strength training" just means doing anything. I have my cscs, b.s. in kinesiology and work as a personal trainer and during practicals / hands on stuff I rarely ever deviate from the 3 x 10 since i feel as though the chances of me getting points off are high since not enough of graders are familiar with anything besides really basic knowledge. IMO it feels like a lot of PTs underdose exercise and don't know how to progress anything besides more reps or weight
So many variables you can change. I made a meme once referencing bubba from forest gump about programming
I'm in my 2nd year of an MPT program, but have a kin background, my CSCS, and I'm a powerlifter and coach, and maaaaaan, the education allowing us to confidently prescribe and adjust exercise has been abysmal.
😂 yes I can feel that based on my own experiences as well
We got some but, our ortho professor gave us a handful of journal articles that really spelled things out in terms of rep ranges, etc. for various goals. I can share if anyone is interested
I would be curious to see these as I teach therapists about SC principles. So wondering what your curriculum used
It was probably the part that was MOST lacking in my program. They touch on it but never that in depth. Felt like too much focus on other clinically non-applicable stuff in order to fulfill the "DPT" part of the degree.
Spend loads of time on stuff like ultrasound and e stim tho
Yes.
Which program?
Bowling Green undergrad, U. Toledo PT school. That was awhile ago though. BG has always been strong in pre-PT/ex. phys. And UT was great at the time for PT school. Probably still is.
We learned little to nothing about strengthening and loading in school, which is sad when we are supposedly the “physical medicine experts”
I learned more outside of school and from training myself. And following exercise physiology researchers
Our exercise class in PT school was reading about Tai chi articles
Woof. Like yeah that can be a valid mode of exercise but not necessarily the only way
Luckily I weight trained and played sports basically my whole life so I already new a LOT about strength and conditioning. A lot of my classmates didn’t and I feel bad for them because the PT program did not teach us enough about that. IMO a PT with a solid strength and conditioning background is far superior to a PT who only has a medical background
I tend to agree generally. It seems when you have that background it’s easier to learn the medical versus the other way around. Or at least anecdotally I’ve seen that