Physical Therapy (Fisioterápia) in Tarragona is very similar to that of the United States. There are 10 therapists in the hospital Joan XXIII and each see about 10 patients a day, which is pretty typical for a large hospital. I shadow an older PT who everyone says is the best, which is a major plus. I also follow a 4th year physical therapy student who is exactly my age, which is interesting because in the U.S., physical therapy school doesn’t start until you’re done with undergrad!! However, I am thankful because this student is able to translate the things I learn into English.
I have seen a lot of repeating patients the past few days along with different ones here and there. It’s very interesting to see the types of patients who come in and go into the PT gym and the patients who live in the main hospital and the contrast between them. Because of this, there are a wide variety of patients who are in different phases of recovery. The common problems for patients coming in to the “gym” are wrist, hand, shoulder, knee, and back. However, most of the patients we visit inside the hospital are ones who have recently had strokes, which was very new to me because I hadn’t seen that before!
(Rehabilitation center at Joan XXIII: OT, PT, etc.)
Being able to shadow PT’s and learn the similarities and differences between PT in the U.S. and here in Tarragona has been extremely beneficial to me in many ways. I’m very lucky and thankful to have this opportunity. All in all, this week has been great!
(Me in the PT gym!)
-Raynie Cathcart