Independent Study 2

1.   For my second Independent Study I plan on continue taking the massage therapy classes.  I plan to go to the same place as my last independent study.  With this in mind I hope to gain more knowledge on massage therapy and hopefully have more practice in it as well.

2. My independent Study 2 relates to my EQ because massage therapy is considered one way of reducing back pain.  Also as a physical therapist, he or she needs to have the proper skills when performing a massage.

Independent Study 1

1. Days attended massage classes were:

• Every Thursday from Nov. 4th - Feb. 9th. From 3:30 - 5:30

 2. My Log:

 

3. LIA

Literal:

• I Daisy Betancourt, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hrs. of work.
• I completed a total of 15 sessions.  I also obtained new knowledge on different massages that there are, and some new techniques that are being used which involves mixing the different types of massages into one.  Another thing that I completed was my understanding of how a massage can reduce inflammation on the back and relax the muscles.

  Interpretive:

• During the time that I went to my classes, I observed how different types of massages can be put together to create one good massage.  I learned how to use my weight to give massages on different people with different body masses.  I also learned different points that should be massages with caution and what parts of the body cannot be massaged.  I learned what body parts I have to use for each area of the back.

  Applied:

• My independent study helped me answer my EQ because it showed me that massages can reduce inflammation on the back which is one way that pain in the back can be reduced.  Also the hot stones that are put in the back make the muscles less tense which make it easier to give a deep tissue massage which can help reduce back pain if the patient or client's cause for there back pain is muscle aching.  The heat that the hot stones provide also reduces inflammation in the back.  Another important thing that my independent study showed me was that massage therapy for back pain is only a temporary relief, because I noticed that the clients that came for back pain reasons continued to come.  The instructor which is also a certified chiropractor told me as well that a massage is only a temporary relief for back pain..

Lesson Plan

Essential Question: What is the best physical therapy technique to treat a patient with back pain?

• Introduction: (Total:3 Min.)
• Introduce myself (1 Min)
• Explain Posture ( 1 Min)
• Simple explanation between posture and back pain (1 Min)
• Verification:
• Ask questions on how the class thinks that posture can be improved
• Q1: Do any of you guys know if there is an activity to improve posture? (1 Min)
• Q2: Are there any equipment that help improve posture?
• If so why do you think it improves posture? (1 Min)
• Body:
• Literal
• Introduce Exercise ball (1 Min)
• Brief history (1 Min)
• How it helps with posture (1 Min)
• Describe posture (1 Min)
• Good posture (30 Sec)
• Bad posture (30 Sec)
• Interpretive
• Connection between exercise ball and posture (1 Min)
• Connection between exercise ball, posture, and back pain (1 Min)
• Applied
• Explain how PT helps prepare me for the job I want which is a PT Aid (1 Min)
• Explain what PT aid is and what they do (1 Min)
• Activity: (4 Min)
• Have the whole class freeze!
• Choose 2 students to come to the front of the class
• Have them choose 3 students with the best posture
• Ask 2 other students why they were chosen
• Show them good posture with exercise balls
• Conclusion ( 2 Min)
• Source 1
• Source 2
• Source 2
• Overall importance of exercise balls, posture and back pain J
• Visual:
• Poster
• PowerPoint
• Materials:
• Exercise Balls