fisioterapia

Buenos! I dove into all this physical therapy this week and I think it is about time I tell you more about the work I’m doing in the clinic 🙂 For starters we see a wide range of patients. Some patients are regulars coming once, twice, or three times a week others may just stop in once or simply come by to purchase something or ask a question. We treat patients with a variety of diagnoses including elbow fractures, strokes, knee replacements, herniated disks, facial paralysis, low back pain, tibula/fibula fractures, cerebral palsy, and arthritis. Fractures are extremely common in Guatemala because of the high rate of motorcycle accidents. The clinic is open three days a week from roughly 8:00-5:00 and there is just one PT who runs the clinic, Esvin. I assist Esvin in whatever he may need (very similar to a PT tech). But over the course of my weeks here my responsibilities with patients have grown in the clinic so I have much to fill you in on. There are three patient sessions in particular that I have a role in treating. 

Patient #1: Facial Paralysis 

Facial paralysis patients were the first patients I really learned the steps to treat from day one because of how routined their treatment sessions are. The session consists of TENS stimulation, ice, heat, another method of electrical stimulation, and facial muscle exercises and massage. The facial muscle exercises are the part I find the most fascinating and slowly Esvin has been training me. Last week when things were slow we had Josue (one of the teenagers who lives here) sit in as a patient and I practiced on him! My actual patient is the sweetest elderly woman who surprises us with food from her son’s restaurant each week.

This patient comes three times a week for almost 1.5 hours so we have quickly become friends. Her sessions consist of passive elbow flexion and extension, modalities like ice heat & ultrasound, and strengthening exercises for the biceps, triceps, and shoulder. Her hardworking spirit inspires me and her kindness and patience with my spanish is the sweetest. She has truly welcomed me to Guatemala with open arms inviting me into her home and out to dinner with her family. 

Patient #3: Pediatric Gross Motor Delay 

One of the young boys in the nutrition center is delayed in waking likely due to prolonged malnourishment. He is now at a good weight and needs to build the strength and confidence to walk. He has captured my heart and taught me a lot about pediatric PT. Since he lives here at the center with his mom I’ve started to work with him daily. Working with him has taught me that pediatric PT is led by the child. Creativity and many many toys are crucial in sessions. Only a happy kid will do the work, do not push it too much. Including mom in the session is a valuable motivator for kids. And while pediatric PT is challenging, it is incredibly rewarding. 

The clinic has truly become a little home for me with familiar faces and routines. Patients mingle between each other and sessions linger on past the hour. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to work directly with patients and being back in a clinic has reminded me of all the reasons I love this profession. I constantly find myself wishing I had more knowledge…wishing I could help more. But I know that these are the moments I will return to when I feel discouraged in PT school. The moments where I am reminded of my why PT to serve and help people who need it most like my pediatric patient, facial paralysis patient, and elbow fracture patient.