IPHREHAB: NPTE TIPS FOR PTs

IPHREHAB

NPTE-Tips

Here are the few things that you need to know before appearing for NPTE:

What ever u read ,try to understand each and every word together with cramming it.

Do not put much time in reading whole of kisner and Magee.

The Special tests in maggee are very important but just concentrate on the ones given in RG. Special tests based questions are usually photo based.Focus on RG tests but see the pictures from magee.RG is the "mool mantra" to clear NPTE.If u are really thorough with it u can crack the exam easily.

The red sullivan is good for some reading...Read all PNF techniques thoroughly.

I wud like to mention one important thing as far as ANATOMY is concerned.Please don't go about reading all the origin insertion .....u r just expected to know the rough idea form which bone to where ,,,and nerve courses general idea.the nerve supply is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!For this BB and RG charts are too good.

Blood supply is important,nerve supply Very imp and also the dermatomes n myotomes extremely imp.The blue book Charts are awesome.learn each and every word of it.Don't feel surprised if half of ur test is based on these!!

Biomechanics..I just did it frm RG n BB.Focus on Knee and shoulder joint.Examiner's fav!

Kisner....Basically concentrate on pictures of Joint mobilisation and Postures

UVR ,SWD,IR,LASER.... r omitted! Focus on currents.

All condts in RG n BB are imp for all the systems.Focus on other systems in BB.

Pharma from BB is IMPORTANT.

Don't refer to any other books for pathology n dermatology!Focus on wounds

Kendall...Do the ankle, knee n hip compensatory motions tables.Extremellllllllly Important!Pay spl attention.

KNEE....MOST FAVORITE TOPIC FOR EXAMINERS!

GAIT.....EVEN MORE FAVOURITE!!! Do all the tables in RG n BB

. really piss u off with this topic.I suggest to go thru this topic DAILY , learn them thoroughly each day of ur prep together with compensatory motions.BB Charts and RG charts are like " life line" for Gait questions.

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X-rays: Study thru maggee pics ...don't focus much on it!

ECG:i think RG is good for this..Questions usually have ECG strips so my notes will help u.

Wheelchair,prosthetics,orthotics very imp.Learn daily,

Postures:Be good in this!

Study plan for NPTE

1st and 2 nd week:

Review guide(RG) and blue book (BB) reading

complete reading both these books by end of the 2 weeks or 3 weeks. Mark the Important stuff ,payspecial attention to the tables

Sunday: On the sunday of the 2nd week , take the 1 st practise test of the BB.

( do not take tension for getting a low score,ur just takin the test as a practise so that u understand the nature of the questns that are asked in the exam)PLEASE spend time in analyising your weak areas.Please!!!

3rd week: Again read RG AND BB but this time lil more in detail, (pay attention to values,tests,nerve supply etc etc)

Sunday: again take the test of RG( 3rd sunday)

4th week RG N BB reading( being thorough with .... tables ,nerves ,muscles actions,MMT , pay attention to small details) .

Sunday : take another test --3rd test

5th week : RG AND BB revision

sunday: The RG TEST

6th week and 7th week : Focus on your week areas and take other tests.

Happy preperations!

AND REGARDING WHAT I STUDIED FOR THE EXAM,

Don't be upset if u are not good in research.I just studied red guide and blue book..I did likliehood ratio from internet.do read the chart of values(u will get online).

FROM REDBOOK READ CERTAIN TOPICS LIKE SPINAL CORD INJURIES,ORTHOTICS,PROSTHETICS AND WHEEL CHAIR.

REVIEW GUIDE AND BLUE BOOK: Do EACH QUESTION PAPER as many times as u can, this will help you TO ANALYSE THE QUESTIONS VERY FAST IN THE MAIN EXAM.I did the same. Please read all the charts of bb ans rg daily.daily means daily.They are vvvvvvvvvvv imp for exam.

IPHREHAB : NPTE FOR PTs IN USA

IPHREHAB

If you are a Foreign PT (physiotherapist) seeking career in USA
Here is the process of starting your career as a physical therapist in USA:


1. Just sit quietly and give yourself sometime and think which STATE you are planning to work in as a PT.


2. Decided? Now let's move ahead.


3. Apply to one of the Credential evaluation agencies to find out if your education is equivalent to USA entry level education.


You can apply to one of these agencies depending upon the state you are interested in:-
a) www.fccpt.org
b) www.cgfns.org
c) www.ierf.org


FCCPT COVERS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF JURISDICTIONS.SO FOR LONG TERM APPLYING WITH THIS AGENCY IS BENEFICIAL.LIKE IF IN FUTURE YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR SOME OTHER STATE'S EVALUATION,THERE IS NO NEED OF REQUESTING YOUR DOCUMENTS AGAIN FROM YOUR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION, AS FCCPT KEEPS YOUR PAPERS WITH THEM FOR A LONG TIME.
IERF DOES NOT HAVE VISA SCREENING SERVICE SO THOSE WHO NEED WORK PERMIT OR H1, ITS BETTER TO GO FOR CGNFS OR FCCPT.


4) Credential evaluation can take a long time upto 6-7 months .All depends on the agency you choose and the time your academic institutions take to send over your documents to USA.(better use fedex account ) 


5)while you have applied for educational evaluation,don't waste time:- you have three choices:-


i) If u need H1,better start preparing for "TOEFL".And get done with it.The score requirements differ with states so better check with agencies not with state boards because TOEFL is required only for Visa Screening not for PT license.


ii) Few country PT always get some deficiency in general credits like INDIA.(i know this because I am an Indian).So giving few Clep exams won't hurt.i did the same.this will save time in future.Don't go for lab courses as you don't know which compulsory lab course will u get.So better opt for English.Science etc.


iii) Read the reference books for NPTE as u won't get time for them later.I mentioned in my earlier post regarding the reference books.


6) If u do not have a social security number u have to apply for a alternate identification number(AIN) which will b required when u register for the NPTE.This can be applied here:-
http://www.fsbpt.org/download/AINApp_20090105.pdf

7) Apply to required state board of education.And fill their application for PT License.
u can send them application even now as u apply to one of the agencies (fccpt,ierf,cgfns).they will again open a file for u and keep and as soon as they receive doc or report from the agency ,they will give you a green signal to appear for NPTE.this 7th step can differ a bit depending upon the state.


8) After TOEFL, start preparing for NPTE so that as soon as evaluation is complete and state board sends u approval letter ,u can apply to fsbpt for a ATT(approval to test).This will give a 2 months eligibility period starting frm around the date u apply,so apply for att only once sure of giving the exam within coming 2 months.
Also after this 2 months eligibility period u have to agian apply for another Att n pay the fees again.The site is www.fsbpt.org


5) Once Att letter is in ur hand register for a date with prometric.they have centres all around.u can choose which suits u according to the available day and date.And all the best for the exam.


So thats all ...the process looks very lengthy n confusing but dont worry...just apply for credential evaluation for now..the rest will take no time. In fact a few will be done while waiting for evaluation to be complete.
Have patience !


Hope this helps......

IPHREHAB : Childhood Hip Problems

IPHREHAB



Childhood Hip Problems:


Developmental Dysplasia
When the hips are dislocated or out of position in infancy, the joint may not develop properly. While this is not usually painful as a child, it will lead to early arthritis and problems with walking.


Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
Also called Perthes disease, this is a problem similar to osteonecrosis (see above) but in childhood. If severe, it can lead to permanent damage to this hip joint and early arthritis.


When do you need to call your doctor about your hip pain?
If you are unsure of the cause of your symptoms, or if you do not know the specific treatment recommendations for your condition, you should seek medical attention. Treatment of hip pain must be directed at the specific cause of your problem. Some signs that you should be seen by a doctor include:

• Inability to walk comfortably on the affected side
• Injury that causes deformity around the joint
• Hip pain that occurs at night or while resting
• Hip pain that persists beyond a few days
• Inability to bend the hip
• Swelling of the hip or the thigh area
• Signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth
• Any other unusual symptoms

What are the best treatments for hip pain?
Treatment depends entirely on the cause of the problem. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you understand the cause of your symptoms before embarking on a treatment program. If you are unsure of your diagnosis, or the severity of your condition, you should seek medical advice before beginning any treatment plan.


Some common treatments for hip pain are listed here. Not all of these treatments are appropriate for every condition, but they may be helpful in your situation.


Rest: The first treatment for most conditions that cause hip pain is to rest the joint, and allow the acute inflammation to subside. Often this is the only step needed to relieve hip pain. If the symptoms are severe, crutches or a cane may be helpful as well.


Ice and Heat Application: Ice packs and heat pads are among the most commonly used treatments for inflammation. So which one is the right one to use, ice or heat? And how long should the ice or heat treatments last? Read on for more information about ice and heat treatment.


Stretching: Stretching the muscles and tendons that surround the joint can help with some causes of hip pain. A good routine should be established, and following some specific suggestions will help you on your way.


Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is an important aspect of treatment of almost all orthopedic conditions. Physical therapists use different modalities to increase strength, regain mobility, and help return patients to their pre-injury level of activity.


Anti-Inflammatory Medication: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, commonly referred to as NSAIDs, are some of the most frequently prescribed medications, especially for patients with hip pain caused by problems such as arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis.


Treatment Basics

• Physical Therapy
• Ice and Heat Treatment
• Stretching Out

Treatment Medications
Anti-Inflammatory Medications


Hip Pain Evaluation
Find A Doctor

IPHREHAB : HIP PAIN..

IPHREHAB Hip pain is common problem, and it can be confusing because there are many causes. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be directed at the underlying problem. If you have hip pain, some common causes include: Arthritis 

Arthritis is among the most frequent causes of hip pain, and there are many treatments available. If conservative treatments fail, hip replacement surgery is an option.

 Trochanteric Bursitis Trochanteric bursitis is an extremely common problem that causes inflammation of the bursa over the outside of the hip joint. 

 Tendonitis Tendonitis can occur in any of the tendons that surround the hip joint. The most frequently encountered tendonitis around the hip is iliotibial band (IT band) tendonitis. 

 Osteonecrosis Osteonecrosis is a condition that occurs when blood flow to an area of bone is restricted. If an inadequate amount of blood flow reaches the bone, the cells will die and the bone may collapse. One of the most common places for osteonecrosis to occur is in the hip joint. 

 Lumbar Pain - Referred Symptoms Many back and spine problems can cause symptoms around the buttocks and hip. The most common problems that refer pain to the hip region are herniated discs and sciatica. 

 Snapping Hip Syndrome Snapping hip syndrome is a word used to describe three distinct hip problems. The first is when the IT band snaps over the outside of the thigh. The second occurs when the deep hip flexor snaps over the front of the hip joint. 

Finally, tears of the cartilage, or labrum, around the hip socket can cause a snapping sensation. 

 Muscle Strains Strains of the muscles around the hip and pelvis can cause pain and spasm. The most common strains are groin pulls and hamstring strains. 

 Hip Fracture Hip fractures are most common in elderly patients with osteoporosis. Treatment of broken hips requires surgery to either replace the broken portion or repair it with a metal plate and screws. 

 Stress Fracture Stress fractures of the hip are most common in athletes who participate in high-impact sports, such as long distance runners. Treatment usually is successful by avoiding the impact activities.