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Bay State College Physical Therapist Assistant Students Complete 2-Year Service Learning Projects

By Bay State College on April 18, 2017
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At Bay State College, students in our 2-year Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program come from all walks of life. Many enter the program with a degree in a different field, and all come with a unique idea about where their PTA degree will take them. 

When it comes time to choose a topic for their program-long service learning project, students have the opportunity to follow their passions and interests to create a project that is unique to them, but also helps the community.  

The following are a list of projects our graduating PTA students will present this year: 

 

 

  • Strength Exercises for Injury Prevention in High School Track Athletes at St. Joseph by the Sea High School
  • Optimal Body Mechanics, Proper Posture, and Lifting Techniques to Reduce Risk of Lower Back Pain in Landscapers
  • Preventing Common Overuse Injuries in Adolescent Dancers at the School of Classical Ballet
  • Occupational Injury Prevention for Visual Artists at the Rhode Island School of Design
  • Stand Up Desks for Kids at Jenkins Elementary School
  • ACL Tear Prevention Clinic for Whitman Youth Soccer (WYS)
  • Injury Prevention in Young Female Gymnasts at Paradise Gymnastics
  • Improving Body Mechanics and Decreasing Sitting Time in Office Workers to Prevent Injuries at Raytheon
  • The Ride: Where Does PT Fit In? Developing a proposal for PT involvement in MBTA's paratransit service
  • Increasing Diversity Within the Field of Physical Therapy at Roxbury Community College
  • Exercise Alternatives for Individuals Living with Parkinson Disease at Local PD Support Groups
  • Overcoming Poor Posture Due to a Sedentary Lifestyle for Local Office Workers
  • Stretching Program and Sport Specific Balance Activities for Female High School Basketball Players at West Bridgewater Middle-Senior High School (WBHS)
  • Therapeutic Exercises for the Elder Community Dwelling Population
  • Decreasing the Risk of Should Injuries in High School Softball Players
  • Balance, Posture and Self-Reliance Workshop for Active Agers at the Weymouth Club

Physical Therapist Assistant Professor Claire Robbins released this statement on the importance of service learning in the Bay State College PTA program: 

"Service learning is used in the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Bay State College as a teaching method which combines community service with academic instruction in the classroom with a focus on critical and reflective thinking as well as civic responsibility. It helps to improve self-confidence, enhance problem solving, increase an understanding of social issues, promote team collaboration, and promotes reflection on learning and how it affects community. As a physical therapy assistant student, it helps to promote and reinforce the value based behaviors of our professional organization, such as promoting health, wellness and prevention strategies in the community and advocating for the clients we serve." 

On April 20, 2017, PTA students presented their service learning projects to the Bay State College community.
Learn more here.