- #1
mecheng212
- 8
- 0
A little background: I am 22 years old, 3 years ago I got sick and lost a lot of weight. My physical condition deteriorated until I finally found someone who diagnosed me correctly (or at least correctly enough) and the physical deterioration halted. At the time I was in a lot of physical pain from a variety of different problems (cervical radiculopathies, sciatic nerve compression, medial epicondylitis, rotator cuff issues, knee/hip pain, etc, etc, etc…), mostly due to the loss of muscle and poor posture. That’s when the physical therapy started (and progress had finally begun to take shape)! It’s been 3 years now, and I’m still coping with certain levels of pain, but I’ve made a ton of progress and learned incredible things about biomechanics and the reengineering of the human body along the way!
To make a long story shorter, and to focus on the real reason I am writing, I have become fascinated with the rehabilitation of the human body!
I am currently studying Mechanical Engineering as an Undergraduate at Virginia Tech and am going into my senior year this fall. The engineering process is something I’ve always been captivated by. The highly-mechanical nature of the structures that make up the body is partly what fascinates me (from both an engineering and a clinical standpoint)! I’ve considered medical school, but from my experience in the healthcare system, and considering the areas I’m interested in, I’ve found that physical therapy is a better fit. I’ve found a great passion in educating people (as well as myself) about how to use their bodies! I am not sure what to do; I am wondering if it’s possible to study physical therapy after a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering?
I’ve been through lots of information online about what it takes to become a licensed physical therapist- but one of the problems I’m running into is that, after I graduate next spring I have to work (I’ll be lucky to make it through to graduation, between school and the continuing onslaught of medical bills, I’m flat broke) :)
Anyone have an idea if it is possible to use my engineering background to get a job at a company (maybe one that is involved with prostetics/orthopedics perhaps) that might pay my way for further education/licensure in physical therapy? Maybe in an attempt to use clinical skills and experience to improve the development of rehabilitation devices/technologies?
I’m in love with engineering, and cannot imagine leaving it behind. I would love to try and find a way to integrate the analytical and math/science skills I’ve developed over the last few years with the clinical and R&D end of physical therapy/rehabilitation. Is this unrealistic?
I apologize for the length of this post, it always winds up waaay longer than I intend.
I greatly appreciate any feedback/thoughts/experiences/feelings!
Thanks so much in advance!
To make a long story shorter, and to focus on the real reason I am writing, I have become fascinated with the rehabilitation of the human body!
I am currently studying Mechanical Engineering as an Undergraduate at Virginia Tech and am going into my senior year this fall. The engineering process is something I’ve always been captivated by. The highly-mechanical nature of the structures that make up the body is partly what fascinates me (from both an engineering and a clinical standpoint)! I’ve considered medical school, but from my experience in the healthcare system, and considering the areas I’m interested in, I’ve found that physical therapy is a better fit. I’ve found a great passion in educating people (as well as myself) about how to use their bodies! I am not sure what to do; I am wondering if it’s possible to study physical therapy after a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering?
I’ve been through lots of information online about what it takes to become a licensed physical therapist- but one of the problems I’m running into is that, after I graduate next spring I have to work (I’ll be lucky to make it through to graduation, between school and the continuing onslaught of medical bills, I’m flat broke) :)
Anyone have an idea if it is possible to use my engineering background to get a job at a company (maybe one that is involved with prostetics/orthopedics perhaps) that might pay my way for further education/licensure in physical therapy? Maybe in an attempt to use clinical skills and experience to improve the development of rehabilitation devices/technologies?
I’m in love with engineering, and cannot imagine leaving it behind. I would love to try and find a way to integrate the analytical and math/science skills I’ve developed over the last few years with the clinical and R&D end of physical therapy/rehabilitation. Is this unrealistic?
I apologize for the length of this post, it always winds up waaay longer than I intend.
I greatly appreciate any feedback/thoughts/experiences/feelings!
Thanks so much in advance!