Essential Functions

In addition to essential functions for all Health Professions students (above), each student in the Physical Therapy Program must be able to:

1. Participate in supervised clinical activities for 8-10 hour days (40-50 hours/week) up to 12 consecutive weeks;
2. Demonstrate sufficient vision to perform such tests as (but not limited to), reading and interpreting a medical record, inspecting and debriding wounds, performing observational movement analysis, and determining movement and gait deviations;
3. Demonstrate sufficient upper and lower body strength, coordination, and sensation to perform safe and appropriate techniques for activities such as (but not limited to) prolonged standing, manual muscle testing, guarding a patient, transferring a patient, palpation, soft tissue mobilization, joint mobilization, and cardiac resuscitation;
4. Demonstrate sufficient hearing to perform auscultation of the heart, blood vessels, and lungs;
5. Demonstrate sufficient problem solving skills to learn to make a differential diagnosis, establish appropriate treatment plans, determine effectiveness of those plans, and make appropriate modifications; and
6. Demonstrate professional demeanor and behavior; perform in an ethical manner in all dealings with peers, faculty, staff, and patients.