FOXcast PT: APTA CSM Preview

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Jimmy McKay, PT, DPT: We are doing a special live broadcast this morning with the biggest dance in physical therapy coming up in just a couple of weeks. FOX rehabilitation will be there in force. We’re talking about the American Physical Therapy associations combined sections meeting. Everybody just calls a CSM. January 23 to 26 in our nation’s capital this year looking to get close to what we had last year at CSM in New Orleans 17,000 physical therapists all in one spot. Now to give you a really really great breakdown and insight in what you need to do, both clinically and of course socially, at CSM this year we are bringing in some fellow FOX clinicians. Let’s bring in one right now from the Northern Virginia area Alex Germano.

Alexandra Germano, PT, DPT: Hi Jimmy.

Jimmy: There you are welcome to the show. Appreciate you coming on. You’re no stranger to the podcast. Neither is your dog. We love having dogs in the background. Alex what team are you on?

Alex: I am I’m Virginia north three actually now.

Megan Mitchell, PT, DPT: Going to bring in someone else. Megan Mitchell welcome to the show. Hey Jimmy.

Jimmy: Rounding out our trio of ladies this morning Emily, Emily say hello to everybody.

Emily Clarke, PT, DPT: Hey Jimmy.

Jimmy: Alright we bring you guys into to really take a breakdown of what CSM is going to look like. I asked you guys to take a look at the CSM programming which in case you don’t know because for some people this is their very first CSM. I think it’s the first CSM for Alex this year right?

Alex: Yeah.

Jimmy: Two things off the bat. The programming is already listed online so you can go and scope out what you want to do. You can search by day, by time, by topic, like geriatric PT. You can search by Speaker or by section. And there’s an app for that. So make sure you know the very free PT CSM app is available right now and will be loaded up with that program book. Back in the day the old school PT is watching right now will know that they used to print out like phone books of the program and used to just kill a ton of trees. We don’t do that anymore. There is an app for that. So I asked you guys to take a look at the programming and kind of break down what interested you to get everybody out there a preview. First up who are you excited to see? What’s one person that you saw on the speaking roster that you really wanted to take a listen to? And we’ll go do to Alex first. Alex who’s someone you can’t wait to hear at CSM?

Alex: I love listening to Dr. Sharon Dunn. She’s actually the president of APTA and she spoke at my graduation. She’s a phenomenal speaker gets you really engaged in what we’re doing and where PT is going. So any time that she’s speaking this weekend she has one educational session but she has another talk or two throughout the weekend. I would try to see her speak she’s great.

Jimmy: Also you always want to get the you want to get a selfie with Sharon. She’s always very giving of her time. You want to get. You want to get Sharon right in here and she’s always cheesin’ for the camera. So yeah Sharon Dunn probably on your all star list of someone to at least see speak or definitely talked to in the hallway. Meghan who is somebody on your list you need you’d need to see speak at CSM when you’re there?

Megan: Physical Therapist Adrian Louw. He’s huge in persistent pain and neurophysiological science. And so I geeked out last year and saw two of his session and not only is he really engaging but persistent in this kind of complex and intimidating topic. At least it was for me as a student. He tells like these little stories. Sometimes it case studies like an individual and sometimes it’s just kind of like an anecdote about how to explain pain to patients and individuals and I use it all the time. There are like two major ones that like I still use to this day. I highly highly recommend. I think he’s giving four talks one Thursday one Friday and then two on Saturday. So just get to one of those.

Jimmy: He’s got a pretty pretty busy dance card. But where it benefits you can search that app or that program guide by speaker name and you can check out all the things that Adrian Louw is doing.

Jimmy: Emily last up on the list here. Who we definitely need to see at CSM this year on your list?

Emily: Definitely Carol Lewis she’s always at the top of my list for anyone that you want to talk about geriatrics she’s just a wealth of knowledge. She was a guest lecturer back when I was in school. She cam in to our geriatrics course and talked about really great things, great exercises related to thoracic kyphosis that I never even thought about doing with older adults. She is she’s getting one lecture hall an actually through the academy of orthopedic PT. And then she’s giving another talk at what they’re calling the breakfast of champions where they’re recognizing the new GCS awards. So she is considered a distinguished lecturer there. And even though know it’s not for CEU’s I’m really interested to go and hear her talk wiht that one. You know the great at geriatrics which is what FOX is all about.

Jimmy: Yeah. Carol also a friend of the practice, she’s been out to Capstone each and every year. Listen a dynamic speaker when you can say that you as a geriatric PT you can sit in front of the person who literally wrote the first book on geriatric physical therapy like Carole Lewis. I think you should do that a trio. You guys are really setting yourself up. I’ll give you guys all an A on that one. Well done. Next up I’ll go back to Alex looking at a session that you think looks interesting. You might know nothing about the speaker. And this is where CSM and going to something like this is so great, you have so many different things going on in so many different avenues that combined sections part of the meeting that you can get into some pretty interesting areas to what’s a speaking session that looks really interest to you?

Alex: OK I had two one was on January 24 that’s Thursday from 11 to 1. That is put the fast back and fast twitch adding power to the plan for older adults. A big believer in adding power in just about every patient that I see so I am interested to see if there’s any new ideas coming to the table there. My second one is weight loss protein and other macronutrients, a PT’s guide to older adults. Again on Thursday but from three to five. I have four patients right now with just unexplained weight loss. We’ve talked a lot about protein intake in the latest geriatric PT journal geriatric PT had explained what our scope there was and educating on protein intake. And I’m curious to learn more about what I can do to help those folks.

Jimmy: So a complete complete shock to me if you listen to Alex’s episode on FOXcast PT, that she talks about adding power and protein. The two P’s right there I think are important to Alex. And that’s why I like the fact that CSM is so big and the geriatric section doesn’t have its very own conference every year like some of the other sections so this is where you can get some really interesting insight. Some big name talkers but also some really really interesting talks as well. Megan. What’s something that you definitely want to see in terms of looking really interesting?

Megan: Combining two of my favorite sections geriatric and this section on women’s health. This one is hosted by a section of women’s health that session its pelvic floor training for the older adult. It’s Thursday from 11a.m. to 1p.m. And I’m really excited about that because I think almost all of my patients have some form of incontinence whether it’s bladder or bowel and so it will be really nice to get kind of a refersher course on exercises that I can do. And even use to explain to them how to activate the muscles because I think that’s their biggest challenge and unraveling right now is getting them to understand to isolate those movements. And that it’s something that can be trained more often than not. They’re like isn’t it just normal that I just wear the pads? Everyone does that when in fact it’s not normal although it’s very very common.

Jimmy: And I love that you bring up a speaking session that actually crosses two sections. That’s always a really interesting mix not only with the speakers but with the questions that you’ll get out of the audience when you cross over two of those things. Love Carrie Pagliano who’s the current president of the pelvic health section. Wrapped up in things that look really really interesting things you should definitely check out if you’re in the area at CSM. Emily what do you got on your list?

Emily: Session that caught my eye was called geriatric low back pain managing influences experiences and consequences. So I find about 90 percent of my patients have low back pain. And it’s usually not a result of the surgery or something like that. It’s usually just tightness or weakness I like to get that session to find out different interventions try to get that back pain. Working with their limitations because I can’t always get them in the positions that I want to or I don’t have that tables to work with. So finding new ways to address the back pain and then related to the patient.

Jimmy: FOX clinicians in particular need to be kind of a guy MacGyver-esque right? Because you have no idea what you’re going to get before you walk in and you don’t know what you’re going to able to work with. Right? In terms of tools and being able to to actually facilitate some of those movements. Everything looks good in a textbook and in a case study until you get there in real life. All right. APTA has some regular features and were given this nod to Alex just let you know since this is going to be your very first CSM. They have some lectures that go on every single year. Some sessions that happen every single time so wanted to take a look and see what regular APTA features are coming up this this year at CSM. Because the APTA typically when they going to have a regular feature they put some really heavy hitters in those sessions and make sure that they’re really stacked. So regular sessions at the APTA. You can also find these on the app as well. Alex is what caught your eye and those features?

Alex: I didn’t have a session in mind but something that I know always happens at CSM just so I know people presented there before. Is that the poster presentations in the exhibit hall. And I love that. Some of the geriatric onces the geriatric section is part of group three which is Saturday January 26. So they’ll be there and some of the topics are super interesting. A lot on high intensity interval training. So going along with my theme as a clinician seems to be pretty fitting. So I’m interested to see some of those posters and being on the forefront of research.

Jimmy: Poster presentations to me to be honest the first time I found out about them didn’t sound interesting until until I found out that the person who wrote and contributed to all of them right there was standing right there and then suddenly it became totally interesting to me as well. Now we’re talking about interactivity. I can ask what this means clarification. So love that you brought that up because I think a lot of people just think they’re static posters. You know when you read and that people just think why can I just look at those online. No no no no no. Human beings are standing right there. The people who are responsible for those posters are standing right there. So you can ask them questions so love the fact that you’re you bringing that up Alex. Megna whatta got regular features that come up every time the APTA puts on the big dance?

Megan: This isn’t a session. But they always do some sort of community service event. And so they did this last year. Although it’s a different this is a different organization. But it’s a walk for wheels step challenge. So all you have to do is download this app and wee can put the link under Setio right for how to download the app or at least get the more information. Starting January 21st through Sunday January 27. You just carry your phone with you or your Fitbit or your Apple Watch. It tracks your steps and then all of us this weekend get one hundred thirty five million steps, APTA will donate ten thousand dollars and our National Rehabilitation Hospital. Are their Adaptive Sports Program which is really very easy you cause one DC is huge. And the conferences in three different names so we are definitely going to be getting a lot of steps for this conference. So it’s a very very easy way to raise money. And you just have to do it through an app. And then the other thing along with those poster presentations the exhibit hall in general. The first time I went to CSM I did not take full advantage of it. Going it is it’s a really easy way to network and make the event smaller without it seeming so overwhelming. CSM is huge. Even when you go to a lecture it’s kind of hard to interact with individuals but going up to the booths for like the different factions are going to be members of the geriatric section in the booth same with section on women’s health. So those are really easy ways to just interact with other things and kind of find out ways to get involved and the always have free stuff.

Jimmy: I was going to say you didn’t bring up free stuff and that’s what the big reason for going to the expo hall is the free stuff. Yes absolutely.

Being able to just take a peek and kind of just see see what’s coming in PT and what’s coming down the line. So so some great suggestions. Emily what do you got for us in terms of features the APTA has at every CSM?

So I’ve only been to CSM once and it was when I was a first year students a little overwhelming. Looking back on it I really wish I had gotten to the platform presentations. So it’s like a two hour time frame and the geriatric ones are on Thursday from 11 to 1 and Friday from 8 to 10. So it’s about like nine to 10 presentations in those two hours. So you’re getting a lot of different information like a little bit of a lot of different topics. Fell like it would be nice, instead of focusing those two hours on this one thing you know you get the chance to kind of browse through a few different thingg. I thought that looked interesting. Another thing that I would like to go to is the geriatric sections meeting. So they’re actually section meeting it’s Thursday six thirty to eight. And so food is provided and then there is a cash bar. That’s definitely one that I’m going into as well.

Jimmy: Emily love those suggestions for two reasons number one the focused aspect of the poster presentations is big. You know earlier we mentioned being able to kind of peek in on a bunch of different areas and different sections even some crossover that Megan mentioned. But those poster presentations specifically in the section you can get to really focus stuff and as you as well mentioned in two hours you can get a lot of differe information instead of one particular session for an hour or two. And then of course whether you’re a member of the geriatric section or not. That is the group of people who are trying to push your particular type of physical therapy forward. So seeing what they’re talking about what they think is on the horizon is a really good suggestion and free food. I mean you really can’t beat free food. Now we’re going do some fun stuff to go through this really really quickly since you guys Emily went to PT school in the D.C. area. Megan you went to Maryland. Alex is in the Northern Virginia Virginia area right now so you guys have a little taste of the flavor locally in theD.C. area. Nighttime is the right time. Some social events that people need to go to would help anybody out there. Navigate them throw out a good one if you want to throw out a restaurant recommendation and then maybe like museum, a monument. Since it’s D.C. something you shouldn’t miss. We’ll go with Alex for all of your local suggestions. What do you got for us?

Alex: OK. Because the government shutdown and some of the museums and things might be closed unless that gets resolved. But you know walking around the reflecting pool Lincoln Memorial Washington Monument area is a very quintessential D.C.. The Natural History Museum is amazing. So hopefully that’s available. But my favorite restaurant is Ted’s Bulletin for brunch. They have a cinnamon roll the size of your upper body. So bring a bunch of friends and go chow down on that and they make home made Pop Tarts which are pretty great.

Jimmy: Now jackpot. Ted’s love that’s all right. Meghan What do you got for night time is the right time. Listen touristy stuff is seems cheesy. It is unless you’re a tourist. Then by all means jump in with both feet. So what do you got for us?

Megan: OK well I’m not going with the tourist route. I have a nerdy route. There are two APTA night time activities that are fun. There’s the PT PAC party. Which I think we get is fifty dollars and I would really get it now. I think they sold them the sellout. Yeah but they sell out really really quick and it is the most fun I have ever had. Like all the speakers that like that go there and you just get lightly but not all of them and its fun to let loose and dance. It’s always a great venue. Like a lot of you. And that’s happening Friday night and I think that’s after the FOX happy hour. So it’s like peffect so we can all just go right there afterwards. And then the other line is the section on women’s health is having one on Thursday. It’s free for members and then only twenty five dollars for nonmembers. And they usually give I think like two three drink take it. But it’s also another way. Usually the most of them are women but so much fun. So it’s just like a really really fun way to meet other people and like a relaxed setting and not as professional having to craft conversation so much that what you’re doing just gets more and more personal level and then you can always take the night out from there.

Jimmy: Megan selling those hard I’d like it you can tell she’s excited she hasn’t stopped smiling since she sort of talking about it. All right Emily you little bit of a local expert right. At three years that GW in D.C. you’re going I know some local stuff. What do you got for us in terms of social aspect?

Emily: Well I’m gonna start off with one thing that I think everyone should do. They can go to their schools having a networking event like a happy hour or something. Go to that catch up with your professors. Talk to them like you’re peers now. So it’s like it’s a little bit more fun and that’s something I’m planning on doing is having their alumni that things to do for D.C. There’s a new waterfront that just opened on the southeast side so that has a ton of awesome restaurants and has a concert venue with just great views and a great atmosphere on the water and a little bit easier to get to actually than the doors so you can metro down there. Probably a nice walk. The weather’s good. From where we’re going to be another thing that I liked when I was in D.C. if you’re a runner and you have some time running around them all have to press that way. You know a little faster you get to see it all and you get it run and so that’s a nice thing to do. One day my favorite museum which might still be open is probably the only one you have to pay for is the newseum. A lot of cool news articles and information that you just wouldn’t expect to have all in one place. So that was pretty fun the one time I got to go.

Jimmy: Great suggestions. I love the fact that the mall got brought up multiple times. I did my PT school three years just across the river in Arlington and running from the Capitol past Washington past World War Two down to Lincoln and back. Maybe you want to add a couple miles and do the tidal basin. Listen do the touristy things. It might sound cheesy but takes selfies in those areas to soak it in if you’re if you’re if you’re not from the D.C. area. Definitely do it. Wanted to say thank you for all this information will make it available as well with his podcast episode in the show node’s. So if you’re looking for the details from what these ladies are talking about we’ll share that with you. Alex Germano, Megan Mitchell Emily Williams appreciate your time of take it out with us to talk about CSM and we’ll see you guys there.

Alex: All right Jimmy.

Thanks for listening to FOXcast Physical Therapy a clinically excellent podcast. It’s brought to you by FOX rehabilitation. Listen to other episodes or read articles and position papers at foxrehab.org .