Job Shadow #4

May 9th, 2025 with Anna Kennedy

During my job shadow with physical therapist Anna Kennedy, I had the opportunity to observe two patient sessions and learn more about the daily routines and responsibilities involved in the field. Anna graduated from the University of Mobile, where she played volleyball, and later attended the University of South Alabama for PT school. She shared that her favorite area to treat is the shoulder, while the back is her least favorite. Only licensed physical therapists are allowed to perform certain treatments, like dry needling, and only three professionals in her clinic are certified.

The first patient was a female who had been coming to therapy for two weeks due to bursitis in her hip. She initially experienced significant pain and swelling, making everyday movements like walking, squatting, and climbing stairs difficult. On her first day, she couldn’t tolerate certain range-of-motion tests, but during this session, those same movements caused no pain, showing great progress. Her treatment included STEM therapy, manual deep tissue massage, dry needling in the glute medius and lateral hamstring (10 needles total), and targeted stretching of the hamstring and IT band. One specific technique involved using a resistance band to hold her leg in a stretch for 30 seconds, release it, and then repeat. As her pain continues to decrease—currently rated at 4/10—she’ll be able to begin strengthening exercises.

The second patient was also a female, dealing with lower back issues, specifically SI joint pain on the left side where the pelvis meets the sacrum. Her session began with heat therapy and STEM to help reduce inflammation and relax the muscles before any hands-on work. Her pain level was about a 5/10. While her treatment was more general, focusing on pain relief and mobility, it was helpful to see the way Anna adjusted her methods to fit the patient’s specific needs and pain level.

Overall, this job shadow was a valuable experience that gave me insight into what physical therapy looks like in real life. I saw how important communication, observation, and patience are when working with people who are in pain. Anna not only explained the techniques she used but also why each step mattered, which helped me better understand the process of healing through movement. Watching these sessions made me even more interested in physical therapy as a career and helped me appreciate the mix of science, hands-on care, and personal connection that the job requires.