I set up this week’s final blog with the extra components to my user guide or in other words the details excluding the body of the guide. I still have yet to add the safety notices, and the glossary. I am holding off on the glossary until the document is complete, so I know the exact words that need to be included. Here, I have completed the front cover, edition notice, license agreement, table of contents, index and the last page of the guide. It is now time to complete the most important component of the user guide, the body.   

Exercise Guide

By

Jacqueline Gresell

User’s Guide

Exercise Guide â User’s Guide

The software described in this book is furnished under a license agreement and may be used only in accordance with the terms of the

agreement.

Copyright Notice

Copyright ã2010 Jacqueline, Inc. All rights reserved.

First Printing March 2010

Documentation version 5.0.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or otherwise, without the prior

written permission of  Jacqueline, Inc.

Technical Support

For technical support call 1-810-614-0103

Table of Contents

Getting Started

            Greeting patient…………………………………………………………….……1

            Analyzation of chart…………………………………………….……………….1

            Follow Exercises…………………………………………………………………1

Description and Graphics of

Common Shoulder Exercises…………………………………………………..

 Uncommon Shoulder Exercises……………………………………………….

Common Back Exercises………………………………………………………

 Uncommon Back Exercises…………………………………………………..

Common Knee Exercises………………………………………………………

Uncommon Knee Exercises……………………………………………………

Common Cervical Exercises………………………………………………….

Uncommon Cervical Exercises……………………………………………….

Index

B

Ball clock,

Ball roll up wall,

Ball squeeze,

Ball throw at trampoline,

Bike,

Bridging,

C

Cane abduction,

Cane adduction,

Cat-Camel,

Curls,

Wall pushups,

Cybex row,

Cybex pull down,

            D

Diagonals,

Double knees to chest-DKTC,

E

External rotation at wall,

F

Forearm ball roll,

H

Hip Abduction-Alt Abd,

Hip Extension-Alt hip ext,

            I

Isometrics,

L        

Lateral step ups,

Leg cycles,

Long arch-LAQ,

Lunges,

O

Overhead lift-OH Lift,

P

Pect stretch in corner,

Piriforimis stretch,

Planks,

Praying hands,

Prone extension,

Prone hang,

Prone row,

Q

Quad sets,

R

Reverse table pushoffs,

S

Seated extension,

Seated flexion,

Short arch-SAQ,

Side stepping,

Sideline Adduction-S.L. Add,

Sideline external rotation-S.L. ER,

Single leg raise-SLR,

Standing Abduction,

Standing adduction,

Standing row,

Step downs,

Step ups,

Strap behind back,

Supine flexion,

Supine PNF,

T

Terminal knee-TKE,

Theraband adduction-Add,

Theraband extension-Ext,

Theraband External Rotation-ER,

Theraband Internal Rotation-IR,

Theraband pull down,

Theraband pull down with airex,

Theraband row,

Theraband row with airex,

Towel,

W

Wall slides,

Wall swims,

4-point ball roll,

4-point extension,

                                                                            Exercise Guide â

Jacqueline, Inc.

107 N Matteson Capac, Michigan 48014

1-810-395-4967*1-810-614-0103

         My individual project, a user guide for Thibodeau Physical Therapy techs, is coming along at a much slower pace than I had planned and anticipated. To my advantage for this project I work at the Thibodeau Lapeer clinic as a tech.  I made arrangements with my boss to borrow the exercise cards that are occasional used by the therapist to make copies for their patients as home programs. These cards include a picture and description of each exercise pertaining to each body area. This past weekend I had planned to take home from work the box of cards so I could scan the picture to use in my guide. I however was in a rush to leave, for I had a chemistry test to take. My mind was so fixated upon the test that I forgot to take the box of cards with me. I could have stopped on my way home to pick it up, but the office closes early on Fridays. I was very upset with myself because I had planned to complete a majority of the guide over the weekend, especially the graphics. I am leaving tomorrow night to go skiing in Colorado and I knew that I wanted to have the body of the booklet finished before I left. Unfortunately this is not the case. I will indeed be spending a greater part of time in Colorado composing my guide.

            Even though I will be completing homework on my mini vacation I am excited to write and finish the user guide. By writing the guide I am learning two main and different things. First, I am learning how to be a successful technical writer and second, I am reviewing and learning new exercises to improve my work as a tech. Working as a tech interests me, which in turn makes it enjoyable to write about.

            I have already completed the table of contents, index and the introduction. I am in the middle of working the main portion of the document, which are the descriptions of all the exercises. In my proposal I stated that the book was going to be pocket sized and its main purpose was clearly defined as it to contain a description and graphic of therapy exercises. In the outline I stated that the guide was also going to contain all the duties and responsibilities of techs, how the electrical therapy units work and finally CPR instructions. After working on the document I realized that I was being overly optimistic in my proposal, because if I included all of this information the book would not be pocket sized. In my opinion, I think the book needs to be small in order for the techs to carry it around while working with the patients. This is the guide’s main purpose. I am curious though, are we allowed to veer from the proposal, or as technical writers do we have to stick to the proposal?  

        I learned a lot of new information concerning the contents of a final technical document from reading David A. McMurrey’s chapter Report Format and Final Production from his online textbook Technical Writing. I plan on using it as a source while I compose my user guide. To begin, I wrote a rough draft of the introduction.

User Guide

On

Correct Form and Technique of Exercises Used by Thibodeau Physical Therapists

I. Introduction (A Draft)

            There are approximately 25 frequently used exercises for each part of the body that are applied by the Physical Therapists employed at Thibodeau Physical Therapy.  There are; however a great deal more of exercises that are not so commonly used.  On a month to month basis patients are constantly being seen and treated with a variety of different diagnosis.  One of the therapist duties is to assign each patient with the appropriate exercise program to help mend the disorder. At times the therapist will become busy allowing for the aid to take over care of the patient. As a physical therapy tech or aid, one of the duties is to have enough knowledge of the exercises to not only instruct the patient through their program of exercises, but to also be able to walk each patient through the exercises step by step. It can become difficult for techs that either just completed their training or are in the process of completing to remember each exercise, for they are still in the process of trying to achieve and learn other required duties.  It can be a challenge for experienced techs to remember the uncommon exercises because first, the exercise could be foreign or second, the exercise could be seldom used.

            The purpose of this user guide is to present to all employed Thibodeau physical therapy techs the form and technique of all basic and complex exercises applied by the Thibodeau Physical Therapists. This document should be used as a reference while working in the clinic and may also serve as a study tool at home. It contains, not only descriptions of each exercise but also detailed graphics. The components of this document discusses such exercises for the following body areas (1) Cervical, (2) shoulder, (3) back, (4) knee, and (5) ankle.  Each section will be clearly identified and organized. This user guide was created to assist the tech with their questions and to also help our clinic maintain a quality reputation.

 Introduction

My objective is to create a 'how to' user guide on the exercises in
which physical therapy techs aid the patient in performing. The guide
is to explain how to perform, with the correct technique the many
exercises that the physical therapist assigns to the patient
accordingly to their specific injured area. It is to be set up
allowing the reader, the physical therapy tech, to be able to read,
understand and comprehend the material. This task analysis will
provide a brief overview of the guide and the task that will be taken
to fully complete it.

Beginner: A tech that uses this document as a teaching tool to learn
the very basics of exercises

Intermediate: A tech who uses this document to improve their knowledge
of exercises and learn what they do not know

Expert: A tech who knows the exact form and technique to every
exercise but may use this document as a reference or a recommendation
to fellow workers.

Description of tasks

1) Common Cervical exercises

a) UBE

i) Set the bike according to the chart

(1) Press Clear programs, enter twice, adjust level, enter, scroll
time down to required time, start stop button

ii) Adjust seat to patients height

(1) Pull the pin on the bottom of the seat, move seat accordingly
and push pin into place to secure

iii) Form

(1) Sitting tall with head up and back straight

(2) Move bike at a steady pace

b) Cybex row: rows

i) Set machine according to chart

(1) Pull the pin and place in the hole in which the chart reads: 4p
= four holes down

(2) The half plate is located hanging on the right side of machine

(a) It is placed on top of all weights when chart reads a .5p

(3) Adjust the chest mat according to patients height

(a) Pull knob up while moving back or forward (b) Put knob down at the correct position of mat (c) Make sure locked in place by pulling on mat

(4) Form

(a) Use vertical handles

(b) Feet flat on floor

(c) Head up and back straight

(d) Pull back by squeezing shoulder blades together

(e) Chest needs to stay on the chest mat

(f) Must control

c) Cybex Pull down: Pull downs

i) Set according to chart

(1) Place pin in desired numbered hole: 4p= the fourth hole down

(2) Half plate is located hanging on the right side of machine.
Place on top of all weights if chart reads .5p

ii) Form

(1) Sitting at edge of chair

(2) Head up and back straight

(3) Pull bar down to chest and up to straighten arms

(4) Must control

d) External rotation at wall: ER @ wall

i) Color of loose theraband according to chart

ii) Form

(1) Standing straight against a wall

(2) Elbows at side with arms bent to a 90 degree

(3) Hold band with two hands, palms up

(4) Keeping elbows at side pull band out e) Overhead Lift: OH lift

i) Provide with weighted dumbbell according to chart

ii) Form

(1) Hold dumbbell at ear with thumb facing toward the back

(2) Elbow bent in

(3) Extend arm up to straighten elbow

(4) Keep arm close to head

(5) Bend arm back down (6) Repeat alternating sets between arms f) Wall pushups

i) Form

(1) Find a wall

(2) Place hands shoulder width apart on wall

(3) Fully extend arms till completely straight this is where feet
will placed

(4) Keep back straight and head straight

(5) Bend arms in towards wall and back out fully extending arms

(6) Repeat with assigned number sets

2) Common Shoulder exercises

a) UBE

i) See Cervical exercises 1a

b) Pulleys

i) Set timer according to chart

ii) Form

(1) Sit straight in chair each hand grasping a handle

(2) One arm pulls the handle down as the other arm raises (3) Allows for stretching and motion

c) Wall pushups

i) See Cervical exercises 1f

d) Wall pushups with ball

i) Use 55cm red or orange ball

ii) Performed same as wall pushup except place ball on wall and
push off the ball

e) Ball roll up wall

i) Use smallest ball located under podium

ii) Use wrist weight according to chart

iii) Form

(1) If weight is used strap on the wrist

(2) Hold ball shoulder height at the wall with injured arm (3) Hold with palm of hand

(4) Roll the ball up the wall allowing the ball to roll onto the
wrist fully extending arm up

(5) Roll ball back down to shoulder height

f) Cybex Row

i) See Cervical exercises 1b

g) Cybex Pull downs

i) See Cervical exercises 1c

h) Theraband rows

i) Choose color according to chart

ii) Use lower level therabands attached to pulley machine

iii) Form

(1) Sitting in chair with back straight and head up (2) Hold colored theraband in each hand

(3) Palms facing down

(4) Straighten arms so that a 90 degree angle is made with shoulder

(5) Pull arms holding bands straight up to chest

(6) Straighten arms and repeat according to assigned number

(7) Must control movement

i) Theraband pull downs

i) Choose color theraband according to chart

ii) Use doubled theraband on top of the pulley machine

iii) Form

(1) Sit in chair with back straight

(2) Grab theraband in each hand

(3) Pull arms down to side of chair/body

(4) Extend arms back up and repeat

(5) Must control movement

j) Theraband arm extension: ext

i) Use colored theraband according to chart

ii) Use single theraband on top of pulley machine

iii) Form

(1) Hold theraband with injured arm

(2) Step back so band is fully extended

(3) Keep elbow locked or arm straight

(4) Hold theraband and pull it back to body

(5) Control band and bring arm back to top keeping elbow locked

(6) Repeat completely assigned number

k) Theraband arm adduction: add

i) Use colored theraband according to chart

ii) Use single theraband on top of pulley machine

iii) Form

(1) Hold desired theraband

(2) Turn 90 degrees so the side of the injured arm is facing the
therabands

(3) Thumb should face your body

(4) Pull theraband directly to hip and back up (5) Keeping elbow locked

(6) Repeat completing the assigned number

3) Common Back Exercises

a) Alternate Hip Abduction

i) Use colored looped theraband according to chart

ii) Patient should be (1) Laying on back

(2) With knees up

iii) Place the looped band around ankles and pull up to patients
knees iv) Form

(1) Hold stomach muscles tight (2) Keeping one leg stationary pull the other outward stretching the
band (3) Bring back in to reach the starting point

(4) Alternate legs after pulling five times (5) Continue alternation until the desired number of sets is
accomplished

(6) Control must be maintained

b) Double Knees to chest: DKTC

i) Using 65cm green ball

ii) Patient should be laying on back

iii) Place ball under ankles

iv) Form

(1) Hold stomach muscles tight

(2) Slowly roll ball up bringing knees up to chest

(3) Roll ball back out to straighten legs

(4) Continue to achieve the desired number

(5) Must maintain control

c) Hip adduction: ball squeeze

i) Use small ball located under podium

ii) Patient should be (1) Laying on back

(2) Knees up

iii) Place ball in between the patients knees

iv) Form

(1) Hold stomach muscles tight

(2) Squeeze ball (3) Hold for three seconds and relax

(4) Maintain control

(5) Continue until the desired number is achieved

d) Bridging, Buttock lift

i) Use the 65cm green ball

ii) Patient should be laying on back

iii) Place the ball under the calves of the patient

iv) Form

(1) Hold stomach muscles tight

(2) Lift the buttock up (3) Hold for three seconds

(4) Bring buttock back down

(5) Must maintain control

(6) Repeat until desired number is achieved

e) Cybex row

i) See Cervical exercises 1b

f) Cybex pull downs

i) See Cervical exercises 1c

g) Alternate hip extension: Alt hip ext

i) Use the therabands attached to the parallel bars

ii) Attach the desired color from chart around each ankle of
patient

iii) Form

(1) Hold stomach muscles tight

(2) Stand straight with head up

(3) Hold the end of the parallel bars

(4) Place feet on the edge of the wood of the parallel bars

(5) Slightly extend one leg out about one foot in distance

(6) Bring back in to starting position and pull back out to create a
smooth pull

(7) Repeat five times on same leg (8) Switch to other leg alternating five sets of five

(9) Must maintain control

4) Conclusion

After reading Task Analysis and Task-Oriented Documentation by David A. McMurrey in Technical Writing: Online Textbook, I became very confused as to what a Task Analysis truly is and what its purpose serves. The definition was provided as using steps and explanations to fully describe the tasks that the user will use within instructions, procedures and user guides.

            McMurrey states that to develop a well thorough task analysis the writer should study how the user uses the product as well as interviewing them. There are times though when the writer does not have the opportunity to create a thorough task analysis, so it is their responsibility make an educational guess on how the product functions. After creating the draft the developer can review to make any necessary changes. The task analysis should include the products different features and the function or task each performs. By looking at an example of a task analysis of Word it would include the tasks of the menu icon of Paragraph, for its tasks would be listed as each icon or function within the Paragraph subtitle including bullets, numbering, intends and line spacing.

            This information of writing a task analysis I understand, for it is simply a document listing the tasks of the product. It does not go into any in depth detail, but only a few short word descriptions of each task. How, I wonder, would I write a task analysis for an exercise user guide for physical therapy techs. I will be working on this piece of documentation this weekend and currently I am unable to determine what the tasks in the guide would be. Would it be the tasks of the layout of the guide, for instance the task of the index or the task of the introduction?

            I am also confused as to why such an analysis is to be composed. Who is it written for and how does it help the process of creating the final piece of technical documentation? It seems as though a task analysis should be included in the final piece of documentation, such as a user guide or instructions to provide extra assistant to the user. The user would then know more about the product.

            I was disappointed in this reading for I do not believe that David A. McMurrey clearly explained the definition, function, and purpose of a task analysis. He did provide a quality example of a task analysis of a computer program; however to me this did not seem to be an accurate amount of useful information.

Introduction

Objective

The objective of this audience analysis is to identify the different type of people working as Physical Therapist Techs at the Thibodeau Physical Therapy clinics in Lapeer and Imlay City. With this determination I will be able to successfully write a user guide geared toward them by meeting their expectations and needs. The guide will act as a piece of reference material for the techs on a day to day basis, for it will contain sections, lists and graphics of the major exercises that the therapists use for their patients.

Document Summary

Within this audience analysis is the major components of composing a user guide for physical therapy techs that will be able to instruct the patients in the correct way of performing the exercises. The purpose is to provide a clear, precise, and organized list and description followed by graphics of all of the major exercises the physical therapists employ. The user guide will be utilized by different audiences ranging from the executive, technician and student applicator levels with the main focus to be placed on both the technician and beginner levels. This document will develop a high-level outline of each group.

The analysis will provide information focusing on the following main groups:

-          Newly hired and trainee physical therapy techs/nonspecialists

-          Trained and practicing physical therapy techs/technicians

These groups listed above are the groups that this analysis will focus on by providing the most information. Although some of this information will be already known it places all techs at the beginner level of knowledge. Each audience will be identified in a detailed manner by constructing an individual characteristic of the group. 

Audience Types

 Findings

During a shift of work both of these audience groups work with patients one on one to complete their instructed exercises.  As the clinic becomes busier it becomes more difficult for the therapist to pay close attention to the form and technique of the patient as they perform their exercises. The techs are not required to know the exact form but it has now become a need. There are many different exercises that all the therapist use and it can be easily forgotten by both groups of techs if not used enough. This is when a simple exercise user guide would come convenient for both audiences.

Trainee Physical Therapy Techs:

Audience Profile

Potential audience

Includes about one physical therapy techs

Demographics

This audience intended of usage is a population mixture of both male and females ranging from 18 years of age to 50. Educational levels vary within this group, however they all contain a high school diploma.

Informational Needs

Physical therapy techs who are in the process of being trained want to know and understand the exercises in which the patients are performing, for the patients will frequently ask them questions concerning the activities. The tech will also be directed to lead a patient through their exercises and it is very difficult for the tech to not know what the listed exercise entails. This causes them to ask the very busy therapist who is working with many other patients. This can, and let me add does get irritating to the therapist.

This group is very motivated to learn all the exercises and perform at the highest level for they are just starting a new job. They do not in want any negative factors working against them. They want to be knowledgeable and to properly assist the patient through their weekly or daily routines. Trainee techs would be interested in learning the common exercises for the major body parts of:

-          Cervical

-          Shoulder

-          Back

-          Knee

-          Ankle

-          Hand

Trained Physical Therapy Techs:

Audience Profile

Potential audience

Includes about three physical therapy techs

Demographics

This audience intended of the guides usage is a population mixture of both male and females ranging from 18 years of age to 50. Again the educational levels vary within this group; however they all contain a high school diploma.

Informational Needs

Physical therapy techs who are trained want to know and understand the exercises that are not commonly used by the therapist. They want to know the exercises, so they do not have to ask the therapist for help. Asking the therapist many questions can get irritating to them, for they are usually in the process of working with many other patients. The trained techs feel as though they should know the exercises as well as the correct form and technique for they have been working long and they want to feel sense of accomplishment.

This audience is motivated to learn the correct form and technique to all the exercises even the ones in which are seldom used. They know they should be knowledgeable of all the exercises for they have been working this position for quite some time. Listed are the following areas of the body in which the trained techs would like to know all the seldom used exercises:

-          Cervical

-          Shoulder

-          Back

-          Knee

-          Ankle

-          Hand

        For the past four weeks my group and I have been working our English 345 group project. This project was assigned and discussed during class on January 26. The guidelines were to work with fellow colleagues to produce a technical document with an online format. What I really enjoyed was the fact that there were many different types of documents that we could choose from for our project. Our group, which consisted of a total of five different people, choose to create a technical instructive video. We decided to use one of the group members, Amber Smith, zero gravity instruction document, how to use a light saber, and turn it into a “how to” video which would be posted on you tube.

            After class on the 26 my group and I tried to plan for a day and time that correlated with a majority of the busy college life schedules, in which we could meet to completely discuss the project. A conclusion was made and we arranged to meet in the library at 3:00 on Thursday the 28. When I arrived Amber was there with her light saber instructions and her light saber. Nadar did not end up showing for I believe he had gotten pulled over. Janelle was not able to make the meeting due to work and Danielle was not in class on the 26^th so I actually do not think that she even knew that we were meeting. Amber and I discussed the instructions and the plans for producing the video. Amber then sent out an email to the group discussing our ideas and conclusions on the project.

            Our group for the class facilitation happened to be the same for this technical document group project. I am very glad it worked out this way, for we could communicate with the same people for both projects. Last Tuesday, February the 16^th, we meet to review the group facilitation, in which we also determined a time and place to film our instructions. We assigned people to bring in certain items in order to make the video run smoothly. Amber was to bring the set of instructions, the light saber, and the light saber belt or carrier. Nadar was to bring in the video camera and I was to bring two pieces of wood. On Thursday, our meeting day I realized, once I was too far from home that I had forgotten the wood. I was very upset with myself; for we were going to demonstrate with the wood how the light saber could cut throw anything. This indeed was a major aspect in the video in which I had forgotten. After discussing what else could be used as a substitute for the wood Nadar, Amber and I split up to head for our cars to see what could be found. When we returned Danielle joined us and unfortunately Janelle was not able to make it because of her work. She did however, communicate and help us through email. We then were on our way to the library to film our video.

            In the library we found a study room where we located ourselves for the production of the video. Nadar filmed, Amber read the instructions, Danielle demonstrated as I did a little help aiding her.  We decided to use jumper cables for the example of how the light saber could cut through anything. We successfully proved that a light saber could cut through thick strong wire. Nadar posted the video online. I am actually not sure what site it is; for near the end we chose to steer clear from you tube. In my eyes our project was a success!   

          Since the beginning of English 345, technical writing, we have read two weekly assigned readings about information on both the various forms of technical reports and technical writing in the web world. One of the main aspects that were clearly underlined in all of these readings was to properly identify the appropriate audience, thus writing to this specific group. Each chapter that we read of David A. McMurrey’s book, Technical Writing: An Online Textbook, was a description of different technical reports. In each there was a detailed section about the importance of writing to the correct audience. While in Anne Gentle’s book Conversation and Community she also repeatedly discussed the importance of an audience while composing blog entries. After completion of all the readings I understood the significance of the audience; however I did not truly understand all of the different types of audiences until I read the reading Audience Analysis by David A. McMurrey. 

            According to McMurrey there are five different types of audiences for technical writers. These include experts, technicians, executives, and nonspecialists. Experts are those who know every in and out of the product, for they are the designer, as the technicians are those who build, operate and maintain the product. The executives, on the other hand, are the business men who make all the legal, economic and administrative decisions and also decide whether or not to implement the product. The nonspecialists are those who want to learn about the product for either personal interest or to vote for or against it in the upcoming bond election. The nonspecialists and the executives know the least technical knowledge about the product.

            The content, organization, and graphics should all be formatted and written in a manner that is catered toward the intended audience. For example nonspecialist audiences need more graphics and shorter less technical sentences as expert or technician audiences need a longer and very in depth report.

            I believe that it would be the most difficult to write a report for the expert audience, for they know absolutely everything about the product.  The report would have to be perfect in all areas, meaning the author would have spend a lot more time, energy, and research into producing such a report. I am very pleased that I had the opportunity to read over this chapter, for I know and understand the different types of audiences, as well as how to format my report to adhere to each specific one.

Memorandum

To: Dr. James Schirmer

From: Jacqueline Gresell

Date: February 16, 2010

Subject: Proposal to write a user guide for physical therapy techs that are employed at the Thibodeau Physical Therapy clinics to help explain their duties and fully describe the exercises which are administered by all physical therapists.

This proposal is in accordance to the proposal assignment due February 16, 2010. The proposal will outline the contents of the pt tech user guide that each tech will receive upon being hired.

Proposal

The following is a proposal to develop a pocket sized user guide for new and existing physical therapy techs or aides that are employed at the Thibodeau Physical Therapy clinics. The guide will contain a list of all job responsibilities and most important an organized list of all of the exercises with the correct way of performing each. This will aid the tech throughout the shift because as the tech is working, communicating and following the patients through their exercises they will have easy access to their handy guide to help the patient along with exercises. The proposal will provide information regarding the need of a guide, a full description and benefits of the guide. An outline, list of graphics and the cost of the production of the guide will also be presented.

Need for the User Guide

It is one of the responsibilities as a tech to follow and instruct exercises to the patient that the therapist lies out. Many patients ask questions about the exercises and the tech must demonstrate the proper exercise and technique. The problem that faces us is the extreme amount of exercises that therapist use in, which the techs do not know. There have been many questions lately and the use of a user guide would be able to answer these questions quickly and precisely. The tech could also look at it in on their free time to study each exercise.

Description of the User Guide

The user guide will address both the description of the job and a description of all exercises. It will cover all of the simple problems that a tech will face day to day. The beginning will list all the responsibilities and duties of techs in which are required. About three fourths of the guide will be graphics of each exercise followed by a full explanation on each technique.  At the end will be a complete set of instructions of how to administer CPR and the him lick maneuver. The guide will be easy accessible as throughout the work day the techs can simply carry it around in their pocket and use when needed.

Benefits of a User Guide

The proposed user guide will not only benefit the tech but also the physical therapist and most importantly the patients. It will be used as a reference for the techs that have completed their training. Training does not include the memorization of exercises; therefore it would be a major help to the tech as well as a time saver for the therapist. The therapist would not have to completely stop their treatments to help the tech. The patients would also benefit because they would feel a sense of security, ultimately helping the business.

User Guide Outline

The user guide will provide pt techs the skill to help patients through their required exercises. It will also list their duties as a tech for a reminder and a reference. The guide will be a useful tool that will help the confidence and job performance of the pt tech.

1.      Introduction

a.       Purpose

b.      Overview

2.      Duties

a.       Follow therapists orders

b.      Follow patients through excises via chart

c.       Be prepared

                                                              i.      Set up equipment before patient arrival

                                                            ii.      Overlook charts

d.      Put away all used equipment

e.       Change bed linen

f.       Laundry

g.      Daily cleaning

h.      Hydroculator weekly cleaning

i.        Order supplies

j.        Nightly garbage change

3.      How machines work and how to operate each

a.       Tens unit

b.      IFC unit

c.       Ultrasound unit

4.      Communication with patients

a.       Greeting

                                                              i.      Smile

                                                            ii.      Introduce oneself

                                                          iii.      Ask about pain

                                                          iv.      Let them know where to begin

b.      Take them through exercises

                                                              i.      Ask about pain level

                                                            ii.      Show correct technique

c.       Be friendly

5.      Organized set of exercises

a.       Graphics

b.      Explanation

6.      CPR instructions

a.       Adult

b.      Child

c.       Infant

7.      Hem lick instructions

a.       Adult

b.      Child

c.       Infant

8.      Conclusion

Graphics

A variety of graphics will be used to correctly demonstrate all actions. These actions include pictures of all of the exercises as well as pictures of properly demonstrating CPR and the Him lick maneuver.  

Tentative Bibliography

American Heart Association Website

Qualifications

As a pt tech I have made mistakes concerning the patients exercises in which the physical therapists has had to correct. I would love to own a pocket sized user guide. Following is a brief summary of my education and experience:

·         Senior at the University of Michigan-Flint

·         GPA 3.53

·         One and a half years working as a pt tech

·         CPR certified

Costs

Corporate will cover the total cost of research, writing, editing, binding and printing the user guides. It is estimated to cost a total of $561 for both of the Thibodeau physical therapy clinics.

            Research, writing and editing             $408

            Spiral binding with hard cover           $110

            Printing                                               $43

            Total Cost                                          $561

Conclusion

The proposal is based upon the requirements that were put forth during training as well as additional information that is needed for a pt tech to perform at highest level. The information provided within the user guide will aid the pt tech in answering all patients’ questions and concerns about their exercises as well allow for the tech to correctly run each patient through their assigned work out. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions please feel free to contact me.

Technology has dramatically changed our lives. We have benefited from it in many different ways from a form of fast communication to army personnel and even to the health care system. The different forms of technology have, and will only continue to change and save lives. Is there however, some negative effects. Could technology really indeed be killing us? According to an article, Disconnected, published in the Popular Science magazine March 2010 issue, technology is doing just that to a man named Per Segerback. He lives in a nature reserve about seventy miles northeast of Stockholm. He hardly communicates with the human race because human technology makes him severely physical ill. Just last summer he headed out for a walk and ran into his neighbor. During their friendly conversation the neighbor’s cell phone rang and Segerback became over exhausted with nausea and within just seconds he was unconscious.

Segerback battles electro-hypersensitivity, meaning that he has severe physical reactions to the electromagnetic radiation produced by cell phones, computers, and televisions. Symptoms of this condition include burning or tingling sensations on the skin to dizziness, nausea, headaches, sleep disturbance and memory loss. There can also be, as in Sergerback’s case breathing problems, heart palpitations and loss of consciousness.

“We are bathed in a sea of non-ionizing radiation,” says professor of medicine John Bioce. This radiation is thought to be harmless and is what is given off by our regular technologies such as cell phones. Segerback used to work as an elite telecommunications engineer. He did this for twenty years designing advanced integrated circuits for prototype telecommunication systems. Therefore he was in constant use of the most advanced computer and telecom equipment on the market. Due to his career he was swimming everyday in non-ionizing radiation. In the 1980’s he reported his first symptoms and now it has become so extreme even to the extent that a the radar from a low flying airplane can have an effect upon him.

There are a number of other individuals that have reported with this same condition. I am completely amazed and stunned at this new information. Is this technology that is supposed to helping society really killing it? Yes, non-ionizing radiation has thought to be harmless but too much or an excess of one thing can be toxic. Could the radiation have any factor in the steady increase of cancer? This new information will be interesting to follow and investigate further.