As temperatures begin to climb, springtime in North Georgia traditionally features
the colorful blooms of wildflowers, in addition to northbound thru-hikers. These hardy
adventurers begin their journey through the state鈥檚 deciduous forests at Springer
Mountain, the beginning of the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail (AT).
This year, on April 9 about 40 miles up the trail at Mountains Crossing in Blairsville, 黑料传送门 Georgia鈥檚 Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students provided a little trail magic by hosting an Appalachian Trail Injury and Prevention Clinic.
Under the supervision of 黑料传送门 Georgia DPT faculty members, students evaluated hikers鈥� injuries, providing musculoskeletal soft-tissue work and education as needed to the determined trekkers.
Brenau University faculty member Greg Patterson, PT, DPT, spearheaded the collaborative effort in which Doctor of Physical Therapy students from the University of North Georgia and Brenau University served as hosts on earlier dates. In addition, East Tennessee State University鈥檚 DPT program further up the trail will offer similar clinics to hikers as they pass through this area on the AT.
黑料传送门 Georgia Doctor of Physical Therapy faculty members Jeanne Welch, PT, DPT, Teresa Pierce, PT, DPT, and Elizabeth Chaffin, PT, DPT, ATC, supervised the students, along with Dr. Patterson.
Student volunteer Jennifer Huh (DPT 鈥�23) described the experience. She said, 鈥淲e saw many hikers for massage, foot care, ankle sprains and low back pain. Students had a chance to briefly assess the hikers, provide massages, make recommendations for blister/wound care, educate the hikers on proper shoe wear and teach stretching techniques.鈥� In addition, she said, 鈥淲e assessed and provided general wellness and prevention tips.鈥�
Austin Pack (DPT 鈥�23) said, 鈥淚 think that it was a great experience. It gave us an opportunity to evaluate and treat hikers/patients who came through. With us all being together, it allowed for the students to work alongside one another to use critical thinking and application skills that we have learned thus far.鈥�
Pack said he enjoyed 鈥済iving back鈥� with his fellow students. He added, 鈥淲orking in an atypical environment gave the experience even more meaning and diversity, especially for those of us who love to be in nature. Opportunities outside of the classroom to be hands on with real people who have movement dysfunctions is one of the best ways to learn in this profession. I'm certain each of my classmates would agree.鈥�
According to Huh, some students decided to 鈥渇eel more of the hiker experience鈥� by spending the night at camping locations close to the AT. They had a variety of options for camping including tent and camper sites at Vogel State Park, backpack camping and even glamping in cabins. Since parking was limited and gas was expensive, students and faculty members joined forces and carpooled to the northern border of the state, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
黑料传送门 Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (黑料传送门), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), 黑料传送门 Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins 黑料传送门 South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, 黑料传送门 Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit .
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