A Day in the Life of a Physical Therapist

By Kelly Hughes

Physical Therapists play a crucial role in healthcare. Collaborating with physicians and other specialists to develop personalized treatment plans, they help patients recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions, and improve mobility. Recognizing their significant role in the healing journeys of many patients, McLeod Health perennially seeks Physical Therapists to begin or further their careers, with many opportunities for inpatient, outpatient and home health roles available across all campuses.

Abigail Applegate, PT, has been working for three years at McLeod Pediatric Rehabilitation Carolina Forest. This was her first job after completing her graduate degree, and she was excited to find a great work environment near the coast.

6:15 a.m. Rise and shine. The alarm clock goes off early and Abigail gets ready to start a new day. 

8:00 a.m. Today’s first patient. Most patients in physical therapy are either there for evaluation or treatment. The first patient today is here for an evaluation, which is a longer appointment. The patient is six years old, and his parents were concerned about poor coordination. Abigail assesses the patient based on appropriate developmental milestones to determine if there is cause for concern. 

9:30 a.m. Abigail’s next patient is an adorable eight-month-old infant who is being treated for torticollis. This is a condition that causes the head to tilt or lean to one side. It is commonly treated in children. Abigail works with the parents to teach them appropriate stretches and exercise that can help the baby to meet gross motor milestones. 

10:15 a.m. Two more kids. The first patient had been referred to the program for his flat feet which can cause weak muscles and leg tone. His physician had recommended surgery, but Abigail and the parents have developed a regimen that has increased his muscle tone, and surgery may no longer be needed. The next patient was a four-month-old being treated for Clubfoot. This is a common birth defect that causes the child’s foot to turn inward or downward at birth. With early treatment, most children can run, play and function normally. While working with the parents, Abigail learned that the 11:00 a.m. time slot was right in the middle of naptime. Next week, they are going to change the time of her appointment to make it more beneficial for the baby. Understanding the needs of small children and what works best for them is a fundamental part of the therapist’s treatment plan. 

12:00 p.m. Lunch. Most days Abigail brings her lunch or takes a quick walk over to local restaurants near the McLeod Health Carolina Forest Campus. The area around the campus has developed quickly in recent years and offers an array of convenient lunch options for staff and patients. 

1:45 p.m. The second patient after lunch is Azariah Hardee, an adorable eighteen-month-old little girl. Azariah was born prematurely at 26 weeks at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence. She spent three months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Often, premature babies require early intervention therapy to ensure they meet their developmental milestones. Abigail has worked with the mother to help Azariah learn to sit up on her own. Today, they celebrated Azariah’s achievement. 

2:30 p.m. For the rest of the afternoon, Abigail treats kids with autism, knee pain, delayed gross motor skills and a teenager with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). EDS is a group of genetic disorders that affect connective tissues. This condition can be painful, and patients can be physically unstable. Abigail works with the patient to strengthen their core and improve coordination. The goal of these sessions is to help her patients regain their ability to be active kids. 

5:30 p.m. End of clinic. During the last hour of the day, Abigail catches up on documentation, reviews patient charts for the following day and returns calls from patients who have questions or need her assistance. 

6:30 p.m. Time to head home. Abigail works four days a week, 10 hours a day. She has Fridays off which gives her a great work-life balance. After work, she typically heads to a workout class or goes for a walk around her neighborhood. 

Abigail is an avid reader and ends the evening with a good book before heading to bed around 10:00 p.m. Rest is important, because tomorrow she has a new list of shining faces ready for therapy. 

About Abigail
Originally from Pennsylvania, Abigail was a high school cheerleader who suffered a sports injury that required physical therapy. It was during her own treatment that a career in physical therapy seemed like a good idea. Her therapist offered for her to shadow him. After college, Abigail completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Misericordia University in Pennsylvania. 

During her clinical rotations, she worked at a children’s hospital and gained experience with newborn children in intensive care units. She was also able to receive training at a charitable clinic for pediatric patients without access to healthcare. This experience helped her decide that working with kids was her passion, and pediatric rehab is where she wanted to build her career. 

Abigail made the move to South Carolina after she was offered a position at McLeod Pediatric Rehabilitation in Carolina Forest.

“Physical therapy gives me an opportunity to build a relationship with my patients,” said Abigail. “I enjoy spending time with them and seeing them improve. I have patients who have come back once they graduate to show me how well they are doing.”

One of the benefits of working on the Carolina Forest campus is the proximity to the adult rehabilitation clinic. Abigail also works two half days a week in the adult clinic to retain her skills and treat adult patients. Additionally, she is certified in dry needling, a technique used by trained healthcare professionals to treat musculoskeletal pain and movement issues. The wide variety of patients McLeod Health serves enables her to remain proficient with both adult and pediatric patients.