All Students: Catch-Up and Study Tips

Hello everyone!

I hope you're all enjoying your vacation! After pushing through half a semester of work, you deserve a break. I know you all have families, jobs, etc. to tend to, but at least you don't have the weight of a hundred deadlines hanging over your head.

Please, cut out some "me" time for yourself.

On another note, some of you have work to catch up on. Maybe you don't know your muscles as well as you should, you're missing homeworks, or your documentation isn't up to snuff. Now is a good time to catch up on that stuff while you have the time.

I suggest that you all check your gradebooks and see what assignments you're missing. A good way to do this is to click the "Report" tab at the top of the course space, change it from "Attendance" to "Grades" and click "Run." Some teachers don't have all of your grades put in so your final grade won't be accurate, but most do. You can see what assignments you haven't turned in yet as well, and can check to see if you're still able to turn them in for partial credit.

MAT126 students, you've probably already done this for the midterm evaluation, but I suggest you tally up your hours so far and record them somewhere.

Reminder: we have tons of resources to use in Open Lab: Anatomy flash cards, face paint crayons to draw muscles on each other, all kinds of textbooks/reference books, clay, skeletal models, and (obviously) space to practice. Come on over and get stuff done this Wednesday :-)

Also, here are a couple study tips I've seen help students immensely:

• I had one student make a dotted list for each class of everything due for the week in a notebook. At the beginning of each class week, she'd write down what assignments, quizzes, and discussions were due and when, and she'd write it down in an organized list. As she completed her assignments, she'd check them off.
• When writing a discussion post, always type it in a word doc. first and save it. Then you can copy & paste it over to the discussion board. If the class times out for some reason, or the internet goes out, you won't lose your work.
• Some people need tangible assignments to hold in their hands. Because of this, some students have printed out everything and organized the papers in three-ring binders. It's a non-eco-friendly option.
• If that's not an option, every week go through your classes and save everything to your computer. Copy & paste any info into a word doc. and that can't be saved otherwise and save that as well. If the internet/web site goes down, you can still see what is due and complete those assignments.
• When I saved my class assignments, I was very organized. I'd have a folder for every class (ex. "MAT111") and a folder for every week (ex. "Week 8") and then I'd specifically name every assignment/doc. I saved (ex. "Ppt Hydrotherapy" or "Disc Ethics" Ppt = powerpoint and Disc = discussion).
• If you have a calendar (virtual or otherwise) mark down when the course week for each class begins and ends, as they're usually different. That gives you a general understanding of when assignments are due.
• Now that you know your professors, make a mental note of what they look for and keep that in mind when completing their assignments!

Hope these help! And again, enjoy your vacation. :-)

~Jess

MAT111 - Jon's Advice

For all you students working on giving the best relaxation massages ever:

Jon was given an extremely useful tip from one of his own therapists recently, and I highly suggest you follow the advice. If you're working on an area of the body with a lot of hair (i.e. legs) USE EXTRA OIL. If you don't use a lot of oil, you'll actually be pulling the hairs around the follicles (sometimes even out of the follicles). Even if it doesn't hurt the client at the time, they can wake up the next day with rashes and irritation from the pulling.

Something to consider! Thank you, Jon :-)

~Jess

All Students - A Couple Things

Hey Everyone!

I know with the 120 class we've gone over "The Four Agreements." I'm not sure if we have with the 111 class, but it's important to me to share. Kimberly introduced me to "The Four Agreements" a short time ago and I LOVE THEM! These are four agreements that we want you, as students to follow. In return, we staff/faculty members will also commit to them.

1. The first is one of the easiest to follow, even though it may not seem like it. Classes get stressful. Sometimes you feel like the teachers, or another student, isn't being fair. There is no need to talk them down behind their backs (or even to their face). Politely discuss with them whatever issues you're having. This will reduce your stress level while helping to fix the problem! It's a win-win.
2. The second one is important to remember as a student MT. We will coach you throughout these courses, sometimes providing feedback that you perceive as negative. Don't take it personally! We only want to help you! At the same time, if someone is having a bad day and you feel they aren't treating you respectfully, realize that there's something going on within them to make them act this way. Odds are, they're hurting. Don't take it personally, just let it go.
3. The third is simple: don't assume. DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS. Honestly, speak up if you're wondering about something, even if it's via e-mail or you have to pull us aside. Communicate with us and your fellow students to get the most out of your experience here. :-)
4. Last, but not least, always do your best. Your best is whatever you can do at any given time. Your sleep-deprived, 20-assignments-due stressed-out best is not going to be your well-rested, spring-vacation-just-ended best. Just give it your best effort. No stress, no worries, we understand that your best changes, but as long as you try, we can't ask for anything more.

Also, for those interested in learning a bit of ASL, here is an excellent little chart of the alphabet and numbers 1-9. Practice makes perfect!

Thanks guys! I hope you're feeling better now that midterms are (almost completely) over!

~Jess

MAT112 - New Resource

I found a really cool muscle resource web site for you guys :-)

www.getbodysmart.com

It's linked to go automatically to the muscular system. If you find discrepancies in it, let me know!

MAT120 students, you may find this useful as well!!!

~Jess

MAT120 - Pin & Stretch Quick Reference

As requested by Nathan, here is a quick reference list of the major muscles you guys will pin & stretch!

Which I wish I had when I was a student. It should make studying a bit easier.

The best way to commit it to memory is to practice!

Tibialis Anterior

Cl. is supine. Start with the foot dorsiflexed. Pin the tib. ant. as distally as possible. As you move proximal towards the knee, bend the foot in plantar flexion.

Gastrocnemius

Cl. is prone. Start with the foot plantar flexted. Pin the muscle distally, as you move proximal towards the back of the knee, put the food into dorsiflexion. Make sure cl's foot is hanging off the edge of the table. Start by using your hand, then push the foot in with your leg.

Quadriceps Group

Cl. is supine and close to the edge of the table based on which leg you're working on (for example, if you're working R quads, cl. is towards the R edge of the table). Put a towel around cl's ankle like a hammock and hold at the top. Pull leg so the foot/knee are off the table. Start with the cl's leg straight. Pin the quads distally, as you work your way up towards the hip, slowly drop the foot in knee flexion.

Hamstring Group

Cl. is prone. Pin the tissue distally (be careful of the back of the knee). Bring the foot up in knee flexion as much as you can (but make sure you can still move your hand). As you move towards the hip, bring their foot down in knee extension.

Quadratus Lumborum (will add later)

Subscapularis

Cl. is supine with the arm abducted at 90 degrees and the elbow bent at 90 degrees. Pin the muscle anterior to the scap. Hold while horizontally adducting the cl's arm. GO SLOW, IT HURTS.

Rhomboids

Cl is either prone or supine (most likely prone). Have cl protract scap, then retract as you strip it. You can have them horizontally ab & adduct, just make sure the scap protracts/retracts. Cl's arm should be hanging off the table.

Levator Scapula

Supine. Cl's neck starts out rotated and laterally flexed to the side you're working on. Sit at the head of the table. Pin the attachment near the mastoid process. Do a combination of rotation/lat flex to the opposite side as you work your way to the other attachment site on the superior/medial border of the scap.

Or start with the cl's shoulder elevated, pin near the shoulder, and bring the shoulder down as you bring your thumb up towards the skull. You should be sitting on that side of the table for this one.

Let me know if I have to add/clarify anything!