Introduction
My name is Melisa Erdal. I am a senior kinesiology major at Pennsylvania State University, interested in becoming a sports physical therapist. My passion for sports physical therapy started when I was introduced to the complexity of the muscular and skeletal systems of the human body in high school. In the years following high school, I became fascinated by the creativity and strategy required to rehabilitate the human body.
Prior Experiences: Research
During my years at Penn State, I took advantage of research experiences to prepare for a career in physical therapy. As a Schreyer Honors scholar, I administered resistance and aerobic exercise protocols to college students to assess exercise’s effects on substance cravings. In addition, I analyzed data from a research lab focusing on the chemicals released by the body during exercise. These research experiences taught me the physiology behind the rehabilitation mechanisms utilized in sports physical therapy.
Prior Experiences: Physical Therapy Settings
I shadowed at physical therapy clinics and hospitals across the greater Boston area. I provided sports injury patients with routine treatments at various outpatient clinics, including Bay State Physical Therapy and Professional Physical Therapy. In addition, I had the opportunity to collaborate with staff to progress patients toward treatment goals and motivate patients to practice functional exercises. At Boston Children’s Hospital and South Shore Hospital in Massachusetts, I observed patients progress through rehabilitation exercises post-joint-replacement surgery and neurologically damage. These prior experiences prepared me for a future as a physical therapist and have pushed me to apply for Doctor of Physical Therapy programs and become a sports physical therapist.
Contact
This website is an available resource to view subjects related to sports physical therapy. If there are any questions, please email me at mfe5200@psu.edu or view my LinkedIn for further descriptions of my professional experiences.
Professional Persona Video