Physical therapists are basically the same all over the world. I guess why would I expect it to be any different from country to country, our services would be the same, right?

In Italy you are called a physiotherapist, and they do it a little different due to health care and regulation issues, but all in all it is the same there. Everyday you get to make a difference in at least one person's life. As a physical therapist, you might help people leave the hospital earlier, because they can walk to the bathroom now that you taught them how to do it again after surgery. In my private outpatient office it might be higher level skills like running, jumping or dancing ,or perfecting their bowling or golf swing. Maybe it's your balance that's the problem, or you can't sleep at night because of that old shoulder injury.

Whatever keeps you from the life you want that's when you need to see the physical therapist. That's just what we do. We biomechanically analyze why your current movement patterns aren't working for you and come up with new movement strategies that will work with less pain. We are movement specialists.

Three years ago I had the pleasure of meeting two Italian sisters that are physical therapists in Italy. One of them is the mom of the Italian student we had the summer before. This summer, I got to visit with them again in Italy, and I was reminded again of the work we do and the profession that we love.

You see my sister is also a physical therapist north of Seattle, and when I heard them talk about their global movement muscle treatment plans of care, I thought of all the years my sister and I talked about the same thing. Studying together, brainstorming and going to continuing education conferences to be able to take better care of our patients.

How ironic, that my sister and I would have Italian sisters that are half around the world talking about and taking care of people the same exact way; with the same worries, concerns and desires for their patients' well being. It was fun to watch them as they face the challenges and rewards that our profession brings, even the yummy turducken that was delivered by a patient right to her door to feed the Americans that were visiting her under her back portico.

So here's to our patients that we are lucky enough to meet and take care of and to our profession that we are so blessed to be a part of. It's the same all over the world, people taking care of people.

Sheree DiBiase, PT, is the owner of Lake City Physical Therapy, PA, and she and her incredible staff can be reached in their Coeur d'Alene office at (208) 667-1988, or their Spokane Valley office at (509) 891-2623. Whatever keeps you from the life you want, we can help! And to all my patients, thanks, you are the reason I love my profession,because I know you would bring tiramisu when my Italian friends come to visit.