Tag: #kinesfamily

Kinesiology Paths: Rugby to Rehabilitation and Performance Chiropractic

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Aaron Gootzeit, DC, MS, CSCS 
Louisiana Tech University – Kinesiology, Exercise and Health Promotion (2012)
Louisiana Tech University – M.S., Kinesiology, Sports Performance (2014)
Palmer University- Doctor of Chiropractic (2021)

There have been many twists and turns throughout my education and professional career that have somehow brought me to an amazing point in my life. Currently I am a Chiropractor that specializes in rehabilitation and performance. My patients range from Little League Baseball players with overuse shoulder injuries to high performing athletes preparing for their upcoming season or to come back from an injury to 81 year olds who do not want to stop exercising and being active. I love my career choice not only for the people I get to work with but also because it is in line with a journey I set out on many years ago and allows me to use almost all of the skills I have acquired along the way. 

I grew up in New York City, and like most people in that area I had no idea where Louisiana Tech was or that it even existed. In 2008 I transferred to Tech and had absolutely no idea where I was going or how I was going to get there. I was already a kinesiology student at my past school and decided I should stick to the major. That’s when I took my first Dr. Szymanski class and got absolutely shaken up, motivated, and intrigued. The wake up call that was “Exercise Physiology”, propelled me down a path of growth and self development. During this time of growth and development, I picked up 2 passions: personal training/helping others achieve goals and Rugby (shout out to Tech Rugby).

Fast forward to one of my last quarters as an undergrad student, I was making my schedule and realized I only had “one more Doc class” left and it was “Strength and Conditioning ”.  It sounded interesting and I was pretty excited to learn. This class changed my life and inspired me to continue my education in the graduate program in the Kinesiology Department pursuing a Masters in Kinesiology and Sport Performance. This would be my first step to becoming a strength and conditioning coach in professional rugby. 

During grad school I continued to play rugby and was able to help rebuild the Tech Rugby program and even win a league championship! Outside of that I was the Graduate Assistant for Health and Wellness at the Lambright Center. I took on responsibilities as a personal trainer, staff supervisor, program coordinator, and group fitness instructor just to name a few of the hats I wore in that role. I was also afforded the opportunity to work with Doc as a strength and conditioning assistant with the Louisiana Tech Baseball team for a season.  This gave me my first experience in the role of a strength and conditioning coach. 

During my graduate studies I was fortunate enough to earn a summer internship at the Tiger Rugby Academy which was a USA Rugby Olympic Development Academy for the 2016 olympic cycle. That summer was amazing! I made some lifelong friends, learned a ton from a couple of amazing mentors, and got my first taste of what constantly being on the road and full time training looked like!  I was hooked! At the end of the summer following graduation I was offered the opportunity for full time employment.  The money offered was not great at all, but I was in the game and that was really all I wanted, so I took it! 

While working at Tiger I was given the opportunity to travel all over the country and work with some amazing athletes, a couple who competed in the olympics and went on to unbelievable international careers or domestic professional careers. The thing about training for rugby full time is that there is never really any off season; especially for the players that are on the rise or trying to get noticed through the club system. The average competitive rugby player in the US will play from February or March (depending on region) to November, not to mention you travel all over the country for the top competitions. This grueling schedule made programming very difficult at times due partly to time but also due to the constant threat of injury and player fatigue. 

Dr. Szymanski has what he calls the “strength coach elevator speech”, it is “A strength coach’s job is to keep the athletes healthy, strong, powerful, and on the field”. Words to live by. They circulate in my head and help guide my programming to this day whether it’s for an 81 year old or for a 23 year old trying out for a professional contract. 

When I was working with these athletes we would generally only get 2 – 3 weeks max 3 – 4 times a year to actually hit the gym hard with the athletes, the rest of the time we were working to prevent injuries and recover from competition while not losing strength and power. As time went on I learned that it did not take as much to maintain the strength and power of this caliber of athlete as it did to keep them healthy and on the field. I dove down a rabbit hole of rehab, prehab, and recovery techniques to use with the athletes at the academy. 

As time went on like all things, my time in Columbus, OH came to a close. As part of Tiger Rugby Academy I signed a contract with the Clemson University Rugby Club to be their full time strength and conditioning coach as well as an assistant rugby coach. This was another great year of coaching great athletes, traveling, and great rugby! As the year came to a close my contract with Clemson was ending and the coach who brought me on was resigning. Time to figure out the next step! I had a three options: continue with Tiger Rugby and hope for the best, take a job at a chain strength and conditioning facility, or go back to school. 

The last trip I took with the Clemson Rugby Club was to the Collegiate Rugby Championship in Philadelphia, PA which is the biggest college rugby tournament in the country and is televised nationally. At the tournament Palmer College of Chiropractic was recruiting postgraduate rugby players to play for their rugby club and pursue a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. After some internal debates and phone calls I applied for Palmer, got in, and started classes all within about a 6 week period. 

When I went to Palmer I was on a mission to learn as much as I could about rehab and get back to sports. When I became eligible about halfway through my schooling I applied to be an intern in the rehab department. I loved it! I was learning all the cool things and getting the opportunity to incorporate what I learned up to that point. I ended up spending almost all of my free time during the day there. At that point I was confident that I was going to use exercise and chiropractic modalities to keep people healthy, strong, powerful, and on the field. 

When I started filling out applications I realized the world had a different plan. Of the “dream jobs” I found- some I never heard from after sending my resume, some I needed more experience as a chiropractor, and others I did not feel comfortable accepting once I had insight. This led me to taking a job at a family practice that did 5 to 10 minute appointments, with no time or space for exercise. After a while at this practice and instances of patients not getting the results I thought they deserved due to the restraints of the practices model, I left.  I started my own practice in a facility that specializes in training young athletes. 

Currently I am able to offer 1 hour appointments that include chiropractic care including adjustments and soft tissue work as well as time in the gym 1 on 1 doing exercises geared at recovering from injury, preventing injury, and improving performance. I truly enjoy waking up everyday and going to my office. I am truly excited to see where the rest of my career takes me. 

I want to finish by saying that although I happened to come across Tech by chance, I truly believe being there was one of the most important parts of my life. I started as a child without direction and finished with all the tools to chase my most wild dreams. The teachers challenged me to become the best version of myself, they held me to a high standard, they showed me unwavering support, built up my confidence, and they instilled values and lessons that I still carry with me today. There is no way I would be able to have taken the chances and leaps of faith I have taken without the lessons I was taught during my time as a student in the Louisiana Tech Kinesiology Department. 

  • Postscript: 

I love that I am back to working with athletes and active people in a gym setting.  I am planning to once again get involved with high level rugby in the future. I was told that this was not possible. I would have never tried to make it possible if it weren’t for the lessons I learned at Tech including a statement I heard on my first day of the grad program, “get comfortable with being uncomfortable”. 

Kinesiology Paths: Chiropratic

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Kaila Manshack, D.C.
Louisiana Tech University- Clinical Kinesiology 2015
Parker University – Doctor of Chiropractic 2019

Introduction:
Choosing a major in college is a crucial decision that can shape our future careers. I am passionate about exercise science, body mechanics, and a holistic approach to healthcare, so pursuing a degree in Kinesiology was an excellent choice. Clinical Kinesiology was a great undergraduate degree for me because of its relevance to exercise science and the human body. By studying Kinesiology, I was able to gain a deep understanding of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics.

When I was a student at Louisiana Tech I knew Kinesiology would be a great option for me to be able to go into the healthcare field. I’m so thankful for the professors in the Kinesiology department help me become who I am today.

After graduating from Louisiana Tech in 2015 I went on to receive my doctorate in chiropractic at Parker University in 2019 and am currently
working in Shreveport, Louisiana at ND Wellness. Chiropractic is an incredibly beneficial health profession that many people do not understand. We believe that everyone has the right to good health. Through chiropractic, we can help patients get back to health by approaching spinal health from a holistic perspective. At its core, chiropractic seeks to free up the nervous system by ensuring that each vertebra in the spine is upright and properly aligned with the next. This helps avoid any possible encroachment on nerves whereby information flow between your brain and body
might be skewed or restricted. An optimal functioning spinal cord is essential for health. Some benefits of chiropractic is improving your
overall health, pain relief, improved posture, coordination, flexibility, circulation, and immune system. I am also able to provide nutritional counseling to patients to assess nutritional needs and create personalized nutritional plans.

Choosing Clinical Kinesiology was a great foundation in learning exercise science as well as body mechanics and makes an excellent for pursuing a career in chiropractic. By studying Kinesiology I was well prepared when starting chiropractic school. I’m so thankful for the time I spent at Louisiana Tech.

Kinesiology Paths: Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist

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Annie Crain Johnson, CPO, MPO
Louisiana Tech University – B.S. Kinesiology and Health Sciences – Class of 2020

Education/Background: 

The Kinesiology Department taught me to be diligent, resourceful, detail-oriented and empathetic towards others; qualities I attribute to my present-day success.  I chose LA Tech and its Kinesiology program to prepare me for my future career in prosthetics and orthotics. I carefully selected my curriculum to ensure qualification when applying for graduate school. 

I am very grateful for all opportunities presented by the Kinesiology Department, especially the fourth-quarter internship. This internship allows students real workforce experience in perspective careers. My internship at Adaptive Prosthetics and Orthotics clinic in Houma, LA, allowed me to actively pursue a profession I found intriguing and gain firsthand experience in the day-to-day operations of the P&O field. This experience deepened my understanding of the responsibilities of a Prosthetist/Orthotist and solidified my passion for the field.  

In December 2022, I received my Masters of Prosthetics and Orthotics from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. This 18-month program centered on a specialized curriculum, encompassing hands-on experience in device fabrication, patient models, clinical rotations, and a clinical internship. Despite the program being out of state, I qualified for in-state tuition through the Academic Common Market (ACM) created by The Southern Regional Education Board. Participating states and universities within the ACM allow students to pursue out-of-state education if their desired degree is not offered locally. After obtaining my master’s degree, I had to complete an additional two-year prosthetic/orthotic residency and pass five exams to achieve board certification. 

In January 2024, I concluded my residency at Atlantic Prosthetics and Orthotics in Chapel Hill, NC. This experience equipped me with the skills for clinical decision making, product fabrication, and effective patient communication. I also had the privilege of learning from a multi-disciplinary team of seasoned clinicians. 

Currently: 

I work full-time at Atlantic P&O and have two more board exams to complete before achieving full certification. I absolutely love my job and couldn’t envision another career path for myself. My daily schedule is ever-changing, which adds excitement to my work. Additionally, new technology is continually being introduced into everyday prosthetic and orthotic practices. 

One notable advancement in prosthetic socket fabrication is the Direct Socket method. Direct Socket serves as a socket solution for amputees of all activity levels. By utilizing fiberglass or basalt weave and injectable acrylic resin, the prosthetic socket can be directly fabricated on the patient’s residual limb. A key tool for achieving a well-fitting Direct Socket is the bladder and pump: a single-chamber pressure-casting system designed to optimally distribute pressure and shape soft tissue during casting. This method enables a patient to receive their prosthetic socket that accurately reflects their current limb shape and volume in just one appointment. 

We cater to a diverse patient population, attending to individuals from various backgrounds and walks of life. My experience encompasses the application of helmet therapy for infants with deformational plagiocephaly to providing support for senior amputees who engage in activities such as knitting in our waiting room. I have discovered a particular affinity for working with children. Their boundless energy and optimistic outlook on the future make each interaction fulfilling. Witnessing the resilience of children, I have implemented numerous adaptations in their prostheses to facilitate a wide range of activities.  

I recently collaborated with a young girl who underwent rotationplasty surgery due to Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD). In response to the intricacies of her surgery, a prosthesis featuring a thigh cuff, lateral knee hinges, and a foot-shaped socket was meticulously developed. Our ongoing commitment involves continuous adaptation of fabrication and design to accommodate advancements in surgery/amputation techniques and cater to the evolving activities and needs of our patients. 

A profession in prosthetics and orthotics not only fulfills my innate need to create but also aligns with my aspiration to enhance the lives of others. While I enjoy my time in the workshop, witnessing a patient rise and take their first steps after accompanying them through their entire clinical journey is a deeply gratifying and emotionally resonant experience — undeniably the most rewarding aspect of my job. 

Thank you: 

To this day, I often think of the invaluable experiences I had in Memorial Gym with my Kinesiology professors. They not only imparted professional skills but also instilled essential life skills, fostering qualities such as passion, goal-driven determination, and kindness towards others. The Department’s conducive environment has the potential to guide any individual toward success. I will always consider myself fortunate to be a member of the Louisiana Tech Kinesiology Family. 

I extend my gratitude to my Kinesiology professors, the distinguished faculty at UTSW in prosthetics and orthotics, and the dedicated team at Atlantic Prosthetics and Orthotics. It is through your unwavering support and guidance that I find myself living the dream! 

Kinesiology Paths: Medical Device Sales- Stryker Trauma and Extremities Division

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Tyler Griggers, Louisiana Tech Kinesiology – B.S. Kinesiology & Health Sciences – Class of 2019

I’m a former Track and Field athlete who competed in the men’s javelin throw. I originally started out in Engineering for a year before switching majors. During my first year with the engineering department, I didn’t feel like I fit in with the crowd, never got to know any of the professors, and honestly just didn’t enjoy that field of study. I made the switch my sophomore year into a field that I naturally was curious about. Kinesiology, to sum it up, is the study of how the body moves. Being an athlete, I wanted to be the best I could be. As I got further into my studies and my relationships with the faculty grew, I was able to perform independent tests on applied forces that would correlate directly into my javelin throw. I also learned about nutrition, and nutrient timing which fueled my body to preform instead of cramp as I recall one quarter having terrible body cramps. After taking everything I was learning and applying it to my training, I eventually qualified for the Division 1 NCAA’s regionals and competed against the best in the country. Now that you know about my past, let’s talk about the present.

At the time I’m writing this, it’s the end of year 2023 and I reside in Jacksonville, Florida with my beautiful fiancé and two dogs. I work full time for a medical device company called Stryker and have been with them for four years now. More specifically, I am a part of the Trauma and Extremities division. Basically, my job is to provide orthopedic surgeons with the hardware they need to correct broken bones. My job includes standing in on surgeries daily and assisting on fracture reduction, while being an expert on the product that is being used to provide any useful tips or answer questions. I’m able to use my degree daily due to my knowledge of anatomy and how these different forces (muscles) will pull on the bone at their attachment points thus misaligning the fracture. I’ve done it all, from the broken finger, to the 2 am poly trauma who got in a car wreck and broke everything they could. There is a wide variety of the day-to-day surgeries, so no day is ever the same redundant process.

Stryker is also such a large company that they have 18 divisions, across over 75 countries, employing over 51 thousand employees. Something we started doing in the recent years are summer internships. If you are a junior going into your final year, you are eligible to apply for this 3 month long paid internship with us, and you might end up in a cool place like Florida with me.

Kinesiology? What Is It and What Can I Do With It?

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A Health and Physical Education, Health and Human Performance, Health and Exercise Science – terms you are probably familiar with.  But Kinesiology? When giving an explanation of what it is, the usual response is, “Oh, PE?”  Yes, physical education is part of Kinesiology, but there are many more areas that are included in this academic discipline. Over the last 15 years many universities have changed their program name to Kinesiology, which is an all-encompassing umbrella term for the many disciplines within this field.

The American Kinesiology Association defines it as, “is an academic discipline which involves the study of physical activity and its impact on health, society, and quality of life. It includes, but is not limited to, such areas of study as exercise science, sports management, athletic training and sports medicine, socio-cultural analyses of sports, sport and exercise psychology, fitness leadership, physical education-teacher education, and pre-professional training for physical therapy, occupational therapy, medicine and other health related fields.”

Still many people don’t understand the depth and breadth of the discipline and all the many career possibilities a Kinesiology graduate can pursue.  It’s true, the majority of majors in Kinesiology programs, or at least here at Louisiana Tech, are hoping to become physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician assistants.  But not everyone who applies to these allied health field programs will be accepted for various reasons. Many students do not wish to pursue a career in allied health but are unaware of what other careers are available. Hopefully this blog will enlighten the reader as to the many careers and paths a Kinesiology graduate can take.

The following is a list of possible career avenues compiled from the American Kinesiology Association and the recent seminar (you can click on many of them to find out more information about each):

Adapted Physical Activity

Aquatics Director

Athletic Administration in School or College
National High School Coaches Association
NCAA

Athletic Trainer

Biomechanist
American Society of Biomechanics
International Society of Biomechanics

Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist

Chiropractic Physician

Coaching at School or College
National High School Coaches Association
NCAA

Corporate Wellness Programs

Director of Youth Camps/Sports Programs
Boys and Girls Club of America
YMCA
YWCA

Electrophysiology

Epidemiologist – Physical Activity
CDC
Physical Activity and Nutrition
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System

Exercise Physiologist
American College of Sports Medicine
American Society of Exercise Physiologists

Continue reading “Kinesiology? What Is It and What Can I Do With It?” →

A Day in the Life of

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Annie Crain
Resident Prothetist/Orthotist


“Choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” -Confucius

It has always been a goal of mine to never work a day in my life, so it was crucial to choose a career I loved. The Louisiana Tech Kinesiology Department was the initial spark that fueled me to become the Resident Prosthetist/Orthotist I am today. 

After driving from my hometown of Houma, LA to tour every single university in the state, I arrived at LA Tech University. I chose LA Tech and its Kinesiology program to prepare me for my future career in prosthetics and orthotics. I carefully selected my curriculum so I would be qualified when applying for graduate school. The Kinesiology Department taught me to be diligent, resourceful, detail-oriented and empathetic towards others; qualities I attribute to my present day success.

I received my Master’s of Prosthetics and Orthotics from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in December of 2022. This 18-month program is centered on a specialized curriculum including hands-on experience with device fabrication, patient models, clinical rotations, and a clinical internship. After receiving my master’s degree, I was required to complete an additional 2-year prosthetic/orthotic residency to become board certified in order to see patients on my own.

Currently, I am a completing my first year of residency in orthotics followed by a year of prosthetics at Atlantic Prosthetics and Orthotics in Chapel Hill, NC. My residency at Atlantic P&O has provided me with the ability to become skilled in device selection, fabrication, and patient communication. I have the opportunity to learn from a multi-disciplinary team of experienced clinicians. I absolutely love my job, and couldn’t imagine another career path for myself.

My daily schedule is ever-changing, which makes work exciting. My first task of the day is to check the patient schedules.  Patient encounters are usually initial evaluations or device fittings.  In an initial evaluation, I will assess the patient’s range of motion, muscle strength, diagnosis and device prescription.  Often, I can fit the patient with an off-the-shelf device if the product meets all of their clinical needs. Otherwise, additional measurements will be taken for the fabrication of a custom device.

Approximately three days of fabrication are needed to make a custom orthosis or prosthesis, most of which is completed during breaks between patient appointments. The fabrication process from start to finish of most devices typically includes: a cast of the affected area which is used to create a positive plaster model, modifying the positive model by sanding or carving the plaster to acquire the desired shape, then draping hot plastic or pouring resin over the positive model.  The cooled plastic or resin lamination will then be cut and smoothed into a finished product. At a custom device fitting, alignment angles can be adjusted or plastic can be trimmed or heat molded to provide a more optimal fit.

A career in prosthetics and orthotics fulfills my innate need to create, but also my desire to enhance the lives of others.  I enjoy my time in the workshop, but seeing a patient stand up and walk for the first time after following them through their entire clinical journey is truly a heartfelt experience and the best part of my job – pure magic every time!

For more information on prosthetics and orthotics:

https://ncope.org/

Over 25 years of experience in the prosthetic and orthotic industry

Prosthetist: healthcare professional who makes and fits artificial limbs (prostheses) for people with disabilities. This includes artificial legs and arms for people who have had amputations due to conditions such as cancer, diabetes, or injury.

Orthotist: healthcare professional who makes and fits braces and splints (orthoses) for people who need added support for body parts that have been weakened by injury, disease, or disorders of the nerves, muscles, or bones.

(In medical practice, these specialties are often paired)
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/orthotist-and-prosthetist

Getting to Know Your Kinesiology Family – Faculty Spotlights

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Vishesh Singh, BS, BPT, MS
Director of Human Performance Labs


Where did you grow up and what activities were you involved in?
Hometown: Lucknow, India.
Main Activities: Playing Cricket
What did you want to be when you grew up? Physical Therapist
What was your first job? Physical Therapist (India)
Where did you attend undergrad and what was your major?
Bachelor of Sciences, University of Lucknow (India) and Bachelor of Physical Therapy (DAVV University, Indore, India)
Where did you attend graduate school and your activities during that time?
M.S. Sport Performance at Louisiana Tech University
What brought you to Louisiana Tech? I came to Tech to pursue my masters.
What classes do you teach at Louisiana Tech?
KINE 292: Preventive Health and Wellness
KINE 326: Functional Anatomy
What are your research interests?
Sport performance
Analysis human Movement
Tell us about your family.
My parents live in India.  My wife, Shilpi, is a physical therapist, and we were blessed with a little girl Vianshi on Aug 12th, 2021.
What do you like to do in your spare time to unwind?
Exercise, spend time with family, watch Netflix, and talk to family and friends in India
What is your favorite quote?
One of many is “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves”.