Get to know Therapydia Pearl’s newest Clinic Director, Steven Jew PT, DPT as he shares what surprises him the most about physical therapy, his favorite pump up song and how he likes to spend his weekends.
Start the day by making your bed and the rest of the day will come a lot easier.
When did you know that you wanted to be a physical therapist?
I knew I wanted to be a physical therapist when I first did a high school project on the profession. I vividly remember, while shadowing a therapist, witnessing a patient take his first steps since sustaining a gunshot wound to the spine. I continued to follow this patient for a few months and got to experience his journey from being bed bound, to running and biking again. I knew then that I had found my passion and profession.
What’s your favorite song to get you motivated?
Best Friend – Sofi Tukker
What is the biggest challenge involved in being a PT?
I think the biggest challenge is my habit of continuously performing movement analysis on pedestrians when I’m in waiting rooms, airports, or just walking down the street. It’s especially difficult when I go to the gym.
How do you like to stay active?
I enjoy running with my dog, Luna. But I also love to hike, rock climb, and play volleyball.
What surprised you the most about the physical therapist profession?
I was really surprised at how quickly the effects of therapy can begin after initiating treatment. When I was still in school, I was under the impression that therapy would take weeks or even months to make notable changes. But I quickly learned that we more commonly have same day significant changes. That, to me, is powerful.
Are you currently pursuing any further education/certifications?
My goals this year is to pursue additional certifications in endurance training,
What’s your go-to breakfast?
I am always happy with eggs benedict and a good pour over coffee.
What do you wish everyone knew about physical therapy? / What is the biggest misconception you hear from new patients?
A lot of new patients I meet think that physical therapy is “just exercise”. But it is so much more than that. Physical therapy is about manually changing joint positions, correcting movement patterns, specific tissue training, and making huge changes with minimal intervention. I think a lot of people miss out on just how specialized physical therapy is.
What is the most important personality trait that a therapist must have?
The most important trait is definitely having a compassionate heart. If you don’t care about your patient and all that goes into their life it’s really easy to perform a haphazard exam or treatment. It’s even easier to miss out on identifying their barriers to achieving their goals. To do our best, we must care about each of our patients.
What do you do to de-stress/unwind?
I like to turn my brain off for a while so I walk my dog while listening to music every morning and every evening.
Finish this sentence: On Saturday mornings, you can usually find me…
…walking the dog with a cup of coffee.
What is the best piece of wellness advice you’ve ever received?
Start the day by making your bed and the rest of the day will come a lot easier.
Learn more about Steven and the other Therapydia Pearl physical therapists.