Join Sammy the bear and Buddy the raccoon as they discover the exciting world of physical therapy! When Sammy hurts his foot and is told he will need to see a physical therapist, he gets nervous. What is a physical therapist? What kinds of things will he do in physical therapy? Will it hurt? Sammy, Buddy, and their friends ask these questions and many more as they go on a field trip to find out what physical therapy is all about. This book, along with Sammy's Physical Therapy Adventure: Coloring & Activity Book, strives to prepare children and their families for a positive physical therapy experience by easing common fears and educating them on the rehabilitation process.
About the Author: The inspiration for this book came from the simple question, "Daddy, what do you do?" asked by his then three year old daughter. Unable to adequately describe all that a physical therapist does, he searched for a children's book to help him tell the story. Finding that no such book existed, Dr. Fink decided to create one with the help of students in the Art & Art History, Digital Communications, Education, and Physical Therapy departments at Lebanon Valley College. Within months of undertaking this project, Dr. Fink was blessed with his third child who was born with a congenital condition affecting the muscles and joints of all four limbs. Dr. Fink's son is treated by a physical therapist on a weekly basis and this book has proven to be a vital educational resource to help his two older children understand what physical therapy entails. This book is written for all the children who receive or will receive physical therapy, as well as the families of those children. This book is also written for physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and their families as a celebration of the amazing work they do every day. Finally, this book is for all the student physical therapists and student physical therapist assistants who are embarking on their own physical therapy adventure! "I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I did creating it." M.F. Dr. Michael Fink is a Physical Therapy professor at Lebanon Valley College in central Pennsylvania. Prior to teaching, Dr. (Major) Fink was a U.S. Air Force physical therapist and combat veteran last stationed at the United States Air Force Academy. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Physical Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University and earned his Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy from Baylor University. Dr. Fink completed a Post-Professional Sports Medicine Residency at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and is board certified in both Sports and Orthopaedic physical therapy.