It may have been a tough road but I can't deny that this course gave me so many opportunities to learn and realize the gravity of my role as a physical therapist to my patients.

(pic is basically O> OI> conscious, alert, confused, & cooperative)

Going back to this experience reminds me of the improvements that I need to make. MSK 1 was challenging but I surely had a lot of realizations and learnings from it. Merry Christmas :D

I didn’t want to post a crying pic out here but it is what it izzz 🤪 this was me before last MSK lec quiz (leg, ankle, foot, gait, balance quiz 😵‍💫) and final case pre. I can still feel the jitters and gut-retching feeling I felt that day because I was so nervous and probably high on caffeine. Looking back, although this was not my proudest moment, I appreciate myself for caring too much because this shows how much I want to do my best in everything that I do.

MSK1 taught me a lot of stuff, from academics to moral values. I know that I have a long way to go (and more crying) but with perseverance and determination, I hope that someday I will be able to look back again to these moments and feel proud.

This experience was challenging but it was a great learning experience. It became a practice for me for our practicals. Never forgetting the anxiety always during MSK1 hehe. For me, MSK1 was very challenging but I had a ton of learnings and experiences because of this class. Our MSK1 profs gave me so many insights that would surely help me.This class taught me so much and I know there would be even more stress and learnings to come ^__^

hehe namamasko po!🎄🎅🏾🎁🍀

The past four months have been the most challenging season of my PT journey, but it was also where I learned and grew the most. Moving forward, I will always be grateful for this course since it reminded me of how much I love PT. I know that I still have a lot to improve on and I look forward to learning more in the future.

I’ll never forget the hours we spent fine-tuning every detail—ensuring our performance was accurate, met the case requirements, and stayed within the strict time limit since any overtime would mean no grade. The pressure of completing all subjective history-taking and essential objective assessments within such a short time was intense, especially since it was our first time applying these skills. But it was also a great learning experience—because, with practice, it really can be done in under 20 minutes.

Overall, the experience was incredibly rewarding. We grew closer as a group, learned how to collaborate more efficiently, and shared a sense of achievement. Even though not everyone could be there physically, those who joined remotely still contributed greatly, making the project a true team effort.

Will definitely miss these moments.

On the day we were filming, I wanted to get it over with because exams were just a day away, but it ended up with us filming for almost 5 hours. Way past what we expected. It took us several takes, but I was thankful for this experience because I was able to practice for the pracs as well and I learned a lot during this. We wrote our plan on a whiteboard and had to memorize it, even to the smallest detail like when the pt should have their shirt on or off.

Thank you so much to my groupmates, professors, and interns for making MSK a memorable learning experience. (the most mentally, physically, emotionally challenged I have ever been in my whole life)

- Mati Go

-Prince Escobar

Nevertheless, I am very thankful for my very quick-to-adapt groupmates since we were able to get through that sticky (STICKY!?!?!) situation hehehe

merry christmas!!!!!!1 see you msk2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Every session was memorable—whether it was the nerve-wracking case presentations or receiving all the feedback we needed. From dying from laughter to all the very, very serious discussions on how we would present each case, it wasn’t easy at all, but teamwork really made everything so much more bearable.

Here’s one of the funniest moments of us trying to do a figure-of-8 anthropometric measurement on Marco’s ankle, which took forever kasi napakalikot ni Marco!! Apaka OA!! HAHAHADH

Patient’s Goal: She wants to say hi to MSK2 c this group :>

In the morning, we had our last lecture in MSK, and that day, I was also overwhelmed with many things happening all at once. When the last lecture officially ended, I realized that while MSK may be one of the “horrors” of second year, it also played a pivotal role in my life as a student and sparked my passion for this field.

Though studying is always exhausting, and I often find myself just getting through each day despite everything happening in my life—both good and bad—it makes me happy to see myself loving what I do once again. MSK helped me rediscover my biggest “why.” To all my instructors, I deeply value and appreciate your efforts and hard work for all of us. Sana proud din po kayo sa amin hehe. Merry Christmas, everyone! ✨

I don’t have any pic of my unforgettable moment, so here is my fave pic with my groupmates who made things more bearable and fun. So thankful for them!! (especially for bea, ishi, jaki, Julyan, stacy, and mikha)

I've shared a photo that was taken after our last laboratory session. This picture holds a special place in my heart, reflecting how far we've grown as individuals and as a team this semester. I'm genuinely grateful to have these people as my groupmates this semester.

"Power doesn't come to those who were born strongest, fastest or smartest. It comes to those who will do anything to achieve it."

Overall, MSK1 will hold a special place in my heart (OA??). Beyond all the information we learned, it gave me a glimpse of what it’s like to be a physical therapist in a clinical setting. It also taught me the importance of teamwork! The bond we built as a group—from practicing together to working as a team during summatives—made this subject even more special. A big thank you to my groupmates and to our professors for their constant feedback and for always inspiring us to improve! 💗

"Give out your all, and regret will find no room—only progress."

RUSHIL ANTHON L. ONGUE

UST CRS-PT A.Y. '24-'25

Although most of my MSK Lab & Lec experiences were rough, I’m grateful that I was able to learn and improve by God’s grace from the experiences that came with it. I will never forget how this moment—and this subject humbled and shaped me into a better learner.

Finishing MSK 1 alone is impossible – that is how difficult the subject is. Hard work, dedication, commitment, and perseverance, with a shed of tears (jk), will undoubtedly be your allies throughout this journey. It demands effort and a strong support system from peers, mentors, Dutton, O’Sullivan, and Magee. You should give all your strength, power, and knowledge in every session, lecture, and assessment to truly master the concepts and skills required (and to pass as well). I know things will only get harder from here, but what's life without a challenge?

- Ezra Victor

One thing that I will never forget about MSK is the importance of integrating the past courses during our 1st year in the courses this semester, especially kines and medsurg. I had to review and look back at these courses a lot of times throughout the MSK course. I will always remember the feedback from our professors in every discussion after our summative and formative assessments. To be completely honest, MSK is the hardest course that I have encountered at the moment, and I feel definitely happy that I was able to finish the last shift satisfied with my final exam score, both in lecture and laboratory. Although MSK is definitely hard, it is definitely one of the most memorable subjects for me. I am thankful to my groupmates for making this hard subject memorable for me and our facilitators, who are always willing to guide and correct us. Thank you, MSK !!

MSK1 has given me obstacles, which I learned how to overcome, and on the Finals Day, my mind went from "Oh, I'm so unprepared" to "Am I overthinking this condition?". With the lack of sleep and being part of the few students who were called in the last batch, that long time made me anxious and restless, wishing I would get picked soon because it was nearing 4 PM. I would even joke with the facilitators who were leaving early as their role as faci was done to stay so that we could get called faster. When it was finally my turn for the practicals, I went in and did my cases as patient and PT.

What made this day memorable was how I ended this day on a good note, leaving the lab and MDP with a smile, knowing that I had a good performance for MSK. This and bonding with my classmates over the fact that we are taking our MSK finals. After leaving MDP, I decided to get myself Jollibee for dinner because I needed a good meal after that day's MSK lec and lab exams.

Thank you po for the experience I got in MSK1, I'm looking forward to MSK2 po!(plsplspls)

We had an option to choose our own groups but unfortunately, I was late during the first ever lab session. However, it was a blessing in disguise as this group really made me grow in MSK1 and as a person. We had our ups and downs and we all really learned from them. I will say that whatever happens, I will always be thankful for this group for making me realize many things and making me learn many lessons.

To my groupmates, thank you for all the memories that we've shared throughout this semester. To Sir Charles, Sir Jose, and Sir Leomil, thank you for all the lessons you have imparted us with. Not just that, you all took the time to even give us a long sermon after the last case presentation which showed us that you care about all of us as a person.

I would not have survived MSK1 without my groupmates, my professors, and my friends. :>>

- Rob Santamaria

Looking back at this moment and at all of the moments I had with my group, class, and facilitators for MSK1, I could say that this was probably the moment where I truly felt like I understood a topic here. Studying and lectures could only take you so far, but actually seeing the uniqueness of my body and being able to associate the posture I currently have with my daily habits has really piqued my interest.

During this time, I also remember harping on the fact that finals are coming up and it always felt like no matter how hard I prepared beforehand, I would always feel unprepared and nervous on the day itself, regardless if it was going to be a summative presentation, the case presentation itself, or if it were to be the quizzes or written exams that I would need to be taking in lec. I honestly thought that if I could get though the Holy Trinity in the first term of my first year, or if I could get through Kines in the second term of that same year, I could get through this, but never have I found myself studying so hard for a subject.

MSK1 has taught me a lot of things that could be used in my future role as a clinician, but it has also reminded me of how hard it is to stay in this course and the amount of effort, time, and studying that I need to do to stay here. More importantly, however, it also reminded of how much I love this course. Moving forward, the journey to receiving the title of PTRP will be a long and perilous one, but I am definitely thankful that I am taking it.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Looking back on the first shift, I can really say that everyone in my group, including myself, improved a lot in doing the subjective & objective assessments. We also improved on medical reasoning especially, when we were deciding what specific objective assessments should we do.

Overall, I’m proud of my group, Group 3, for finishing strong in MSK1 lecture and laboratory. Congrats to everyone and see you all in MSK2! 🥳💛

It's really helpful if you have a system, both a studying system and a support system. I'm grateful that this term, I had both. I wouldn't have gotten through this term without my friends and my groupmates, who helped make tables, practice STs and interviews, prepare for case pre, and review all objective assessments from head to toe. Similar to this picture, hehe, it's still a funny memory to reminisce on because we were on crunch time trying to review all Os for the cervical spine, so we had to think outside the box. "Okay, practice mo ROM sakin tas practice ko ROM niya." And that's how this picture came to be.

But! Even if it looks promising and efficient, it was confusing because you had to take note of what you're doing as a PT, but at the same time, you have to move as a Pt. Even if the picture is funny, there is still value when we think about how similar our experience was to studying MSK. Even if it is hard and there are many things to cover, one person cannot simply "shortcut" his/her way with MSK. You can make your life more convenient with systems and routines, but at the end of the day, you have to immerse yourself, be present, and enjoy the learning process! Thank you MSK1!

-Lai San Esteban ₊˚⊹♡

spoiler: i got cooked by the quiz

spoiler: i got cooked by the quiz

One thing I will never forget is how the facilitators would assure you and affirm you, despite still having so many mistakes. Ever since, the first shifting I have always LOVED and ENJOYED doing the subjective part of our case presentations. And throughout the different sessions because of the comments of our facilitators, I grew to understand how complex yet fundamental this step is. Every presentation was truly nerve bracking, but every single comment na "Good Job" that would affirm you somehow your efforts are also seen and appreciated.

This picture was our FIRSTTT case presentation, the pre-recorded video. We had to take the video 5 times, but even if that was the case, we were still smlining through as we completed the task.

MSK 2 PLSSSSSSS !!!!

“How do you uphold the standards of competence in UST?”

This was the question I asked during my college entrance interview for the College of Rehabilitation Sciences. Coming from UST-SHS, I had already witnessed how competent and confident the professors were in sharing their knowledge and skills. One of the professors who interviewed me responded that the college maintains certain standards that they strive to uphold. That answer has stayed with me since my first year. Every time I face challenges, I remind myself of what he said.

One of the most memorable experiences during Musculoskeletal Examination 1 is the constructive criticism we receive from our esteemed instructors. Each session involves small group discussions as part of active assessments for each region of the body, focusing on both Subjective and Objective Assessments. These formative sessions go beyond fulfilling requirements; they give us opportunities to reflect and grow through constructive feedback. These lessons are something I hold dear, which is why, in every feedback session—whether during case presentations or practical examinations—I make it a point to listen intently and take notes, ensuring I continuously develop in competence, commitment, and compassion.

Learning wouldn’t be as meaningful without the peers who helped me along the way. To Group 1 of 2PTC—Aviona, Lyrra, Kim, Rushil, Eunice, Jaymee, Keith, Russ, Fredliz, Robinne, and Johann—you are all so dear to me. Thank you for being a source of support and encouragement in this competitive and challenging course. Having you as companions is truly a blessing.

*about to crash out every time

See you MSK 2

Afterwards, we felt a sense of relief when our facilitator provided feedback. We took it as an opportunity to learn, focusing on how we could improve for the future. It was also during this experience that I had my first real taste of what it's like to be a physical therapist—the challenge, the responsibility, and the realization that the journey ahead would only get tougher.

Fast forward to today, and it had indeed become even more challenging. MSK has tested me emotionally and mentally in ways I hadn’t expected. These past few months have been the most difficult part of my PT journey so far, but also the most rewarding. I am deeply grateful to our facilitators and PT interns who guided us throughout this course and helped shape us into the PT students we are today. To my groupmates, you’ve been my strongest support system, and I wouldn’t hesitate to go into battle with all of you again. See you all in MSK 2! 💪

I started reading Magee during my vacation last July, by starting off with the Subjective History. But on the first day, when sir Charles discussed the whole Objective assessment part in general, I told myself "sana sinagad ko ng basahin ang first chapter ng Magee". From that point I realized that I'm already in my second year, longer pages, longer.

I started out good, in my quizzes. But in terms of lab and skills, I wasn't that good in my first shift but slowly I was able to develop the skills that I haven't polished from what I learned in IPT and Kines such as MMT, ROM, Palpation, etc. I'm not 100% confidence with my skills in Objective Assessment yet, but over time during the Christmas break I shall master it more.

In this course I learned to integrate my knowledge in anatomy, physiology, MedSurg( even though I still have difficulties in differentially diagnosing a disease), and kines. I was able to appreciate and to differentiate what's pathological to normal. What's also difficult is that we must act the symptoms of a patient in a given case, based on out MedSurg background. (Yah the picture above shows me doing one) Although its difficult to act since haven't acquired the condition itself, it helps us to put our feet in the patient's shoes and see the perspective of the patient, for us to be efficient PT's in the future when we already start to treat real life patients.

As this course ends, I may not get uno or very high grades like what I get in my other professional subjects, but I am fulfilled that I pass above average and gained new knowledge and skills that will help me for my future practice. This course taught me that grades will be secondary, what's important is you enjoy learning. Thank you to our profs, for their perseverance in teaching and their understanding towards us.

Specially to sir Jose, thank you sir for pushing us to be better people by teaching us discipline and that being a PT requires more than knowledge and skills, we also need a good attitude.

See you MSK 2!!

First shifting Ryza would never believe that third shift her will be able to present as a PT right after a 30-point quiz. Every week was overwhelming and scary, but it also came with progress, a progress that was not all leaps and bounds but also almost invisible steps forward, yet it came with progress—a progress that wasn't always about leaps and bounds, but also about the almost invisible steps forward. At the end of the day, all of it matters; every step has contributed to building my skillset and improving my decision-making. These experiences have made me realize just how much I don't know and how vast the room for growth truly is. With Marcus Aurelius' principle, navigating MSK means taking it one week, one region, and often one day at a time— hopefully, not with the same weapons of reason, but with better ones each time.

This photo might be a cliche, but it is our last Wednesday of regular classes. On that day, we had a case presentation for MSK, two quizzes, a small group discussion for Neuro, a CIP presentation for Research, and finals and a quiz for Theology. This experience taught me to manage my time, especially given the pressure I feel the night before each lecture quiz and summative case presentation. Wednesdays were especially demanding; our days began at 7 AM and often extended until 7 PM. Beyond these experiences, I will always cherish the lessons learned and the skills I need to continue improving for my future studies and patients. 

That said, I'm happy to have been a part of Group 1 with some of the best groupmates ever. We've all seen the many minutes of overtime every formative and summative case discussion; the cramming every Tuesday and Wednesday; and the moments of understanding every time we're given feedback. To our facilitators, professors, and interns: thank you for being some of the most knowledgeable mentors, and for giving us feedback even when you're not required to do so.

Merry Christmas, and see you next sem (hopefully)! 🎄💝

Azares, Keith Alexa F.

2PTC

- Charisse Lee, 2PTA

One thing I will never forget in MSK 1 is the formative cases we do in the lab, where at the start of MSK 1 we were like headless chickens na nangagapa sa dilim kung paano gawin yung subjective interview, and now we breeze thru it like its a normal day occurrence. I saw the improvement of my peers and I, the laughs, struggles, and sleepless nights studying late. It was a rough journey, but a journey worth traversing over and over.

The photo was taken during our first MSK 1 lab session where from our first block assignment in the 1st yr reduced to only 6 people d/t reshuffling of block sections. It was the start of our MSK 1 journey, before we knew of what awaited us, the horrors (jk HAHAHAHA) and important learnings in this course.

Once again, thank you to my grp mates/friends to all the lecture and laboratory profs! SEE YOU PO IN MSK 2 <3 <3

But if you would ask me what my favorite moment was well, there wasn’t any specific moment that stuck to me cause everything was quite memorable.

Every Tuesday and Wednesday morning always feel like that part of a movie where the character runs because they are late, that’s like me every 7 am ( although I’ve never been late lol ). It’s the feeling of rush, anticipation, and anxiety that it is another day to conquer MSK. You can never quite expect what will happen inside HPL. There were mistakes, something to learn, and A LOT of room to grow. I will admit that it was the hardest course this 1st semester but I also think that it was worth it. Every laboratory and lecture class were a never ending supply of knowledge that I will always be thankful for.

We may not be the best but I am grateful that we were learned from the best.

I would like to thank this opportunity to thank my group mates — Hannah, Eli, Ritz, Charisse, Euros, Franco, Blanche, Lai, & Enzo for everything. We all chose to be together and we did it!! And I would also like to thank our professors— Sir Charles, Sir Leomil, and Sir Jose, I wouldn’t be here without all of you. All those lessons and sermons were worth it and I will keep all the things I learned in mind. I will continue to strive and become a better version of myself to make those who taught me well, proud.

As someone who learns more visually and with hands-on activities, MSKlab has truly helped my develop my skills in subjective and objective assessments. I am also thankful for my group as we helped each other and got through all the stress and anxieties together. I would also like to thank my professors both in lab and lec. Thank you for guiding us and mentoring us. One of the reasons why MSK1 was memorable for me, was the professors (Sir Charles, Sir Leomil, Doc D2, and Sir Jose) who pushed us to be better PT students each shift.

As MSK ends, I can say that even though I don't have the "perfect" grades or the high grades which I wanted to get, I am still so proud of myself for finishing this course with positivity and a better mindset. I gained so many new knowledge, skills, and memories that I won't forget and I will apply to my future practice as a PT.

Last year (2nd Sem), I didn't have any lab classes, which made me lose my "PT spark". I was afraid that I didn't want to become a PT anymore because I failed myself and my expectations. But this year, thank you to MSK1 for returning my PT spark.

MSK1 would be the best roller-coaster ride that I've been to 🤣 but, I am grateful that I took this course despite all the fears and self-doubts that I experienced. Constructive criticism, especially during the last case presentation, helps me identify areas for growth, while hands-on experience solidifies my learning and builds confidence. Collaborating with my group mates in brainstorming our top 5 assessments (shoutout to Group C1 ✨️ - Robinne, Lyrra, Kit, Jaymee, Russ, Kim, Darl, Rushil, Johann, Avi, and Eunice) during thinking time and seeking new knowledge through demonstrations and discussions to expand my understanding. Empathy and patient-centered care are equally crucial, as they enhance rapport and ensure treatments align with patient goals. Overall, the journey of growth as a student taking the Musculoskeletal Examination course is challenging but deeply rewarding.

All of our laboratory sessions were truly an unforgettable experience. I was always afraid to come to school during Tuesdays and Wednesdays not knowing what objective assessment I will perform for the session that day, or maybe I will be picked to perform the subjective assessment! I know I wouldn't be able to perform well without my group who were always willing to help everyone. I know that I grew more each day with their help. Their was no fear to give insights to every cases because their was no judgment. This made me more confident to perform in front during summative presentations. All of us wants to be a good PT someday and I have always seen that with our group. Thank you teachers, thank you classmates! =)))

I always called this moment "the calm before the storm" because I remember how lively I was at this moment and even before this. For everything else that followed, it would be an understatement to say "it was a breeze"; I was humbled, to say the least. Journey's been rough, but I can't say it's been fruitful; I've learned so much from my peers, professors, and myself, and all I can say is I'm grateful for the entire MSK experience.

-Jaime Sagum Jr.

I have so many things to be grateful for from this course. It taught me to feel a lot more for the patient and understand the injury from their perspective. I feel like a proud student because I will for sure use the subjective and objective interview with my friends and family.

I thank all the profs and my classmates who became my friends along the way. So long MSK 1!

This picture was taken when we were filming for our first case presentation. It is one of the most memorable moments we encountered as a group because this is where our bond started. My group was brainstorming for our case, filmed it after planning, and then talked about things that would make us laugh and breathe from all the stress in school. What I appreciated most was how supportive we were of each other. Whether it was helping someone with a challenging concept or encouraging each other during formative and summative case discussions, we worked as a team and made the process much more enjoyable. I am very grateful to these people because they made my MSK journey fun and bearable. ily guys <33

There were moments when we laughed, moments when we panicked, and moments when we encouraged each other to keep going, especially as we reviewed critical references like Magee and Dutton. It felt like a collective effort to not only pass but also to truly understand the material we were learning. The shared struggle became a source of motivation, and in those late hours, I realized something meaningful about my physical therapy journey: I am never truly alone. This path, while demanding and rigorous, is made lighter because I get to share it with people who understand the challenges and share the same goals. My friends and I may face sleepless nights, mental and physical fatigue, and an overwhelming amount of information, but we tackle it together. That night taught me that collaboration, teamwork, and unwavering support are what make the journey worthwhile. It was more than just a review session; it was a reminder that in times of hardship, I can always lean on my peers, and together we can overcome any obstacle that comes our way.

4o

MSK Lec and Lab has taught me the true meaning of the quote, “You win some, you lose some, but you always learn some.” After all of my wins and losses in this course, I understood that each experience teaches us something and after every bad score or imperfect performance, we come out of it with a better understanding of Musculoskeletal Examination.

Looking back at my MSK1 experience, I am thankful to my group mates for their unwavering support and for helping me get through this course. I am grateful to my teachers for the guidance and wisdom that I will always carry with me. I have so much more to learn and I have a lot of room for improvement. I hope I can show a better condition of myself in MSK2.

🎄🎅🎁🙏🏻

Reflecting on it now, I’ve come a long way. I was assigned to palpation again during our final case summative, and it felt like a full-circle moment. This time, I got to see just how much I’ve improved since that very first session. I’ll never forget MSK lab, especially the first shifting period. It gave me major anxiety, particularly during the first practical exams—I couldn’t sleep properly because I was overthinking everything, not knowing how the exams would be conducted.

I’m incredibly grateful to our professors for their patience and dedication in honing our skills, even when we struggled. As much as I enjoyed learning from all of you, I sincerely hope I never have to retake this course again because it was incredibly challenging #speakingmytruth 😅🙏

Thank you po ulit for everything! And shoutout to Group 1 for being the bestest groupmates I could ever ask for !! Sana kagrupo ko pa rin kayo sa MSK2 👍🏻 love you all yuck.

I know that this sudden change in my path as a Physical therapist will not be as half as drastic as the sudden changes that my future patients will be experiencing (e.g., Amputees and Stroke patients). However, I hope this explicit depiction of my incompetency will be my instrument for deeply connecting with my future patients. For example, in the rehabilitative process, sometimes, we are left to work only with what can be salvaged. The same is true in my case; I had to start from square one and work with salvageable aspects of myself —my desire to be a physical therapist. As patients achieve their rehab goals, I am slowly building my strength to gain the skills and confidence to serve others. I still have much to work on. Still, I’m willing to learn diligently to benefit my future patients. Goodbye and thank you, MSK 1!

Although after 5 months of weekly practical exams either summative or formative, I can say that I am now more comfortable performing Prax in front of professors and my class. But on the first prax of the year where i was called, i was still highly rusty and nervous because of the long break over the summer haha. I will never forget the first subjective performance I got called because I was still getting used to it. Thank you MSK1 🙏 see you MSK 2 🗿

This photo was taken during our knee discussion facilitated by Doc D2. Knee is the most complex joint, that’s why it is also the hard to understand the topic because of its complexity. During this time, we had fun while having a live demonstration about the topic. While Doc D2 is teaching us about special test, he noticed that one of our classmate, the one in the photo, has leg malalignments, and tried to fix it in the right position. While the pt was lying down, he, the pt, said that “baka mautot ako sir” that made us all laughing. It was knowledgeable and memorable.

For me, MSK was the hardest subject i took yet in PT. Full of ups and downs because of the workloads and readings you have to do in a span of short time. This made me read a book, even though i am not a book worm. It’s bittersweet, because sometime you may have a high grade, sometimes passing, and even you can be the lowest grade without expecting it.

I will never forget the rattles that we feel especially in case summative and discussion. Being picked randomly and doing all the S&Os are sure gonna be missed. The teamwork we had as a group was one of the things that will be remembered.

While I still have much to improve, I am more motivated to deepen my understanding and refine my approach. Merry Christmas!

To share a personal experience of mine, I guess I wouldn't forget that first S documentation I made that was graded perfect by Doc D2 and was commended in front of the class, until I made some errors when I had to document O, and i told to myself, "Ah, there's still so much to learn, and so much to know about." Doing this and that here at MSK1, I was happy to realize that I'm not just constrained by the four corners of the book, but I'm actually applying it in real life cases through case simulations provided to us by the professors, and what excites me more is when I finally do these assessments to my future patients. It challenges my mind, it tests my ability, and it heals my soul. As an irreg student, the past 2 years with PT was a really challenging setup for me, but having started MSK, I feel like I've finally made myself move forward; the little jumps I'd make after receiving a satisfying score on documentation or quiz, the tiny lip curves in my mouth when I'm saddened if I get a really low one, the warmth I'd feel in my heart whenever I'm told that I did a good in subjective/objective during pracs, and the burn in it when we're hearing a feedback that in my mind, I'm surely looking forward to use those feedbacks for our next session. And for our next session, I'm in my high hopes of making it finally, to Musculoskeletal Examination 2. Manifesting!

Merry christmas po to all, espectially to our professors, our Doc D2, Sir Charles, and Sir Leomil! Maraming salamat po!

It was also the day when I felt a rollercoaster of emotions towards the course and the people around me. It was a combination of joy, celebration, and sadness. It is indeed a day of celebration. Aside from the upcoming holiday break, it is a day worth celebrating because the last day reminded me how far we've gone from the sleepless nights, cramming, and stress. I think studying MSK alone is already an unforgettable experience; what sets MSK apart from the other courses/subjects is that MSK made me feel what it feels like to think, talk, and act like a Physical Therapist. It combines skills and theoretical knowledge from conducting an interview with your patient, thinking of the most appropriate five objective assessments, and performing it all at once. This course also allowed me to learn from the best professors - Sir Jose & Sir Charles. However, there is also a part of me that feels grief since there is an uncertainty if these people/groups I'm with will be the same set of people I will be within the following term (if we got shuffled). Even though MSK can be a challenging course, these people (Allen, Lady, Ella, Fria, Juri, Toni, Ten, and Sofia) made it fun and bearable and I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to my Group - I am proud of each and every one. I wouldn’t survive this semester without you all. 

To Sir Jose, Sir Charles, & Sir Leomil, I will always carry every sermon & feedback Thank you also for constantly reminding me why I wanted to be a PT because seeing my professors demonstrate special test and etc, hearing their feedbacks (which just makes sense every time) amaze me. Those feedbacks and even the "kwentos" of my professors of their experiences in clinics, centers, and UAAP lowkey became one of my motivations and constant reminder to strive. with MSK, I've acquired new skills and knowledge, made friends, and collected memories I will carry forever.

~ Princes Yna Tibus

The most memorable day of my MSK1 journey has to be the last lab day, which also happened to be our final case presentation. It felt like everything I learned and struggled through came together in that moment. It was a big relief to finish and a little sad knowing it was the end of something.

MSK1 taught me the skills I need to be the best PT I can be. From knowing assessments to understanding conditions, every bit of knowledge felt like a stepping stone toward making a real impact in the field. It wasn’t easy, there were moments when I doubted myself, but it was all worth every challenge.

MSK was the real deal of my term. You had to be prepared and bring your best to every single lab day. It pushed me hard, but that’s exactly what made it so rewarding.

And finally, I owe so much to my groupmates. They really made MSK1 bearable. I couldn’t have done it without them all!

SEE YOU, MSK2! (sana haha)

- Hans Andrei

After the discussion, we were told to practice the special tests and while practicing the McMurray test, we felt crepitations on Jaki's knee, but Doc D2 assured that the quadriceps only needed some strengthening. The lesson was a turning point for me. I went from fearing the knee to feeling more confident in identifying and understanding common knee injuries. It was a reminder that sometimes, the things we fear the most are the things we can conquer with time and proper guidance. What seemed like an overwhelming topic became a manageable and even fascinating one. It was full of learning opportunities. I am truly grateful for all the people that helped me reach this point; to my professors, Sir Charles, Doc D2, Sir Jose, and Sir Leomil and to my groupmates, Jaki, Bea, Ishi, Janni, Evien, Alday, Stacey, Mikha, Dani, Elo, and Prince. Annyeong, MSK 1 ! 😋

After entering college, days were spent reading, doing outputs, going to class, and then going home. It was then I realized that my life began to be in a non-ending cycle of academic stress, compromising my social life and the things I love. 

September 11, 2024, was the day of shooting our case presentation. We gathered around and started making the subjective part of the presentation. I felt nostalgic; I missed high school when we were arranging a date for a meet-up with our group mates on holiday to do a project for school. As I looked around, I saw a group of people who I had never known would be my friends. We spent our time together working on the case presentation, laughing around, and talking about random things. Although we may not have finished shooting the video, this moment has led to many realizations and memories that will surely be cherished.

Having them as group mates is one of the best things that happened to me. At first, I felt really pressured and anxious that I might pull the group down in the upcoming assessments. As we powered through the first case discussion, I felt that I was one with the group, especially when we were given the time to plan our case discussion. Indeed, I learned a lot from this group, and I hope that we will have more memories in the future. 

I remember this day because the lecture was so interesting and hands-on. We learned about how the knee works to balance both movement and stability, with its ligaments like the ACL and PCL, the menisci, and the surrounding muscles. What amazed me was how even small problems in the knee can lead to bigger issues in other parts of the body, like the hip or ankle, and even affect how a person walks.

During the lab session, we practiced tests like Lachman’s test and McMurray’s test on each other. It was challenging to figure out how to locate the medial meniscus or feel the difference between a normal and unstable joint. These small details showed me just how much skill is needed in musculoskeletal exams.

But this subject wasn’t easy. There were so many details to learn and apply, and I often felt overwhelmed by the quizzes, exams, and practicals. There were times when I thought I couldn’t keep up.

What helped me get through it all were my groupmates. They were always there to practice with me, explain things I didn’t understand, and keep me motivated. We even had fun during study sessions, sharing laughs that helped us forget the stress for a while.

Looking back, I’m grateful for the challenges because they taught me to keep going, and I’m even more grateful for the people who supported me along the way.

Merry Christmas! 🎄

This pic was after our first ever summative for MSK. I remember, we were frustrated because of the number of suspensions we had back then. It made us feel anxious more as we can't practice that much and considering it is our first time we were scared to fail (i mean, who doesn't?) but hey, look at our smiles! We survived the first summative despite the mistakes that were corrected by our facilitator, Sir Charles and intern, Ate Sarah. 🥹🤍

Before me and my groupmates feel various of emotions whenever it is a summative day. You'll see our google icon at docs at a random time just to finish our cheatsheet & prepare for the retdems we have. Other than our professors, I'm so grateful with my groupmates as they made the sem bearable and fun. Through the different summatives, it made me realize why I want to continue PT despite the hard journey this field has.

MSK is still far from the finish line of being a PT, but this course taught me a lot of things to be a better one in the future. Thank you Sir Charles, Sir Jose and Sir Leomil for teaching us things not only to improve our skills in PT but also to grow as a better individual.

Merry Christmas MSK team & batchmates woot woot!! 🥳🎄

The photo above was taken right before our 1st shifting MSK lec exam. JV and I watched the other 2nd year students throw each other questions while some sit quietly and have their faces close to their ipads/reviewers trying to remember tables in Magee. I can relate to them, it’s nerve-racking because there’s this fear of failure despite giving all our efforts. That feeling never really left and I think I just learned to use it as my driving force. But thankfully, that exam turned out good and I was able to continue the semester with hope (to be able to make it to MSK 2).