AIC Hosts Stretch Clinic For Disabled

SPRINGFIELD — After a successful first season, the division of Physical Therapy at American International College will again offer its Stretch Clinic for those living with physical disabilities.
The clinic, which was designed and started collaboratively between AIC and the Child and Family Service Program of Pioneer Valley, provides range-of-motion and stretching exercises each Monday of the spring semester. It involves both first- and second-year Physical Therapy students and is coordinated and supervised by AIC physical therapy faculty.

“The program is a win-win situation for everyone involved,” said AIC Physical Therapy professor Phyllis Clapis. “Our students get hands-on experience, and the disabled community benefits from a service that would otherwise be unavailable.”

Clapis noted that the clinic is a purely volunteer activity for AIC students and that the number of participants has grown significantly from last year.

“On any given Monday we have at least 12 students,” Clapis said, “and the feedback from both students and patients has been excellent. The clinic is structured to allow second-year students to mentor first-years, and this gives all of the students a sense of responsibility and professionalism.”