University of Mary physical therapy students apply what they learn weekly.

From 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays at the United Tribes Technical College Student Wellness Center, people receive physical therapy services free of charge. So far, 40 people use the clinic run by the university.

"Instead of (practicing) during the summer or a specific time, they can learn something in class and apply it that afternoon," said Mary Dockter, director of clinical education. Students also participate in internships during the summer, and other times during their education, when they put their skills to use, she said.

The third- and second-year students provide free physical therapy services to people who have no insurance or whose insurance has run out. This way they do not compete with physical therapy practices in town, and some of those practices have referred people to them when a patient's insurance has run out, Dockter said.

Services provided by the students include musculoskeletal, which would work on joint pain; neuromuscular, which addresses balance issues, stroke, head injury and spinal cord injury; cardiopulmonary, which includes exercise programs and rehabilitation; and prevention and wellness programs, such as diabetes prevention, ergonomics and pediatric obesity evaluations. Students perform the work under supervision.

Beside giving people access to physical therapy, it gives the students a chance to practice and have their skills evaluated by the supervisors. Additionally, the students learn skills to interact with patients and other people in a therapy setting and work with people from different backgrounds that would be difficult to simulate in the classroom, Dockter said.

"Students benefit from learning in real life," she said.

The program at United Tribes will expand to being offered twice a week in the spring semester. This fall was the first time the university offered physical therapy services off campus.

For people interested in finding out more about the physical therapy clinics at United Tribes or the university, contact the department at 355-8053.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)