Physical Therapy Studies in Spain

Welcome to Valencia, Spain! Once you land, head to your beachside hotel to refresh after a long flight. To get acquainted with the city, you will enjoy a walking tour to see this beautiful and historic city. This evening, gear up for a delicious meal of paella. Learn how to make this Valencia classic, and afterward join in on the dancing fun with a world-class flamenco and bachata instructor.

Start your morning with a tour of Valencia’s soccer stadium, which houses one of the greatest teams in La Liga. Learn about the history of the stadium, the importance of the game to the fans and the Spanish culture, and the players. 

You will then be introduced to the physical training and athletic training facilities. You will get to see some of the state-of-the-art equipment used to ensure the players are healthy and ready for a fantastic match. You will then have an interview session with one of the team’s physical therapists. Find out about a day in their lives, how they got to where they are, and anything else you can think to ask!

Today your group will split up into small groups to visit local physical therapy clinics. You will get a first-hand look at the equipment and techniques used in Spain with a tour of a clinic. 

In the afternoon, you will shadow one of the therapists. You can ask them questions about their education, clients, techniques and observe how they interact with their clients — a great way to gain a more thorough understanding of the profession.

Today, with your small group, you will visit another clinic and have another afternoon of PT shadowing. Notice how the two clinics are similar, but also how they differ. As you shadow another PT, get to know them and use them as a resource. Observe, ask questions and learn to soak up as much information as possible about PT.

Give your brain a rest today, as we’re sure you’ve already learned so much about physical therapy! Today you will get to engage in the day to day activities Valencianos do to stay active and healthy. In the morning, head to the beach. You can choose from paddle boarding, windsurfing, surfing, swimming and beach volleyball. Get to know some of the locals — it’s a great opportunity to learn about Spanish culture and practice your Spanish!

In the afternoon, hop on one of the many bicis found around the city. A guide will take you to some off the beaten path destinations around town that are often regarded as the best areas of the city by locals. As you’re biking around, notice the different areas of the city and how quickly the architecture and aesthetic changes! 

After a long day of activity, treat yourself to an evening of tasting some of Spain’s tastiest tapas.

Today you will head to a local elementary school. Here you will get to meet the students and assist in a physical education class! Work with the professors to plan activities for the students to get them active and to encourage a healthy lifestyle!

In the morning, you will return to see your new friends at the school. Today, you will work in the special education classrooms. You will work with these professors to adapt to these students needs and work with them so they are best able to learn and socialize.

After you say goodbye to the school, it is time to pack your bags and head home. We hope you enjoyed the beautiful city of Valencia and learned a lot about physical therapy, and some of the settings where it is applied.