Diane Plohocky, PTA
Physical Therapy Assistant
My journey to the field of physical therapy began when I was 16 years old. I was raised to value physical health and wellness and had an interest in medicine from a young age. My mom was always going to some sort of class from Tai-chi to water aerobics, sport walking and healthy eating. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away when I was just 17, about two weeks before I graduated high school. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do for a career at that time, so I started volunteering at a local hospital shadowing in the lab, pathology, nursing and respiratory therapy. While those fields were interesting in their own right, they never really appealed to me. I wanted something that I could help people heal from the inside out and be able to take control of their own health. My last place to shadow was in the inpatient physical therapy at the hospital. I loved it right from the start and eventually started working as a physical therapy aide and watching the therapists help people move again and get back to their lives.
After graduating from Mercy College of Health Sciences, I spent the first few years of my career working in skilled facilities and doing travel work in the Midwest with a special focus on geriatrics and participating in fall prevention clinics. I eventually moved to Pennsylvania and started working in an inpatient rehab hospital where I was able to gain experience treating those with neurologic conditions such as Parkinson’s and stroke rehab, orthopedics, cardiac and amputee rehab. Being able to participate in the recovery of those in need and helping them get back up and walking and being able to go home to their families was the most rewarding part but I always wondered what life was like for them after they left the hospital.
I joined Action Physical Therapy to continue my journey in helping people maintain their quality of life. I was able to come full circle in the rehab process! Coming to Action PT has given me the opportunity to focus on specific areas such as pelvic health, sports rehab, orthopedics and Parkinson’s which has always been of special interest to me. I also have a special spot in my heart for the geriatric community and helping our aging population maintain their strength, balance and ultimately their independence.
When not working, I am busy raising three young men ages 10, 12 and 14 alongside my husband. I enjoy family hikes, bike rides, exercising and trips to the shore as often as I can.
