Roland Tumas, PTA                 

I am a licensed Physical Therapy Assistant and I am currently working towards my Doctor in Physical Therapy Degree.  I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Piano Performance from The Lithuanian Academy of Music and my Masters of Arts Degree in Piano Performance from Bowling Green State University.  I am an accomplished pianist and have enjoyed being the winner of many International Competitions including the International Piano Competition in Vilnius, Lithuania, in 1983.  I was born in Lithuania and was invited to come to the United States to work on my Masters Degree at Bowling Green State University.  At Bowling Green State University I met my wife Molly, a PhD candidate.  She is now a professor at Baldwin Wallace College and I am a permanent resident of the United States.  Employment opportunities for a concert pianist are very limited.  Piano was moved from a vocation to an avocation as I re-focused my energy on pursuing a Doctor in Physical Therapy Degree.

Movement problems and pain are prevalent among musicians.  Physical Therapists are movement specialists.  They are trained in the mechanical evaluation and treatment of mechanical problems.  Physical Therapists locate the cause of pain, inflammation, movement disorders, vestibular problems, gait disorders and address the identified cause of the problem.  I was impressed with the rapid transitions I observed from the inability to play an instrument to complete recovery of painless mobility.

A Physical Therapy Assistant’s education is focused on restoring function lost through accident, injury or illness.  Our training is focused on muscle strengthening and stretching and endurance training.  The Physical Therapy Assistant’s education includes training in the use of modalities such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound and deep tissue massage to address tissue injury.

I look forward to combining my training as a Physical Therapy Assistant with the knowledge I gain in pursuit of my Doctor of Physical Therapy.