Physical Therapist Assistants

What Does a Physical Therapist Assistants Do?

Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
• 2Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.
• 3Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
• 4Instruct patients in proper body mechanics and in ways to improve functional mobility, such as aquatic exercise.
• 5Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
• 6Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
• 7Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
• 8Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.

Required Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Arena Health Systems Phys-X
• Beaver Creek Software The THERAPIST
• Billing software
• BioEx Systems Exercise Pro
• Bookkeeping software
• Client caseload management software
• dBASE
• Eazy Application Systems QuickEMR
• eClinicalWorks EHR software
• Email software

Physical Therapist Assistants Salary