
Physical Therapist Assistant
Career Highlights
- Assist patients with exercises
- Physical therapist assistants helps people
- Includes some clerical tasks

Career Summary
Physical therapist assistants assist with physical therapy sessions. They assist by providing services that help improve the mobility of inured individuals and in an effort to relieve pain, and prevent or limited permanent physical disabilities. Injured patients that seek physical therapy usually include accident victims, those inured on the job and individuals suffering from arthritis, heart disease and cerebral palsy.
Physical therapist assistants work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists assist with exercises, massages, electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, hot and cold packs, traction, and ultrasound. They may also record the patient’s responses to treatment and report the outcome of each treatment to the physical therapist.
They usually are responsible for keeping the treatment area clean and organized and for preparing for each patient’s therapy. When patients need assistance moving to or from a treatment area, aides push them in a wheelchair or provide them with a shoulder to lean on.
The duties of Physical therapist assistants also include some clerical tasks, such as ordering supplies, answering phones, and filling out insurance forms and other paperwork.
Salary
$35000*
Education
Requires a degree in:
- Physical Therapist Assistance
Career Skills
- Collaborates with patients families, physicians and co-workers to provide direct patient care
- Collects patient data; ensures physical therapy documentation is complete
- Educates and makes recommendations, under the direction of the physical therapist
- Actively participates in team development, and dashboard measures.
- Maintains patient safety, comfort, confidentiality and privacy
Additional Information
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (Physical Therapist Assistants)
- Diversity Working
- Hospital Jobs Online
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