Physical Therapy Assistant
Quick Facts
Median Salary$60,433
Most Common EducationAssociate's degree
Projected 10-Year Growth+38.53%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment
What They Do
A Physical Therapy Assistant assists physical therapists to help patients with disabling injuries or conditions improve their range of motion and manage their pain. Helps patients learn exercises and teaches them to use therapeutic equipment. Works in the office of a physical therapist or in a healthcare facility.
Core Tasks:
- Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
- Observe 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.
- Instruct patients in proper body mechanics and in ways to improve functional mobility, such as aquatic exercise.
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
- Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.
- Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.
- Measure patients' range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
- Train patients in the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
- Monitor operation of equipment and record use of equipment and administration of treatment.
- Attend or conduct continuing education courses, seminars, or in-service activities.
- Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
- Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, such as crutches.
- Perform postural drainage, percussions, or vibrations or teach deep breathing exercises to treat respiratory conditions.
- Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.
What to expect as a Physical Therapy Assistant
1Earn a Associate's degree
24% of people achieve this level of education.
2Gain skills and experience
See Physical Therapy Assistant related courses on Tallo
3Land a job
10925 openings for Physical Therapy Assistants
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
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