Physical therapist assistants and aides help physical therapists to provide treatment that improves patient mobility, relieves pain, and prevents or lessens physical disabilities of patients. A physical therapist might ask an assistant to help patients exercise or learn to use crutches, for example, or an aide to gather and prepare therapy equipment. Patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as lower-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.
Physical therapist assistants perform a variety of tasks. Under the direction and supervision of physical therapists, they provide part of a patient's treatment. This might involve exercises, massages, electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, hot and cold packs, traction, and ultrasound. Physical therapist assistants record the patient's responses to treatment and report the outcome of each treatment to the physical therapist.
Physical therapist aides help make therapy sessions productive, under the direct supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. 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. Because they are not licensed, aides do not perform the clinical tasks of a physical therapist assistant in States where licensure is required.
The duties of aides include some clerical tasks, such as ordering depleted supplies, answering the phone, and filling out insurance forms and other paperwork. The extent to which an aide or an assistant performs clerical tasks depends on the size and location of the facility.
Work environment. Physical therapist assistants and aides need a moderate degree of strength because of the physical exertion required in assisting patients with their treatment. In some cases, assistants and aides need to lift patients. Frequent kneeling, stooping, and standing for long periods also are part of the job.
The hours and days that physical therapist assistants and aides work vary with the facility. About 23 percent of all physical therapist assistants and aides work part time. Many outpatient physical therapy offices and clinics have evening and weekend hours, to coincide with patients' personal schedules.
| 1. | Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment. |
| 2. | Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress, and report to physical therapist. |
| 3. | Instruct, motivate, safeguard and assist patients practicing exercises and functional activities, under direction of medical staff. |
| 4. | Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment. |
| 5. | Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support. |
| 6. | Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, and coordinating treatment. |
| 7. | Record treatment given and equipment used. |
| 8. | Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, and filling out forms. |
| 9. | Maintain equipment and furniture to keep it in good working condition, including performing the assembly and disassembly of equipment and accessories. |
| 10. | Administer active and passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, and heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound. |
| 11. | Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases. |
| 12. | Arrange treatment supplies to keep them in order. |
| 13. | Assist patients to dress, undress, and put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, and slings. |
| 14. | Measure patient's range-of-joint motion, body parts, and vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations. |
| 15. | Train patients to use orthopedic braces, prostheses or supportive devices. |
| 16. | Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, adjusting fit as needed. |
| 17. | Participate in patient care tasks, such as assisting with passing food trays, feeding residents, or bathing residents on bed rest. |
| 18. | Administer traction to relieve neck and back pain, using intermittent and static traction equipment. |
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