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Physical therapist assistants and aides perform
components of physical therapy procedures and
related tasks selected by a supervising physical
therapist.
These workers assist physical therapists
in providing services that help improve mobility,
relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent
physical disabilities of patients suffering from
injuries or disease. Patients include accident
victims and individuals with disabling conditions
such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease,
fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.
Physical therapist assistants perform a variety
of tasks. Components of treatment procedures
performed by these workers, under the direction and
supervision of physical therapists, 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.
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. |
