Physical Therapist Assistants — Tasks

Task statements

• Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
• Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.
• 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.
• Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.
• Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.
• 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.
• Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
• Attend or conduct continuing education courses, seminars, or in-service activities.
• 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.
• Prepare treatment areas and electrotherapy equipment for use by physiotherapists.
• Administer traction to relieve neck or back pain, using intermittent or static traction equipment.
• Perform therapeutic wound care.