Physical Therapy Assistant Job Description

 Becoming a physical therapy assistant can be a great career choice for someone interested in physical fitness and medical rehabilitation and also desiring a profession in the health care industry.

It can be a very demanding job, both physically and emotionally, but it is very hands-on with patients as they go through therapy for various reasons.

It is recommended that candidates research the physical therapy assistant job description to learn as much as they can before making the final decision and enrolling in school or any formal training. In this way, students will understand ahead of time what to expect from this career path and whether or not it is the right decision for them.

General Physical Therapy Assistant Job Description

A physical therapy assistant has the important role of assisting a licensed physical therapist in providing treatment to patients in need of rehabilitative care.

The duties will greatly depend on a few things, such as the type of facility, whether or not the position is for specialty care only, the patient's needs, and the PTA's training and experience.

Typically, the physical therapist will meet with patients as required after surgeries and/or treatments and periodically throughout therapy continuation to assess the patient's progress, then prescribe physical therapy treatments and exercises to aid rehabilitation.

It is then the assistant's job to help the patient in performing those exercises or doing those treatments. In all actuality, it is the PTA that has more patient contact in many cases than the PTs themselves since it is the PTA's job to carry out the prescribed rehabilitation order.

A physical therapy assistant's job description may differ from one job position to another. Still, in general, they will usually all include many of the same duties, such as explaining therapy to patients and their families, answering the patient's questions, showing patients how to use exercise equipment and therapeutic aids, and helping them to perform required exercises and movements correctly, among many other tasks.