Physical therapist assistants and aides

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Nature of the Work
Job Outlook
Related Occupations
Required Degrees

Nature of the Work

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 a physical therapist 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 assist physical therapists in providing care to patients. Under the direction and supervision of physical therapists, they provide exercise, instruction; therapeutic methods like electrical stimulation, mechanical traction, and ultrasound; massage; and gait and balance training.
Physical therapist assistants record the patient's responses to treatment and report the outcome of each treatment to the physical therapist.
Physical therapists 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 assist in their transport.
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 needs and organization of the facility.

Job Outlook

Changes to restrictions on reimbursement for physical therapy services by third-party payers will increase patient access to services and, thus, increase demand.
The increasing number of people who need therapy reflects, in part, the increasing elderly population.
The elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services.
These patients often need additional assistance in their treatment, making the roles of assistants and aides vital.
In addition, the large baby-boom generation is entering the prime age for heart attacks and strokes, further increasing the demand for cardiac and physical rehabilitation.
Medical and technological developments should permit an increased percentage of trauma victims and newborns with birth defects to survive, creating added demand for therapy and rehabilitative services.
Physical therapists are expected to increasingly use assistants and aides to reduce the cost of physical therapy services.
Once a patient is evaluated and a treatment plan is designed by the physical therapist, the physical therapist assistant can provide many parts of the treatment, as directed by the therapist.
Opportunities for individuals interested in becoming physical therapist assistants are expected to be very good; with help from physical therapist assistants, physical therapists are able to manage more patients.
However, physical therapy aides may face keen competition from the large pool of qualified individuals.
In addition to employment growth, job openings will result from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation permanently.
Job opportunities should be particularly good in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and orthopedic settings, where the elderly are most often treated.

Related Occupations

Physical therapist assistants and aides work under the supervision of physical therapists. Other workers in the healthcare field who work under similar supervision include Dental assistants; Medical assistants; Nursing and psychiatric aides; Occupational therapist assistants and aides; Pharmacy technicians and aides;

Required Degrees

Associate degree from an accredited physical therapist assistant program

This career information is drawn from data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.

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