What does a physical therapist assistant do?
A physical therapist assistant's role is to provide treatments that will help a patient improve physical movements while under a physical therapist's supervision. Their responsibilities revolve around regularly observing a patient's reaction and progress to the treatment, operating various machines such as treadmills and trainers, and giving instructions to families on how to take care of the patient while at home. Furthermore, they must coordinate with a physical therapist to meet all of the patient's needs and give the best treatment possible.
Physical therapist assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real physical therapist assistant resumes:
- Manage a diverse caseload including, but not limit to CVA's, cardiac care, Alzheimer's and sub acute orthopedics
- Provide patients at a SNF with ROM exercises, transfer and gait training as well as balance and bed mobility exercises.
- Provide physical therapy treatment as directed by physical therapist as PRN PTA for inpatient orthopedic rehabilitation and community hospital settings.
- Care of patients in acute and ICU settings.
- Work with adult, geriatrics, burns, ulcers and ICU patients
- Prepare iontophoresis patches, give cervical and/or lumbar hot packs to clients.
- Perform E-stim and ultrasound, and apply both hot and cold packs on patients.
- Set up different modalities, such as electric stimulation therapy, Iontophoresis therapy, cervical and lumbar DTS.
- Contribute to team meetings and collaborate with OT, COTA, SLP and therapy management in the decision-making process.
- Provide treatment that improve patient mobility while working extensively with the patients on their gait and balance and functional ADL's.
- Instruct patients on the proper use of wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, braces and prosthetic appliances and devices.
- Teach patients use of wheelchairs, braces, canes, crutches and prosthetic devices, focusing on safety in the home.
- Assist physical therapists with patient care including soft tissue mobilization, joint mobilization, traction, ultrasound and electrical stimulation
- Gain clinical experience working with post-operative patients on a daily basis, and other aspects of outpatient rehabilitation and sports therapy.
- Work under direct supervision of LPT.
Physical therapist assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 26% of Physical Therapist Assistants are proficient in Patients, Rehabilitation, and Home Health. They’re also known for soft skills such as Dexterity, Compassion, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Physical Therapist Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 26%
Provided quality out-patient treatment, education and instruction and progression of therapeutic exercise programs for patients with trauma related injuries
- Rehabilitation, 15%
Practiced specialized post-orthopedic surgery recovery and rehabilitation.
- Home Health, 11%
Provided physical therapy to a diverse population covering a variety of medical condition in home health and assisted living facility.
- PTA, 7%
Performed various Physical Therapy interventions under the direct supervision of a PTA clinical instructor.
- Physical Therapy Treatment, 5%
Prepared patients for physical therapy treatment by welcoming, comforting, providing and/or assisting patients into physical therapy apparel or apertures.
- Quality Care, 4%
Facilitated Care Plan meetings with family caregivers and other disciplines to deliver quality care to every patient.
Most physical therapist assistants use their skills in "patients," "rehabilitation," and "home health" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential physical therapist assistant responsibilities here:
Dexterity. One of the key soft skills for a physical therapist assistant to have is dexterity. You can see how this relates to what physical therapist assistants do because "physical therapist assistants should be comfortable using their hands to provide manual therapy and therapeutic exercises." Additionally, a physical therapist assistant resume shows how physical therapist assistants use dexterity: "provided hands-on soft tissue massage, manual and mechanical traction. "
Compassion. Many physical therapist assistant duties rely on compassion. "physical therapist assistants and aides should enjoy helping people," so a physical therapist assistant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways physical therapist assistant responsibilities rely on compassion: "displayed compassion, coaching, motivation, and patient safety skills during all physical therapy treatments. "
Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of physical therapist assistants is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday physical therapist assistant duties, as "physical therapist assistants and aides should be organized, keep accurate records, and follow written and verbal instructions carefully to ensure quality care." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "established a good rapport with patients and support staff insuring a team-oriented approach to patient treatment. "
Interpersonal skills. For certain physical therapist assistant responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a physical therapist assistant rely on this skill, as "physical therapist assistants and aides spend much of their time interacting with patients, their families, and other healthcare practitioners; therefore, they should be courteous and friendly." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what physical therapist assistants do: "direct interpersonal communication with patients and family during discharge planning and treatment. "
The three companies that hire the most physical therapist assistants are:
- Reliant Rehabilitation545 physical therapist assistants jobs
- HealthPRO514 physical therapist assistants jobs
- Genesis HealthCare371 physical therapist assistants jobs
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Compare different physical therapist assistants
Physical therapist assistant vs. Rehab technician
A rehab technician's role is to assist physical therapists and patients in a hospital or similar facility. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around gathering a patient's personal information and medical history, escorting them to corresponding rooms, and conducting initial tests and assessments. It is also essential to maintain records of all transactions, updating medical accounts promptly and accurately. Furthermore, a rehab technician may also perform basic treatments under the supervision of a physical therapist. There are also instances when they have to sanitize and clean therapy equipment, all in adherence to the facility's safety regulations and policies.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, physical therapist assistant responsibilities require skills like "physical therapy treatment," "quality care," "snf," and "pet." Meanwhile a typical rehab technician has skills in areas such as "customer service," "cpr," "cleanliness," and "taking care." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Rehab technicians tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $29,851. In contrast, physical therapist assistants make the biggest average salary, $52,806, in the professional industry.On average, rehab technicians reach similar levels of education than physical therapist assistants. Rehab technicians are 1.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Physical therapist assistant vs. Rehabilitation aide
A rehabilitation aide is responsible for assisting patients with injuries, mental disorders, and illnesses in their treatment plans and medications. Rehabilitation aides monitor the patients' progress and update attending physicians regarding their conditions. They also prepare treatment rooms, including the materials and equipment for the medical procedures, and discuss the process with the patients. A rehabilitation aide must be highly organizational, especially in attending to different patients' needs and ensuring the safety and security of all facilities and assets.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real physical therapist assistant resumes. While physical therapist assistant responsibilities can utilize skills like "pta," "quality care," "snf," and "pet," rehabilitation aides use skills like "cpr," "cleanliness," "data entry," and "occupational therapy."
Rehabilitation aides earn a lower average salary than physical therapist assistants. But rehabilitation aides earn the highest pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $29,100. Additionally, physical therapist assistants earn the highest salaries in the professional with average pay of $52,806 annually.In general, rehabilitation aides achieve similar levels of education than physical therapist assistants. They're 2.1% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Physical therapist assistant vs. Certified occupational therapy assistant
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants are professionals who work with licensed occupational therapists in providing therapy to patients. This therapy is usually related to the physical or mobility challenges of a patient. Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants help patients retain their skills, improve on their challenges, and eventually recover. They record the patient's progress after every therapy session. They may also help out in creating treatment plans for the patient. Since they spend a lot of time with patients, their inputs and recommendations are valuable in crafting and adjusting the treatment plan.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a physical therapist assistant is likely to be skilled in "pta," "physical therapy treatment," "quality care," and "direct supervision," while a typical certified occupational therapy assistant is skilled in "patient care," "occupational therapy," "occupational therapy treatments," and "adaptive."
Certified occupational therapy assistants earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $51,821. Comparatively, physical therapist assistants have the highest earning potential in the professional industry, with an average salary of $52,806.Most certified occupational therapy assistants achieve a similar degree level compared to physical therapist assistants. For example, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Physical therapist assistant vs. Occupational therapy assistant
An occupational therapy assistant is primarily responsible for assisting an occupational therapist when handling patients at a clinic or similar setting. Their duties revolve around gathering patient information and medical history, treating patients using the therapist's care plan, monitoring a patient's progress, and maintaining an accurate and extensive record. There are also instances when an assistant must discuss the conditions and extent of treatment to patients and families, as well as monitor supplies and inventory.
Types of physical therapist assistant
Updated January 8, 2025
