What does a physical therapy aide do?
Physical therapy aides are employed under physical therapists' direction. They typically perform non-medical tasks, including helping with patient intake, setting up treatment rooms, and assisting with patient transportation to another health care facility. They are also responsible for documenting the responses and progress of patients and communicating with hospital personnel and physicians' offices. There are several skills and competencies to become a successful physical therapy aide, which include active listening skills, attention to detail, and compassion for patients.
Physical therapy aide responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real physical therapy aide resumes:
- Manage flexible schedule at various company facilities categorize as ILF, ALF, and SNF.
- Administer ultrasound and electrical stimulation and start patients with their prescribe exercise programs.
- Educate patients on supportive devices, such as braces, splints, and slings.
- Earn repeated appreciations from supervisor, co-workers, and patients for providing the best quality care with compassion.
- Work closely with PT's/PTA's; OT/COTA's and SLP in providing quality hands on care to rehab patients.
- Create and maintain patient charts and paperwork including exercise, insurance authorization, insurance, HIPAA, and patient information.
- Instruct patients on therapeutic exercises, apply therapeutic massage, and perform ultrasound therapy.
- Shadow physical therapists, assist patients with routine treatment and exercise, and maintain the rehabilitation area
- Work full-time at this rehabilitation organization; schedule patients, maintain and organize the documentation of patient files.
- Supervise patients performing rehabilitation exercises.
- Assist with CPR and Tracheas.
- grab bars, tub lifts, stair lifts )
- Coordinate client ADL goal assistance.
- Well-Verse in Medicaid and Medicare claims submission.
- Work with kids and adults with learning and functional disabilities
Physical therapy aide skills and personality traits
We calculated that 42% of Physical Therapy Aides are proficient in Patients, Patient Care, and Rehabilitation. They’re also known for soft skills such as Time-management skills, Dexterity, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Physical Therapy Aides that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 42%
Worked full-time at this rehabilitation organization; scheduled patients, maintained and organized the documentation of patient files.
- Patient Care, 10%
Provide direct patient care by assisting physical therapists and occupational therapists during inpatient, acute rehabilitation, and outpatient sessions.
- Rehabilitation, 8%
Supervised patients performing rehabilitation exercises.
- Customer Service, 5%
Provide a high level of customer service to patients, referring providers and other community stakeholders through punctual and professional communication.
- Ultrasound, 5%
Assist Physical Therapist with treatment using heat packs, electronic stimulus, ultrasound therapy, and demonstrating/supervising exercises.
- Direct Supervision, 4%
License and Certification Physical Therapist Assistant- Indirect Supervision, Pennsylvania #TE1001043, licensed through 12/31/16 Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, certified through 5/8/15
Common skills that a physical therapy aide uses to do their job include "patients," "patient care," and "rehabilitation." You can find details on the most important physical therapy aide responsibilities below.
Dexterity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling physical therapy aide duties is dexterity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "physical therapist assistants should be comfortable using their hands to provide manual therapy and therapeutic exercises." According to a physical therapy aide resume, here's how physical therapy aides can utilize dexterity in their job responsibilities: "assist with lifting and moving patients, finding crutches, wheelchairs and other tools used in treatment. "
Physical stamina. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of physical therapy aides is physical stamina. This skill is critical to many everyday physical therapy aide duties, as "physical therapist assistants and aides are frequently on their feet and moving as they work with their patients." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "assisted physical therapists with direct patient management and carrying out all therapeutic exercises assisted office personnel with appointment scheduling and paperwork"
Compassion. A big part of what physical therapy aides do relies on "compassion." You can see how essential it is to physical therapy aide responsibilities because "physical therapist assistants and aides should enjoy helping people." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical physical therapy aide tasks: "provided compassionate care using ice packs, manual therapy, and emotional support for each patient. "
Detail oriented. Another common skill required for physical therapy aide responsibilities is "detail oriented." This skill comes up in the duties of physical therapy aides all the time, as "physical therapist assistants and aides should be organized, keep accurate records, and follow written and verbal instructions carefully to ensure quality care." An excerpt from a real physical therapy aide resume shows how this skill is central to what a physical therapy aide does: "recorded detailed prognosis, treatment, responses and progress notes in patient charts. "
Interpersonal skills. Another skill commonly found on physical therapy aide job descriptions is "interpersonal skills." It can come up quite often in physical therapy aide duties, since "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." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day physical therapy aide responsibilities: "cultivated strong interpersonal skills by aiding patients in therapeutic exercise, insurance verification, and administrative matters. "
The three companies that hire the most physical therapy aides are:
- ATI Physical Therapy101 physical therapy aides jobs
- Athletico50 physical therapy aides jobs
- Therapeutic Associates Physical Therapy41 physical therapy aides jobs
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Compare different physical therapy aides
Physical therapy aide 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.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a physical therapy aide are more likely to require skills like "patient care," "ultrasound," "strong customer service," and "appointment scheduling." On the other hand, a job as a rehab technician requires skills like "physical therapy," "cpr," "cleanliness," and "taking care." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Rehab technicians earn the highest salaries when working in the health care industry, with an average yearly salary of $29,851. On the other hand, physical therapy aides are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $29,450.On average, rehab technicians reach similar levels of education than physical therapy aides. Rehab technicians are 0.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Physical therapy aide vs. Aide
Aides are personal employees of their clients who commonly have health issues that render them unable to do certain tasks. They help out their clients with activities they may need assistance in. They may do personal errands such as grocery shopping, cleaning, and cooking. They also provide care for their clients by helping them bathe, dress, brush their teeth, and other personal hygiene activities. Aides also help their clients walk, sit, and eat if their clients' motor functions are compromised. Aides are expected to be patient, caring, and trustworthy.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real physical therapy aide resumes. While physical therapy aide responsibilities can utilize skills like "rehabilitation," "ultrasound," "strong customer service," and "hipaa," aides use skills like "cpr," "compassion," "home health," and "behavioral issues."
Aides earn a lower average salary than physical therapy aides. But aides earn the highest pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $27,848. Additionally, physical therapy aides earn the highest salaries in the health care with average pay of $29,450 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Aides tend to reach similar levels of education than physical therapy aides. In fact, they're 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Physical therapy aide vs. Restorative, rehab 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.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from physical therapy aide resumes include skills like "patients," "patient care," "rehabilitation," and "customer service," whereas a restorative, rehab aide is more likely to list skills in "healthcare," "adl," "cna clinical," and "patient therapy. "
When it comes to education, restoratives, rehab aide tend to earn similar degree levels compared to physical therapy aides. In fact, they're 3.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Physical therapy aide vs. Rehabilitation aide
Types of physical therapy aide
Updated January 8, 2025
