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Staff physical therapy assistant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Tara Paradie,

Elizabeth Paly

Staff physical therapy assistant example skills

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical staff physical therapy assistant skills. We ranked the top skills for staff physical therapy assistants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 26.7% of staff physical therapy assistant resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a staff physical therapy assistant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 staff physical therapy assistant skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use patients:

Assessed patients' functional mobility and provided instructions for proper body mechanics to reduce probability of injury and increase independence.
Supported therapists with the rehabilitation of patients through the demonstration and assistance of various exercises and therapeutic activities.

2. Rehabilitation

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use rehabilitation:

Provided treatments to 12-16 patients/day including administering Physical Therapist approved treatment and therapeutic exercise programs, specializing in post-op rehabilitation.
Aided Physical Therapists in exercises, stretching, manipulation, and overall rehabilitation of clients as a team in medical environment

3. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use cpr:

Completed Dementia training, Oasis training, and CPR certified.
Maintained BLS Instructor Certification and administered written and practical CPR examinations.

4. Home Health

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use home health:

Provide skilled therapeutic services for a medically diverse home health patient population.
Work Experience/ReferencesHarlan ARH- Home health.

5. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use customer service:

Delivered awesome customer service to residents, family, and administration.
Provide exceptional customer service to both external and internal customers.

6. Acute Care

The branch of secondary healthcare which is responsible for giving short-term care to patients recovering from severe injuries or urgent medical problems is known as acute care. Acute care comprises multiple domains like; emergency care, urgent care, short-term stabilization, pre-hospital care, critical care, and trauma care.

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use acute care:

Participated patients in wound-care treatment and helped patients in an acute care regional hospital
Utilized physical therapy assistant skills working in acute care and out patient departments

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7. Physical Therapy

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use physical therapy:

Provided physical therapy services meeting the specific needs of students with Autism, developmental delays, learning disabilities and orthopedic handicaps.
Prepared patient for physical therapy treatment by welcoming, comforting, providing and/or assisting patient into physical therapy apparel or apertures.

8. Treatment Programs

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use treatment programs:

Assisted with planning and implementing specific treatment programs for individual clients, including developing therapeutic exercise programs and monitoring schedule adherence.
Conducted patient evaluation and assessment, established treatment programs and follow-up care.

9. Walkers

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use walkers:

Managed lobby and scheduling Managed upkeep of office space Assembled equipment (walkers, wheelchairs, etc.)
Direct patients to needed areas with crutches, wheel chairs, walkers, canes etc.

10. Restore Function

Restore function refers to a process of restoring function lost due to various circumstances of life.

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use restore function:

Restore function for patients and prevented disabilities following disease or profound injury.
Relieve pain, restore function and assist in preventing future disabilities.

11. Compassion

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use compassion:

Motivate patients with compassion and an energetic personality.
Earned repeated appreciations from supervisor, co-workers, and patients for providing the best quality care with compassion.

12. Traction

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use traction:

Provided treatments such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and hot/cold packs, infrared, UVR, tens and traction.
Monitored exercises, massages, electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, hot and cold packs, traction, and ultrasound.

13. Pathogens

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use pathogens:

Perform after care sterilization, while recording progress of microscopic pathogens including cleaning and sterilizing wound care and rehabilitating equipment.

14. Direct Patient Care

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use direct patient care:

Perform all aspects of direct patient care including assisting with marketing, scheduling and meetings as needed.
Provided direct patient care for a high volume holistic medical practice.

15. Crutches

Here's how staff physical therapy assistants use crutches:

Instructed, motivated and assisted patient in the use of assistant and supportive devices such as crutches, canes and prostheses.
Educated patients and caregivers uses of wheelchairs, braces, canes, crutches and prosthetic devices.

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What skills help Staff Physical Therapy Assistants find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What technical skills for a staff physical therapy assistant stand out to employers?

Tara Paradie

Assistant Director of Clinical Education, University of New England

Again, my experience has been in the health care field--and I believe that employers are looking for graduates who are confident and bring their health care skills to the table, ready to assist and relieve the current workforce who has been working overtime to keep patients healthy and safe. The ability to be flexible and apply what they have learned in school immediately will be valued. I believe this to be true of any of the health professions that I am affiliated with--physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing and nurse anesthesia, dental medicine and dental hygiene, social work and pharmacy.

What soft skills should all staff physical therapy assistants possess?

Elizabeth Paly

Associate Professor, Concordia University

Soft skills that are becoming increasingly more favorable in the work environment include active listening and communication skills, willingness to collaborate with others, creativity, and adaptability to changing situations.

Do you want to know more?

List of staff physical therapy assistant skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a staff physical therapy assistant resume and required skills for a staff physical therapy assistant to have include:

Patients
Rehabilitation
CPR
Home Health
Customer Service
Acute Care
Physical Therapy
Treatment Programs
Walkers
Restore Function
Compassion
Traction
Pathogens
Direct Patient Care
Crutches
Physical Therapy Treatment

Direct Supervision
Assistive Devices
Patient Treatment
Adaptive
Discharge Planning
Ultrasound
Gait Training
ICU
Pain Management
SNF
Patient Education
Vital Signs
Therapy Equipment
Prosthetics
Orthotics
Therapeutic Procedures

Family Education
Therapeutic Massage
Patient Evaluations
Discharge Summaries
ROM
Bed Mobility
ADL
Splints
Senior Care
Supportive Devices
Electrical Stimulation
Functional Mobility
Manual Therapy
Outpatient Clinic
Medical Professionals
Optima

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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