What Does a Physical Therapy Assistant Do? 

Did you know that 2020 research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the median wage of a physical therapy assistant as $49,970 per year?

Physical therapy is a crucial part of the recovery process following a severe injury or chronic disease. As a physical therapy assistant, you will be responsible for facilitating a well-managed patient care plan. You will also assist with daily treatments.

If you’re interested in physical therapy assistant jobs, our helpful guide can point you in the right direction. Here, we’ll outline the main roles and responsibilities of a physical therapy assistant, as well as a few clear benefits.

Read on for everything you need to know.

What Is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a broad term for a variety of treatments aimed towards rehabilitation following injury or disease.

When a patient’s mobility and function are limited, physical therapy can help them regain control over their everyday lives. Physical therapy is also administered preventatively in the case of chronic and long-term illnesses.

As a physical therapy assistant, you will be instrumental to the everyday practices of your workplace. By supporting the lead clinician, you’ll ensure quality patient care is upheld.

What Does a Physical Therapy Assistant Do?

A physical therapy assistant’s role is to support the primary physical therapist in treating patients who have been injured or have a physical impairment. 

As an assistant, you will be a patient-facing member of the team, as well as being responsible for administrative tasks. Typical responsibilities include:

• Applying heat therapy to patients
• Providing training with medical equipment
• Demonstrating exercise and stretch routines
• Ultrasound scanning
• Therapeutic massage
• Electrical therapy
• Answering phones
• Procuring supplies
• Completing patient records
• Managing insurance claims

A qualified physical therapist will be on hand to oversee all work done by their assistant. On-the-job learning forms an important part of a physical therapy assistant’s training.

Your Physical Therapy Assistant Salary

As of 2020, the average physical therapy assistant salary was around $24.02 per hour. Moreover, the role provides excellent opportunities for career growth, with a variety of diverse skills attached.

As you gain experience, you can hope to see your salary grow in turn. The transferable skills you learn as a physical therapy assistant can also lead you into other avenues of medical practice. 

If you need extra coaching, check out https://therapyteam.com for a comprehensive and proven tutoring service.

Your Physical Therapy Assistant Role

The role of a physical therapy assistant is challenging yet engaging. This exciting and rewarding career path could be your next professional adventure.

If you’re considering entering the medical industry as a physical therapy assistant, we hope this guide has given you some clarity on what to do next. 

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