The job of a physical therapy assistant is to assist a senior physical therapist during the course of a physical therapy treatment to patients. Physical therapy assistants typically follow the orders of the senior therapist while treating patients. Among other things, physical therapy assistants help the senior therapist to treat patients for conditions including injuries of neck and back, sprains or fractures, multiple sclerosis, sports injuries, amputations, arthritis, birth defects, stroke and other conditions. It is the physical therapy assistant’s job to collect all the pertinent information about the patient’s status during the course of the treatment and provide this information to the physical therapist.
Physical therapy is one of the fastest growing and increasingly popular fields in the healthcare industry. Physical therapy involves the usage of physical movements and exercises to increase body strength, freedom and range of motion, utility of the body and patient training in the use of mobility aids and devices.
Physical therapy patients who are disabled face problems in doing daily chores properly and could use some help and training in adapting to their condition and continuing their regular lives. A physical therapy assistant helps the senior therapist in the treatment by prepping the treatment area and managing clerical tasks to reduce the burden on the physical therapist.
There is a huge requirement for physical therapy assistants and aides throughout the world. Recent breakthroughs in science and medicine have increased the average age of people. As people get older, they will increasingly require help and support from healthcare professionals like physical therapy assistants. This makes the field of physical therapy one with great growth potential and a stable career.
Depending on the exact physical therapy treatment being used, the senior therapist might need the physical therapy assistant to do a number of tasks to help with the treatment. A particular patient might need to perform physical exercises or undergo muscle manipulation or hydrotherapy to regain normal body movement for which the assistant will have to help the senior therapist during the course of the treatment.
The physical therapy assistant typically has to carefully follow instructions from the therapist while helping the patient. Apart from the therapy work, physical therapy assistants routinely complete clerical tasks in the office like completing paperwork for the therapist and patients, receiving phone calls and scheduling appointments. The variety in tasks means that physical therapy assistants must be good at a number of tasks other than the ones directly related to therapy.
There many excellent physical therapy assistant courses which can help you begin your career as a physical therapy assistant.