Physical Therapist Assistants

• Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
• Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
• Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
• Measure patients' range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
• Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.
• Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
• Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
• Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
• Train patients in the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
• Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.
• Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, such as crutches.
• Monitor operation of equipment and record use of equipment and administration of treatment.
• Attend or conduct continuing education courses, seminars, or in-service activities.
• Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Physical Therapist Assistants.

• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Physical Therapist Assistants.