Physical Therapist Aide

Position Description Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.

Daily Life Of a Physical Therapist Aide

• Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
• Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.
• Train patients to use orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
• Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
• Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
• Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.

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Physical Therapist Aide Required Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Physical Therapist Aides say are important on the job.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

• Therapy Aide
• Rehabilitation Aide
• Physical Therapist Technician (Physical Therapy Tech)
• Rehabilitation Attendant
• Clinical Rehabilitation Aide

Is There Job Demand for Physical Therapist Aides?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 52,000 jobs in the United States for Physical Therapist Aide. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 29.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 15,200 new jobs for Physical Therapist Aide by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 8,500 job openings in this field each year.

Average Physical Therapist Aides Salary

The typical yearly salary for Physical Therapist Aides is somewhere between $20,040 and $39,230.

How much do Physical Therapist Aides make in different U.S. states?

What Tools do Physical Therapist Aides Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Physical Therapist Aides may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Outlook
• Word processing software
• MEDITECH software
• Scheduling software
• Medical procedure coding software
• Epic Systems
• Patient record maintenance software

How do I Become a Physical Therapist Aide?

Learn what Physical Therapist Aide education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Physical Therapist Aide?

Where do Physical Therapist Aides Work?

Those thinking about becoming a Physical Therapist Aide might also be interested in the following careers:

• Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Those who work as a Physical Therapist Aide sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

• Pharmacy Technicians

References:

• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.