Occupation information for

Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with State laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

Currently Employed: 67,400

Yearly Projected Openings: 4,120

Typical Hourly Wage: $20.24 - $29.98

Typical Annual Salary: $42,100 - $62,400

• Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
• 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.
• Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
• Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
• Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
• Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.
• Measure patients' range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
• Monitor operation of equipment and record use of equipment and administration of treatment.
• Prepare treatment areas and electrotherapy equipment for use by physiotherapists.

• Electrotherapy combination units
• Full body immersion hydrotherapy baths or tanks
• Patient care beds or accessories for specialty care
• Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packs
• Walkers or rollators

• Accounting software
• Action games
• Calendar and scheduling software
• Data base user interface and query software
• Medical software