This document will provide information about the profession of a physical therapist assistant. In addition to that it will assist in learning multiple things about a career in physical therapy. Which include the different careers that may surround the PTA profession? The salary ranges. And other geographical locations best suited for this career choice, in addition to that also the growth pat-tern and education needed for this PTA profession. Lastly the type of experience one should gain by building a career in physical therapy.
According to (Introduction to Physical therapy practice for physical therapist assistants) written by (Barret M. Christina); Physical therapy is a continuing health care practice. This is
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Lastly there is an outpatient setting; where practice is provided by a primary care physician that focuses on first level care. Outpatient care is very fast pace where patients are scheduled to come in and leave all in the same day. Physical therapy assistants are responsible for assisting the physical therapist in an interven-tion/treatment on patients of all ages. The treatments are only assessed to those who face the ina-bility to function in everyday living activities. This ranges from infants; pediatrics which is chil-dren and geriatrics which is elderly people (Mikulik, Tammy PT, DPT).
According to (Konvicka, Eric, PT), there is a host of qualities needed for this career choice such as active listening one must be able to listen to a patient 's interest about their treatment. PTA does also need to use Verbal communication to comprehend instructions for patient progression and PTA 's clinical success. In addition to that they need Interpersonal skills which are important when it comes to interacting with patients and colleagues. To be successful in any healthcare ca-reer, there is a need for a strong desire to help people. Reading comprehension PTA 's must be able to understand written instructions from there direct supervisory whether it 's a PT or Physi-cian. In addition to that, there is also critical thinking and decision making important when de-ciding the potential outcomes of possible solutions before choosing. Organization skills
In return, they must be able to treat patients and their families with compassion and understanding (College Grad). PA’s also need to be detail oriented. They should be observant and have a strong ability to focus when evaluating and treating patients. Physician assistants, particularly those working in surgery or emergency medicine, should be able to work well under pressure. They must remain calm in stressful situations in order to provide quality care (College Grad). PA’s need to evaluate patients’ symptoms and administer the appropriate treatments. So they must be diligent when investigating complicated medical issues so that they can determine the best course of treatment for each patient (College Grad).
Physical therapy assistant is a health care professional who provides physical therapy services based on the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapy assistant. This professional helps individuals of all ages who have medical issues and health-related conditions that restrict their ability to move and carry out functional activities in daily life. A physical therapy assistant can work in various settings such as private practices, hospitals, home health, sport facilities, schools, outpatient clinics, and nursing homes. The physical therapy assistant is also responsible for evaluating the changes in a patient's performance based on the physical therapy provided. The kind of care provided by a physical therapy assistant may incorporate teaching the patient to exercise mobility, the use of physical agents, strength and coordination, electrotherapy, and training for various activities like walkers and crutches ("Who Are Physical Therapist Assistants?" 2012). For an individual to become a physical therapy assistant, he/she is required to be licensed, certified, or registered by the state. In this case, the educational requirements and examination criteria are usually stipulated based on the particular state requiring licensure.
Becoming a physical therapist assistant isn’t easy, because there are certain steps that have to be taken, certain skills/responsibilities that they have, and a crazy day experience that they go through. To become a physical therapist assistant there are certain steps a person must go through including, a certain amount of education, certification, and they have requirements. Education is very important in any career a person chooses, but according to O*net online the only education needed is an associate’s degree to become a PTA (n.p). A certificate or license is also needed to become a PTA. According to the website,
This takes more time and effort from both the patient and the physical therapist assistant. There are patients who will need to adapt to having an artificial limb or being permanently confined to a wheelchair. Patients with these kinds of impairments will be stressed emotionally with the limitations they have with their body; a physical therapist assistant must also help that patient to improve their state of mind. Overall, it’s about helping a patient regain independence as much as possible. Along with the team, a physical therapist assistant will also help with the evaluation of a patient’s condition, “An evaluation can include measuring the patient's strength, range of motion, and functional ability; that is, how well the patient performs certain physical tasks” (Mayo Clinic). Once the evaluation is done, the physical therapist will develop a treatment plan for the patient that the physical therapist assistant has to carry out (Mayo Clinic). When carrying out this treatment plan, the physical therapist assistant must “observe [the patient] before and during therapy, [take note of] their status and [report] to a physical therapist (Bureau of Labor Statistics). If a procedure it a little more complicated both the physical therapist and the assistant will work alongside each other to get the job done. However, most routine visits will be done by the physical therapist assistant alone. They also help patients by teaching them how to use things like canes, braces, walkers,
A Physical Therapist Assistant is a job occupation that involves assisting a Physical Therapist who helps with the rehabilitation of individuals who have past injuries or are working towards strengthening what they are weak with. They help people get back to their normal self and ready to operate in society normally. The Physical Therapist Assistant mostly helps with the workouts and stretches that patients have to do. They help with impairments, disabilities, and their mobility(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). A Physical Therapist Assistant can work in hospitals, schools, and any average therapy location. There is a lot of information about being a Physical Therapist Assistant including their day to day routine,salary, schooling, and
Physical Therapist is citing from website; www.apta.org/aboutpts " physical therapist are highly-educated licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility.
When considering the physical therapy career field, I concluded that my interests and skills are compatible with the career requirements in this field. My sisters friend whom I chose to interview for this paper, contributed to my interest in physical therapy. By doing this research I would like to learn the average pay for a physical therapist. Also, what are suggested classes for a physical therapist while in college? This research will help me better understand what a physical therapist does and will either help me lean towards or away from a career in this field.
Physical Therapy Assistants work under the direction of a Physical Therapist. The assistants use physical treatment to help in the improvement of a person’s mobility and alleviate pain and disability caused by injury or sickness. Physical Therapy
Physical therapists also can consult and practice with other professionals, such as physicians, dentists, nurses, educators, social workers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists to help them with their treatment to a patient. Conducting research or teaching is another job option for physical therapists.
There are office-based and medical-based careers in physical therapy for students who want to help patients regain physical normalcy and rebuild life skills. Keep reading to learn about four of the most common careers in physical therapy for recent graduates.
The physical therapy profession is concerned with treating individuals of all ages. In the future, I plan on being able to comfort individuals undergoing physical therapy by being able to use my compassionate nature, caring, understanding, and the expertise that I will gain, while serving as their physical therapist. In doing the previously mentioned things, I hope to be considered as an important asset to society. I believe that people will be able to increase their viability by seeking my assistance.
There are many areas, settings in Physical therapy .Such as Pediatrics, acute care, aquatics, geriatrics, education, oncology and so much more. I will be explaining what field of physical therapy that I strongly feel of pursuing and my least favorite field. Then I will give my whys and why nots feedback for each field that I talk about.
Physical Therapy is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialty that is performed by physical therapists with a goal to improve a person’s quality of life, mobility and function. In short, it is a way of relieving pain and improving person’s life. A lot of the time it is used by elderly people, people with disabilities, or wounded/now disabled military personnel to, at least partially, restore their mobility and return their life to normal as much as possible. The main goal of physical therapy is to relieve pain and pressure on certain body parts and make life as easy as possible. Physical Therapy can help with:
Life can change in a split second when an unanticipated injury or disease hinders someone’s normal daily life. Modern medicine, physicians and families can only do so much but physical therapy can help recoup the life many of us take for granted. It often isn’t until we lose something that we as humans realize what we had such as the value of our body’s ability to take us through each day. A physical therapist is the person who stays with a patient for the duration of the rehabilitation process. A physical therapist leads the patient through the process of regaining physical strength and helps the patient regain control of their future. Much like many careers that involve interaction with individuals, physical therapy reaches beyond
Physical therapists are members of a health care team, specially trained to improve movement and flinction, relieve pain, and expand movement potential. Through evaluation and individualized treatment programs, physical therapists can both treat existing problems and provide preventive health care for people with a variety of needs (Physical Therapy-Improving 1). Physical therapists are very knowledgeable and skillful concerning the human body. Physical therapy is a complex, but rewarding field to pursue as a career. Specialization, working conditions, job outlook, salaries, and education requirements need to be taken into consideration when contemplating a career as a physical therapist.