Members of the association include physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and physical therapy students. The APTA has defined physical therapy as: “clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance and promotion of optimal physical function.”
Description
Healthcare professionals who work with physical therapists to provide physical therapy treatments are called physical therapy assistants. They are generally needed among patients undergoing treatment for arthritis, low back pain, accident injuries, and heart disease. Helping patients recovering from surgery, illness, and injury to control pain and regain movement is the primary goal of a physical therapy assistant. Mainly, the exercise is done where the muscles and joints are strengthened through a variety of techniques.
The physical therapy assistant is in charge of supervising patients as they follow the treatment regimen being developed by the therapist. They ensure that patients carry out the plan correctly and successfully. They help provide services that improve patients’ mobility and reduce pain, thus preventing further injury and limiting the deterioration of the condition. It will depend on the experience the physical therapy assistant has and the clinic they are working for where their duties and responsibilities may vary. However, physical therapy assistants should always work under the supervision of a physical therapist. Assisting physical therapists in clinics, rehab centers, doctor’s offices, outpatient centers, educational centers, research centers, extended care facilities, schools, sports training facilities, industrial sites, and hospitals is the common job of physical therapist assistants.
Education, training and certification
Physical therapy assistants in most states must have an associate’s degree from programs accredited by CAPTE (Commission on Accreditation in Physical Education). This normally has two parts which are academic courses and clinical experience. Courses such as English, Physiology, Anatomy, and Psychology are covered in the first part, while the second part is more about the practical experience that takes place in therapy centers. Right now, there are 280 accredited associate degree programs available for body therapy assistants. In addition to the courses, clinical training given to Health Care Specialist Assistants helps them gain practical experience in their field. Training includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), hands-on experience, and first aid. Most states require an assistant therapist to be licensed before they can practice. They must also first pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) issued by the Federation of State Boards of Therapy P. after completing a 2-year Associate program. They can then apply for a license in the state they would like to work in, and often the license must be renewed with continuing education courses.
Professional perspective and work environment
There were 67,400 jobs in this occupation in 2010 and it is expected to expand by 46% in 2020. More than 50% of physical therapy assistants work in outpatient health care services and 28% work in hospitals. You will also find them in nursing homes and residential care facilities.
Working hours
Body therapy assistants generally work full time. Since most clinics are open in the evenings and on weekends, they are expected to operate during those times as well.
Factors that affect the salary of a dental hygienist
The key factors that would determine the salary of a physical therapy assistant are experience and education. Other graduates choose to pursue other certifications in Massage Therapy, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Basic Life Support (BLS) as it will not only improve your ability on the job, but also increase your salary. Choosing the right workplace would also affect your salary. For the most part, skilled nursing facilities pay the highest salary, while outpatient clinics pay the lowest.
Average annual income
The average annual salary for a physical therapy assistant is $ 51,110. This has been calculated by adding all wages within the occupation and dividing that value by the total number of employees. The lowest 10% in this career earn less than $ 32,030 and the top 10% earn more than $ 71,200. The median hourly wage for a physical therapy assistant is $ 24.57. The lowest 10% earn $ 15.40 while the top 10% earn $ 34.23.
Below are the highest paying cities and states:
Cities:
• Mission, TX: $ 80,760
• Longview, TX: $ 76,450
• Sherman, TX: $ 73,650
• San Antonio, TX: $ 72,960
• Victoria, TX: $ 72,770
State:
• Texas: $ 66,170
• New Jersey: $ 57,330
• California: $ 57,270
• Connecticut: $ 57,260
• Florida: $ 56,740
States with the highest level of employment:
• Texas
• Ohio
• California
• Florida
• Pennsylvania