Physical therapy assistants perform components of physical therapy procedures and related tasks selected by a supervising physical therapist. These workers assist physical therapists in providing services that help improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. Patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.

Physical therapy assistants perform a variety of tasks. Components of treatment procedures performed by these workers, under the direction and supervision of physical therapists, involve exercises, massages, electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, hot and cold packs, traction, and ultrasound. Physical therapy assistants record the patient’s responses to treatment and report the outcome of each treatment to the physical therapist.

Physical therapy assistants help make therapy sessions productive, under the direct supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant. They usually are responsible for keeping the treatment area clean and organized and for preparing for each patient’s therapy. When patients need assistance moving to or from a treatment area, aides push them in a wheelchair or provide them with a shoulder to lean on. Because they are not licensed, aides do not perform the clinical tasks of a physical therapy assistant.

The duties of aides include some clerical tasks, such as ordering depleted supplies, answering the phone, and filling out insurance forms and other paperwork. The extent to which an aide or an aide performs clerical tasks depends on the size and location of the facility.

The hours and days that physical therapy assistants work vary with the facility and with whether they are full- or part-time employees. Many outpatient physical therapy offices and clinics have evening and weekend hours, to help coincide with patients’ personal schedules.

Physical therapy assistants need a moderate degree of strength because of the physical exertion required in assisting patients with their treatment. In some cases, aides need to lift patients. Constant kneeling, stooping, and standing for long periods also are part of the job.

Physical therapy assistants held about 87,000 jobs in 2002. Physical therapy assistants held about 50,000 jobs, physical therapy assistants approximately 37,000. Both work alongside physical therapists in a variety of settings. Almost three-fourths of all jobs were in hospitals or in offices of other health practitioners (which includes offices of physical therapists). Others worked primarily in nursing care facilities, offices of physicians, home healthcare services, and outpatient care centers.

Introduction:

• Introduction to Health Profession
• Patient Care
• Workplace Health and Safety
• Introduction to Physical Therapy

Introduction to Medical Terminology:

• Definitions
• Anatomical positioning
• Directional terms
• Body regions
• Therapeutic terminology
• Common abbreviations
• The Musculoskeletal System terminology
• Body systems terminology
• Nervous System terminology
• Circulatory System terminology
• Respiratory System terminology

Anatomy and Physiology:

• Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology
• The Skeletal System
• The Nervous System
• The Circulatory System
• The Vascular System
• The Lymphatic System and Immunity
• The Respiratory System
• The Digestive System
• The Urinary System
• The Reproductive System
• Microbiology and Human Disease

Physical Therapy Aide:

• The Physical Therapy Aide
• Common Physical Disorders
• Physical Therapy Treatments
• Physical Therapy Techniques

Physical Therapy Clinical Internship

The last module in the Physical Therapy Aide program is a mandatory Clinical Internship at PCCTI`s affiliated clinical sites. The school will implement, evaluate and monitor the Quality Assurance both in the didactic and clinical training aspects of the program. Clinical studies will be performed under the supervision of the Qualified and licensed Physical Therapist and will also be supervised by the school`s assigned Clinical Supervisor. Students` entry and exit times will be recorded and signed by a designated clinical staff member.

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Chicago: (312) 920-8822
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