| Physical therapist aides and assistants perform some | | | | Treatment by a physical therapist often includes |
| physical therapy procedures selected by their | | | | therapy and exercise for patients who lack |
| supervising physical therapist. They work with the | | | | endurance, strength and flexibility, resulting from |
| physical therapist to provide patients with services | | | | partial or complete immobilization for any length of |
| necessary to limit or prevent lasting physical | | | | time. They work with the patients to build up their |
| disabilities, relieve pain, and improve mobility caused | | | | muscles, improve strength, flexibility, coordination, and |
| by disease or injury. Under a physical therapists | | | | range of motion. Physical therapists show patients |
| supervision and direction, a physical therapist assistant | | | | how to use adaptive and assistive devices including |
| often perform procedures such as massages, | | | | wheelchairs and prostheses. Because they often |
| exercises, paraffin baths, electrical stimulation, and | | | | practice and consult with many other professionals |
| ultrasound. The physical therapy aide's help patients | | | | such as occupational therapists, nurses, speech |
| move to and from treatment areas, keep the | | | | pathologists, and physicians, there are many |
| physical therapy areas organized and clean, order | | | | opportunities for career advancement in physical |
| necessary supplies, and perform some clerical tasks. | | | | therapy, such as working as a team member in a |
| The opportunities for career advancement in physical | | | | healthcare clinic or accepting a position in private |
| therapy for assistants are extremely good, with | | | | healthcare agencies. There are also opportunities for |
| many choosing to continue their education to | | | | career advancement in physical therapy for those |
| become physical therapists. The opportunities for | | | | that want to specialize in areas such as geriatrics, |
| career advancement in physical therapy for physical | | | | neurology, pediatrics, cardiopulmonary, or sports |
| therapy aids include going back to school to become | | | | medicine physical therapy. |
| a physical therapist assistant or physical therapist. | | | | The job outlook and opportunities for career |
| A physical therapist provides patients with services | | | | advancement in physical therapy looks extremely |
| that limit, restore or prevent permanent physical | | | | promising. They expect the employment for physical |
| disabilities caused by disabling diseases, and conditions, | | | | therapists to continue to increase faster than many |
| or injury due to accidents. These include patients with | | | | other occupations through the year 2014. This is due |
| cerebral palsy, arthritis, fractures, back pain, heart | | | | in part to the elderly population living longer, physical |
| disease, Parkinson's disease, and head injuries. They | | | | therapists reaching retirement age, and new medical |
| help improve the patient's mobility, restore function, | | | | technology, which increases the survival percentage |
| and relieve pain and suffering. For people considering | | | | of trauma victims, newborns with birth defects, and |
| this as a career, there are many opportunities for | | | | others with disabling conditions. |
| career advancement in physical therapy. | | | | |