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