Question #7

On a typical day a physical therapist will; examine patients' medical histories, test and measure patients' strength, range of motion, balance. Coordinate posture, muscle performance, respiration and motor function. determine weather a patient is able to be independent and reintegrate into the community or workplace after injury or illness. Also develop treatment plans describing a treatment strategy, its purpose and its anticipated outcome (McKay). Physical therapist assistant works closely with a supervising physical therapist to provide quality, evidence-based patient/client care. After the physical therapist has completed the patient examination and a diagnosis has been determined, the physical therapist design a plan of care that includes short-term and long-term functional goals. The physical therapist may choose to provide all of the treatments or utilize a PTA to provide some or all of interventions identified in the plan of care. Intervention that a PTA may perform includes, but is not limited to, therapeutic exercise, traction, massage, ultrasound, electrotherapy, balance and gait training, motor learning and development, and patient and family education. Intervention will often include the use of assistive and adaptive devices such as crutches, wheelchairs, orthotics, and prosthetics. An important component of patient interventions involves teaching the patient appropriate ways to move of perform particular tasks to prevent further injury and to promote health and wellness ("Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Profiles").