Will “Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

1.8% Chance of Automation

“Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)” will not be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #83 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

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Job Description

Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with State laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 31-2021.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 56,850.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 27.00
Currently, there are 85,580 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Physical Therapist Assistants”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)”

Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.
Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, such as crutches.
Train patients in the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.
Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
Measure patients' range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
Perform postural drainage, percussions, or vibrations or teach deep breathing exercises to treat respiratory conditions.
Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.
Prepare treatment areas and electrotherapy equipment for use by physiotherapists.
Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
Administer traction to relieve neck or back pain, using intermittent or static traction equipment.
Monitor operation of equipment and record use of equipment and administration of treatment.
Attend or conduct continuing education courses, seminars, or in-service activities.

Related Technology & Tools

Interferential electrical stimulation machines
Electromyographs EMG
Tablet computers
Ultraviolet UV phototherapy lamps
Safety gloves
Balance beams
Posture grids
Hand grips
Therapeutic hot packs
Lavage hydrotherapy equipment
Single point canes
Free weights
Digital cameras
Body-fat calipers
Whirlpool therapy baths
Portable oxygen equipment
Sequential compression devices
Hi-lo manipulation tables
Total lift chairs
Lower-body isokinetic machines
Hydrotherapy pools
Reachers
Medicine balls
Inclinometers
Goniometers
Above-the-knee prosthetics
Hoyer lifts
Standing cages
Cervical traction equipment
Notebook computers
Digital video cameras
Pick-up walkers
Massage equipment
Mechanical stethoscopes
Upper-body isokinetic machines
Resistive exercise bands
Automated external defibrillators AED
Functional electrical stimulation FES equipment
Personal computers
Balance boards
Plumb lines
Cardiac monitors
Crutches
Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation TENS equipment
Slings
Gait belts
Wheelchairs
Splints
Pelvic traction equipment
Therapeutic treadmill exercisers
Ultrasound machines
Parallel bars
Stationary bicycles
Protective gowns
Powder boards
Short wave diathermy devices
Sliding boards
Safety goggles
Back braces
Sacro-illiac joint lumbar corsets
Hemi walkers
Blood pressure cuffs
High-voltage Galvanic stimulation machines
Reciprocating walkers
Paraffin baths
Continuous passive motion CPM equipment
Reflex hammers
Iontopheresis equipment
Ergometers
Cold packs
Pulse oximeters
Wrist splints
Desktop computers
Swiss exercise balls
Medical nasal cannulae
Ankle-foot orthotics
Front-wheel walkers
Standing tables
Surgical masks
Rotating bed
Quad canes
Stretchers
Mechanical percussors
Exercise trampolines
Knee braces
Patient positioning devices
Tilt tables
Platform walkers
Arm prosthetics
Below-the-knee prosthetics
Intermittent compression units

PhysioTools Tools RG
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Microsoft Excel
Client caseload management software
dBASE
SpectraSoft DocuPRO
SpectraSoft AppointmentsPRO
TherAssist
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Access
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Summit Software CarePoint
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Beaver Creek Software The THERAPIST
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Rehab Documentation Company ReDoc Suite
Eazy Application Systems QuickEMR
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Word processing software
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Microsoft Windows
Video game software
Microsoft Outlook
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BioEx Systems Exercise Pro
Billing software
Arena Health Systems Phys-X