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)”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

Bookkeeping software
Microsoft Office
SpectraSoft DocuPRO
Beaver Creek Software The THERAPIST
Rehab Documentation Company ReDoc Suite
Video game software
Knees Software PT DocTools
SpectraSoft AppointmentsPRO
Eazy Application Systems QuickEMR
dBASE
BioEx Systems Exercise Pro
Spreadsheet software
Arena Health Systems Phys-X
Scheduling software
Word processing software
TherAssist
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Outlook
Laboratory information system LIS
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Windows
Email software
Client caseload management software
PhysioGraphic
PhysioTools Tools RG
FileMaker Pro
Accounting software
Virtual reality game software
Billing software
Summit Software CarePoint