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.

Care to share? Click for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or XING. 👍

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)”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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