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)”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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Microsoft Office
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Scheduling software
Email software
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Windows
BioEx Systems Exercise Pro
Eazy Application Systems QuickEMR
Virtual reality game software
Word processing software
TherAssist
PhysioGraphic
dBASE
SpectraSoft AppointmentsPRO
Bookkeeping software
Microsoft Outlook