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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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Billing software
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Client caseload management software
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Microsoft Windows
Scheduling software
Rehab Documentation Company ReDoc Suite
Laboratory information system LIS
Microsoft Outlook
PhysioGraphic
PhysioTools Tools RG
Virtual reality game software
SpectraSoft DocuPRO
Eazy Application Systems QuickEMR
Spreadsheet software
FileMaker Pro
Accounting software
Microsoft Office
Bookkeeping software
Word processing software
dBASE
Email software
Knees Software PT DocTools
Summit Software CarePoint
Microsoft Access
Video game software
SpectraSoft AppointmentsPRO