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)”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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