The Profession of Physical Therapy: A Collaborative Effort of Physical Therapist (PT) and Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)

Services Provided

Physical therapy professionals work with people across their lifespan from birth through end-of-life care. They help people rehabilitate from devastating injuries, manage chronic conditions, avoid surgery and prescription drugs for pain, prevent or reduce harm, recommend healthy lifestyle habits, and provide functional training for resumption of roles and functions related to domestic, education, work, community, social and civic life (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). Other professional responsibilities may include engaging in consultation, education, and critical inquiry through research and administration. Physical therapists are considered direct access practitioners, and in the outpatient setting, they often do not need a referral to provide services. Physical therapy professionals work in a variety of settings. Clinical practice areas include inpatient and outpatient hospital settings, schools, home health, privately-owned practices, sports, and fitness facilities. Additional employment opportunities exist in research settings, industrial settings, academia, and public policy settings.

In the clinical practice setting, PTs evaluate patients/clients and assess the impact of the observed impairments in body structures and function on a person's ability to participate and be active in life while minimizing restrictions (WHO, 2021). An example of a common scenario would be one in which a person tears a ligament in a knee and requires surgical repair. The initial injury would result in muscle weakness, limited knee motion, swelling, and pain, and along with the subsequent surgical repair, could further impact the ability to walk, climb stairs, squat down, work, or play sports. The physical therapist would assess the specific injury and/or status following surgical repair. The physical therapist then develops strategies to minimize pain, further injury and promote restoration of function. These strategies could include but are not limited to retraining walking with use of a temporary assistive device (walker, crutches or cane), therapeutic modalities (ice, heat, wrapping, compression, therapeutic ultrasound and/or electrical stimulation), exercise, soft tissue mobilization and patient education (nutrition to promote tissue healing, signs and symptoms of an infection, signs and symptoms of over loading the leg during therapy and activity, how to modify activities to improve independence, and signs and symptoms of a blood clot). Following the assessment, the physical therapist and physical therapy assistant educate the patient about the recommended strategies and execute the rehabilitation plan.

Before treatment, PTs evaluate and screen the musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary (skin) body systems. After evaluating the function of these systems, they make evidence-based recommendations for interventions to improve physical function, alleviate pain, prevent disease, and promote health. This process allows the PT to determine the patient’s immediate needs or the need for referral to a more appropriate healthcare provider. If a referral is not indicated, PT’s will develop a treatment plan to improve the patient’s condition. (WHO, 2021).