A professional who administers physical therapy treatments to patients, working under direction of and as assistant to physical therapist . Responsibilities include:

• Administers active and passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, and heat, light, sound, water, and electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, ultraviolet, infrared, and hot and cold packs.
• Administers traction to relieve neck and back pain, using intermittent and static traction equipment.
• Instructs, motivates, and assists patients to learn and improve functional activities, such as preambulation, transfer, ambulation, and daily-living activities.
• Observes patients during treatments and compiles and evaluates data on patients' responses to treatments and progress and reports orally or in writing to physical therapist.
• Fits patients for, adjusts, and trains patients in use and care of orthopedic braces, prostheses, and supportive devices, such as crutches, canes, walkers, and wheelchairs.
• Confers with members of physical therapy staff and other health team members, individually and in conference, to exchange, discuss, and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, and coordinating treatment programs.
• Gives orientation to new physical therapist assistants and directs and gives instructions to physical therapy aides .
• Performs clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, and filling out forms.
• May measure patient's range-of-joint motion, length and girth of body parts, and vital signs to determine effects of specific treatments or to assist physical therapist to compile data for patient evaluations.
• May monitor treatments administered by physical therapy aides.