The Role of Physiotherapist Assistants in the Therapeutic Setting

11/7/2017

What is a Physiotherapist Assistant?

A Physiotherapist Assistant (PTA) is a healthcare professional that has formal training at an Accredited College or has received on the job training. PTA’s work under the direction of a licensed physiotherapist in the provision of physiotherapy services (Canadian Physiotherapy Association, 2017) (1) The role of the PTA is to assist the physiotherapist in ensuring that physiotherapy services are delivered in a safe, effective and efficient manner. PTAs help provide physiotherapy services that achieve and maintain optimal client outcomes.(2) At this time PTA’s are not registered healthcare professionals and the title of “Physiotherapist Assistant” is not a restricted title.

What does a Physiotherapist Assistant do?

PTA’s are able to carry out treatment plans delegated by licensed physiotherapists that fall within their scope of practice and competency. PTA’s are formally trained in:

Modality Application (Hot packs, Cold packs, Transcutaneous Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (TENS), Interferential Current (IFC), Laser Therapy, Therapeutic Ultrasound and Proprioceptive Taping
Performing passive range of motion (PROM) stretching
Demonstrate and provide feedback for exercises prescribed by a licensed physiotherapist
Document treatments and communicate with physiotherapists regarding patient care

Are there restrictions for Physiotherapist Assistants?

PTA’s are not able to prescribe any treatment outside of the treatment plan set out by their licensed physiotherapist to ensure public safety and proper care of patients. There are also specific controlled acts that physiotherapists are trained to use during the course of treatment that PTAs are unable to have delegated to them.

Some of the controlled acts are:

Acupuncture
Communicating a diagnosis
Spinal manipulation
Internal assessment or internal rehabilitation of pelvic musculature

(College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, June 2017) (3

Summary

At ISM Rehab we employ PTA’s that have formal training to assist us in the treatment of our patients. As part of the orientation process we ensure that our PTA’s adhere to the college standards that govern us with the highest quality of care and patient safety in mind. Currently, our PTA’s work with the physiotherapists in order to provide a 1-to-1 patient to practitioner ratio in each appointment. This allows us to spend more quality time treating all of our patients, ensure proper form during exercises and increased hands-on treatment compared to other types of scheduling. Our PTA’s are very friendly, qualified, knowledgeable and passionate for providing the best quality care as part of our physiotherapy team.

References:
(1) Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Becoming a PT or PTA, 2017 (https://physiotherapy.ca/becoming-pt-or-pta )

(2 ) Essential Competency Profile for Physiotherapist Assistants in Canada, 2012

(3) College of Physiotherapists of Ontario: Controlled Acts and Other Restricted Activity Standards, 2016 (https://www.collegept.org/rules-and-regulations/controlled-acts-and-other-restricted-activities-standard)

Written by: Stephen Horvath, PTA, ISM Rehab

4 Comments

Activebalance link

11/19/2021 03:28:24 am

Very nice article. I am really very happy to visit your blog. Now I have found what I actually want. I check your blog every day and try to learn something from your blog. Thank you and waiting for your new post.

healingwings link

2/2/2022 05:46:50 am

Thanks for the information.

Edmonton Physiotherapy Clinics link

4/13/2022 01:54:00 pm

Physiotherapist assistants are an integral part of the therapeutic team. The work they do has a direct impact on the quality of care patients receive. Physiotherapist assistants play a vital role in providing quality care to patients by completing delegated tasks under the supervision of a physiotherapist.

Mia Evans link

11/12/2022 03:12:06 am

It's interesting to know that the assistants can also help carry out the treatments according to the plans delegated b the professionals. I guess I have to keep that in mind in case the hand physiotherapy treatment clinic that I will go to has a lot of patients. So there might be assistants there to be doing some aspects of the procedures while the professional is catering to other patients with a more severe issue.

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