Physical Therapist Assistant Health, Medicine, Nursing Research Paper (Research Paper Sample)

Physical Therapist Assistants
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Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) are health care providers who work as part of a team to provide physical therapy services under the supervision of licensed therapists. They assist individuals of all ages from young to old who have medical problems that deter them from performing their daily chores. They also teach patients how to exercise in order to enhance their mobility, strength and coordination. They examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote movement, reduce pain, and restore function. In addition, they develop fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier living (American Physical Therapy Assocation, 2015).
The physical therapist assistant profession has a scope of practice, which is dynamic, growing with evidence, societal needs and education. It has three components, which include professional, jurisdictional and personal (American Physical Therapy Assocation, 2015). The professional scope is defined as a practice that is grounded in the profession’s typical field supported by educational preparation, based on a body of proof, and linked to emerging practice frameworks. The jurisdictional scope of practice is established by a state's practice act controlling the specific physical therapist’s license, and the regulations adopted should comply with that act. Finally, the personal scope of practice is made up of activities that are undertaken by an individual physical therapist and located within a physical therapist’s exclusive body of knowledge where the individual is trained, educated, and competent to perform that activity.