What Will You Gain from Physical Therapist Assistant Programs?

When people have injuries or ailments, they may need to see a physical therapist to help them with functional activities in their daily lives that are often taken for granted. Physical therapy assistants play a hands-on role in helping patients regain strength and mobility in areas of their body that are weak. If your passion is helping people recover from a variety of physical ailments, then Physical Therapist Assistant programs, or PTA programs, may be the first step in achieving such a worthwhile goal. 

The knowledge and understanding that you’ll gain by enrolling in a PTA program could help add value to your own life because of the role you’ll play in helping others. You’ll be trained to administer various therapeutic exercises to the patients you’ll be working with, while also teaching, coaching, and encouraging them to perform these exercises on their own to the best of their ability. 

A physical therapist assistant can also help patients get properly fitted for the use of canes, leg braces, walkers or crutches, while also being trained to properly adjust these devices when necessary. Lastly, enrolling in a PTA program will help prepare you to work in a wide range of both clinical and non-clinical settings. Physical therapy assistants work in outpatient clinics, nursing homes, sports training facilities, and even schools.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, as the population gets older and the demand for physical therapy services increases, “employment of physical therapy assistants and aids is projected to grow 40 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations.” Enrolling in a physical therapy assistant program could help you get in on an exciting and growing field. 

Bay State’s physical therapist assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), and will give you the hands-on, practical experience that can help you become a valued asset to your future patients.