PT vs PTA
What does PTA stand for?
Physical Therapist Assistant
PTA's work with the elderly population at a facility that takes care of them 24/7. This job setting is?
Nursing homes
This class helps you learn to read and write at a college level. You might be able to take this course in high school as a dual enrolled student!
English Composition
Everyone up! Do a squat and hold it for 3 seconds.
In physical therapy, a patient may have to do this 8 times and repeat 3 sets. This is an example of ___?
Exercise (Therex)
Do you love kids and want to "play" all day? You can work with kids of all types! What is this specialization type?
Pediatrics
To become a _______, you need a 4 year Bachelor of Science degree and an additional 3 year Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree.
Physical Therapist
In this setting, a PTA provides care to all sorts of people. Some examples are patients after surgery, patients after car accidents, patients who need special machines (ventilators, IV bags with medicine, heart monitoring).
Hospitals
This course is aimed to help you understand how the human mind works and how individuals behave.
Psychology
Everyone stand on one leg! We work in therapy a LOT on this.
What are we working on?
Balance
Lots of people have car accidents, falls, and other injuries that effect the brain and spinal cord. What is this specialization type?
Neurology
To become a ________, you can earn your Associate of Science degree in 2 years.
Physical Therapist Assistant
In this setting, PTAs provide help to young athletes and even students with special needs.
Hint: Where YOU go Monday through Friday (except summer time!)
Schools
Some people think this class is hard! Others really enjoy it because they love science! You are taught some things you probably are learning now... Example: What are parts of a plant cell?
Biology
Everyone up! Bend over and touch your toes. Try to reach further...
What are you doing that many patients need during therapy to help gain more range of motion?
Stretching
Have you ever broken a bone? So have tons of others! You can work with people who even have fake hips and knees! What is this specialization type?
Orthopedics
A _______ is the person you meet with at your first therapy appointment. This person evaluates what is wrong to make a diagnosis and a plan of care on how to get the patient back to normal functioning.
Physical Therapist
PTAs are often contacted to provide educational training to employees to help on topics such as correct posture at a desk all day to help reduce shoulder and back pain.
Workplace/Offices
If you love this class, you might really love being a PTA! You learn ALL about the body... Cells, Muscles, Bones, Systems, etc.
Anatomy and Physiology
Physical therapy modalities are great for sore muscles, pain, and to help increase circulation. What are some types of therapeutic modalities used in physical therapy?
Therapeutic Massage, Ice, Heat, E-stim.
How many of you watch NFL, NBA, MLB? Did you know you could work with professional athletes to help treat and prevent injuries? What is this specialization type?
Sports Medicine
Who does more "hands on" therapy (exercising, stretching, ect.) with a patient during therapy?
The PTAs :)
In this setting, a PTA would see a wide variety of injuries and types of patients.
Hint: You don't sleep there
Outpatient Clinics
This course teaches you to understand long, unpronounceable medical words! For example:
"Hemiplegia"
"Hemi" - meaning half, "plegia" - meaning paralysis
Therefore, if a patient was experiencing hemiplegia, you would know they are paralyzed on one side of their body.
Medical Terminology
Patients can have serious injuries that take a long time to heal. Believe it or not, your body might have to be taught how to "work properly" all over again. What are some "automatic" daily activities PTAs have to help teach patients again?
Walking (Gait), Sitting, Breathing, Standing, Rolling out of bed
Do you love the pool? Did you know you can do physical therapy and exercise in the pool with just swimming a bunch of laps? A specialization involving water therapy is known as?
Aquatic Therapy