Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Physical Therapist Assistant
What physical therapist assistants actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
Review the day’s patients, plans of care and notes from the physical therapist. From there, the day usually includes carry out treatment plans written by the physical therapist, lead therapeutic exercise and stretching sessions, and train patients in walking, transfers and assistive devices. Most PTAs work full-time weekdays. Outpatient clinics often have early morning and evening hours, and hospitals and nursing facilities may include weekends.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a physical therapist assistant working full time.
- Review the day’s patients, plans of care and notes from the physical therapist.
- Lead a post-knee replacement patient through range-of-motion and strengthening exercises.
- Do balance training with an older adult who has had several falls.
- Teach a patient to use crutches safely on stairs.
- Apply electrical stimulation and ice after a shoulder exercise session.
- Update a home exercise program with handouts and teach-back.
- Finish daily notes and discuss a patient’s slow progress with the PT.
Where physical therapist assistants work
PTAs work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, skilled nursing and rehab facilities, schools and patients’ homes. The job is physical: you stand, kneel, lift and guard patients for much of the day.
Hours and schedule
Most PTAs work full-time weekdays. Outpatient clinics often have early morning and evening hours, and hospitals and nursing facilities may include weekends.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Carry out treatment plans written by the physical therapist
- Lead therapeutic exercise and stretching sessions
- Train patients in walking, transfers and assistive devices
- Apply modalities such as heat, ice and electrical stimulation
- Teach home exercise programs
- Measure and document patient progress
- Communicate changes to the supervising physical therapist
Tools you’ll use every day
- Gait belts and parallel bars
- Walkers, canes and crutches
- Resistance bands and weights
- Treadmills and exercise bikes
- Electrical stimulation and ultrasound units
- Goniometers
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Fast job growth
- See patients improve week by week
- Associate degree leads to solid pay
- Active, hands-on workday
What’s hard
- Physically demanding lifting and guarding
- Heavy documentation
- Limited advancement without more school
- Patients may be in pain or discouraged
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I like helping people get better over time
- I enjoy exercise and how the body moves
- I’m encouraging when people struggle
- I’m comfortable with physical, hands-on work
- I can follow a plan and adjust within it
- I want a healthcare career with a two-year degree
Not sure? Take the free Physical Therapist Assistant fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Use gait belts and proper guarding for every mobility task
- Check vital signs when patients have cardiac or blood pressure concerns
- Use good body mechanics and ask for help with heavy patients
- Clean equipment between patients