Physical therapy assistants and aides help patients work on those skills. Assistants instruct patients on activities. For example, they may teach patients the proper way to lift weights. They also give treatments such as massages, hot or cold packs, and traction. Assistants may measure patients' flexibility and range of motion before and after treatment.
Assistants monitor and keep records of patients' progress.
If patients have difficulty with their programs, then assistants talk to the therapist. Physical therapy aides also work for physical therapists. They are not licensed, so their duties are limited. They keep treatment areas clean and organized. Aides gather equipment that will be needed during therapy sessions.