When you go to see a physiotherapist you may have part of your treatment carries out by a physiotherapy assistant or physiotherapy aide. We call these people support personnel. Support personnel work under the direction of the physiotherapist and can perform part of the treatment program that the physiotherapist has designed with your consent. Support personnel will have received appropriate training in any treatment technique they are performing. Physiotherapists can only assign a treatment task to a support person if they have determined the support person is competent to perform the task safely and effectively.
Physiotherapy assistants are usually graduates of community college programs.
The physiotherapist is ultimately responsible for all aspects of your physiotherapy care. If you have any questions or concerns about any aspect of your physiotherapy care you can speak to the physiotherapist.