Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and decrease or prevent deformity of patients suffering from disease or injury.

• Physical Therapist

• Administer manual exercises, massage or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
• Administer treatment involving application of physical agents, using equipment, moist packs, ultraviolet and infrared lamps, and ultrasound machines.
• Conduct and support research and apply research findings to practice.
• Confer with the patient, medical practitioners and appropriate others to plan, implement and assess the intervention program.
• Construct, maintain and repair medical supportive devices.
• Direct group rehabilitation activities.
• Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.
• Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.
• Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
• Evaluate, fit, and adjust prosthetic and orthotic devices and recommend modification to orthotist.
• Identify and document goals, anticipated progress and plans for reevaluation.
• Inform patients when diagnosis reveals findings outside physical therapy and refer to appropriate practitioners.
• Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
• Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
• Participate in community and community agency activities and help to formulate public policy.
• Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
• Plan, prepare and carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain and prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
• Provide educational information about physical therapy and physical therapists, injury prevention, ergonomics and ways to promote health.
• Provide information to the patient about the proposed intervention, its material risks and expected benefits and any reasonable alternatives.
• Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
• Refer clients to community resources and services.
• Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
• Teach physical therapy students as well as those in other health professions.
• Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, and respiratory and circulatory efficiency and record data.

• administer medications or treatments
• analyze medical data
• analyze patient activity
• apply traction
• assess therapy needs of patients
• assist patient to improve or develop work skills
• communicate technical information
• construct medical supportive devices
• coordinate patient activities with rehabilitation team
• direct and coordinate treatment program activities
• document medical prognosis
• encourage patients to participate in activities
• evaluate patient response to therapy
• fit medical supportive devices
• follow dental or medical office procedures
• identify body response variations
• maintain records, reports, or files
• maintain therapy equipment
• make presentations on health or medical issues
• observe patient condition
• obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
• perform safety inspections in health care setting
• plan therapy treatment program
• position patient for therapy
• practice preventive procedures in medical therapy setting
• take vital signs
• teach medical self care
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use clinical problem solving techniques
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use massage therapy procedures
• use medical equipment in direct patient care
• use physical therapy equipment or materials
• use physical therapy techniques
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses