Physical Therapy Aide

Help people get back on their feet.

The physical therapy aide plays an important part in helping people recover from injuries, improving their mobility, resuming their active lives and returning to their jobs.

The Cengage Education Physical Therapy Aide course gives students the skills they need to work with other medical professionals in physical therapy offices, hospitals, clinics and schools.

You’ll learn how to prepare a treatment room and make sure patients are performing their prescribed exercises correctly.

The course is a useful starting point on the path to becoming a fully qualified physical therapist.

On completion of your course:

Upon completion of this course you will be awarded a Cengage Education Physical Therapy Aide Certificate.

Key areas of learning:

  • Introduction to physical therapy aide
  • The physical therapy aide
  • Medical & body systems terminology
  • Common physical disorders
  • Physical therapy treatments
  • Exercise & mobility training
  • Customer service
  • Workplace health & safety
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Course Number 49400
Course Type Correspondence
Course Duration Max 18 months
Study Hours Approx 110 hrs
Qualification Cengage Certificate

Prerequisites

No previous knowledge or experience is required to take this course.

Assessment details

  • 9 multiple choice exams

Extra learning materials included

  • Introduction to Medical Terminology - Textbook
  • Medical Dictionary
  • Body Systems Terminology - Tape
  • Exercise and the Physical Therapy Aide - Video
  • Terminology flash cards

Subjects You’ll Cover

Introduction to physical therapy aide

  • This subject focuses on the history & achievements of the physical therapy profession. It also discusses the typical responsibilities & clinical duties of an
    aide today.

The physical therapy aide

  • Responsibilities of an aide
  • Administrative & clinical tasks
  • Effective communication
  • Inventory control & maintenance procedures
  • Appropriate level of aide supervision

Medical & body systems terminology

  • Prefixes, suffixes & combining forms
  • Medical terms
  • The human body
  • Anatomical position, directional terms, planes, quadrants & regions
  • Body cavities

Common physical disorders

  • Common dysfunctions, disorders & conditions of the musculoskeletal system
  • The inflammatory process post injury
  • Osteoarthritis & rheumatoid arthritis
  • Function of the vertebral disk
  • Predisposing factors for osteoporosis
  • Effects & common locations of a hernia

Physical therapy treatments

  • Utilising heat in the treatment of patients
  • Superficial heat modalities

Exercise & mobility training

  • Body mechanics
  • Appropriate techniques for bending, lifting, reaching, pulling, transferring & moving objects
  • The centre of gravity, base support & pelvic tilt

Customer service

  • Definition of customer service
  • Ensuring that quality care is being provided
  • Customer service skills
  • Customers, patients & personnel
  • Factors that may affect the interaction with patients
  • The importance of communicating effectively in a health care setting

Workplace health & safety

  • Safety in the workplace
  • Temperature, humidity & ventilation
  • Lighting, colour & noise
  • The importance of patient privacy in the healing process
  • Potential accidents & hazards in the health care environment
  • Fall prevention techniques & tips