National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

What is the role of the physical therapist assistant for a student with severe disabilities?

1. Reassess the student's strength and skills weekly

2. Recommend discharge from physical therapy

3. Help implement appropriate activities

4. Provide therapeutic intervention as indicated

The correct answer is: Help implement appropriate activities

The role of the physical therapist assistant (PTA) in the context of a student with severe disabilities primarily revolves around helping to implement appropriate activities that are guided by the physical therapist's plan of care. This function is crucial as it emphasizes the assistant's responsibility to support the student's rehabilitation and functional improvement through hands-on assistance and the facilitation of therapeutic exercises or activities that align with the goals set by the supervising physical therapist. This aspect of the PTA's role entails not just following orders but actively engaging with the student to ensure that the activities are appropriately tailored to their abilities and needs. Such activities may include exercises that enhance strength, flexibility, and coordination, as well as tasks that help the student achieve greater independence in daily living skills. By working closely with the student, the PTA can modify activities as necessary based on the individual’s responses and progress, ensuring that therapy remains effective and person-centered. In considering the other options, reassessing the student’s strength and skills weekly would typically fall under the purview of the physical therapist rather than the assistant, since it requires clinical decision-making and adjustments to the treatment plan. Recommending discharge from physical therapy involves a level of clinical judgment that the PTA is not generally authorized to make, as discharge decisions are typically