# Physical Therapists

> Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.

- Code: 29-1123.00 (O*NET-SOC; SOC 2018 29-1123)
- Family: [Healthcare Practitioners](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations#family-29), one of its 96 occupations
- Tasks: 24 tasks (23 core and 1 supplemental)
- Page: https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/29-1123.00
- JSON: https://foundation.org.ai/data/tasks/29-1123.00.json

## What the work is made of

1. Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.  
   Core task · Task 363 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
2. Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.  
   Core task · Task 364 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
3. Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.  
   Core task · Task 370 · Rated by 75 people who do the job, August 2020
4. Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.  
   Core task · Task 367 · Rated by 75 people who do the job, August 2020
5. Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.  
   Core task · Task 365 · Rated by 75 people who do the job, August 2020
6. Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.  
   Core task · Task 368 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
7. Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.  
   Core task · Task 366 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
8. Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.  
   Core task · Task 371 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
9. Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.  
   Core task · Task 373 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
10. Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.  
   Core task · Task 377 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
11. Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.  
   Core task · Task 369 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
12. Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.  
   Core task · Task 374 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
13. Provide information to the patient about the proposed intervention, its material risks and expected benefits, and any reasonable alternatives.  
   Core task · Task 375 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
14. Provide educational information about physical therapy or physical therapists, injury prevention, ergonomics, or ways to promote health.  
   Core task · Task 381 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
15. Inform patients and refer to appropriate practitioners when diagnosis reveals findings outside physical therapy.  
   Core task · Task 20407 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
16. Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.  
   Core task · Task 372 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
17. Administer treatment involving application of physical agents, using equipment, moist packs, ultraviolet or infrared lamps, or ultrasound machines.  
   Core task · Task 378 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
18. Refer clients to community resources or services.  
   Core task · Task 382 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
19. Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices.  
   Core task · Task 385 · Rated by 75 people who do the job, August 2020
20. Evaluate, fit, or adjust prosthetic or orthotic devices or recommend modification to orthotist.  
   Core task · Task 380 · Rated by 75 people who do the job, August 2020
21. Teach physical therapy students or those in other health professions.  
   Core task · Task 379 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
22. Conduct or support research and apply research findings to practice.  
   Core task · Task 383 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020
23. Participate in community or community agency activities or help to formulate public policy.  
   Core task · Task 384 · Rated by 75 people who do the job, August 2020
24. Direct group rehabilitation activities.  
   Supplemental task · Task 386 · Rated by 76 people who do the job, August 2020

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## Where this comes from

Quoted from O*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0: free to copy and reuse, with credit. Nothing on this page is written by the Org.AI Foundation.
