Skills – PTA Students

SKILLS – PTA STUDENTS

The following skills are covered within the Lake Superior College Physical Therapist Assistant Program (Traditional On-Campus Program).  An asterisk (*) indicates that student competence with the skill is assessed via skill check and/or practical exam.

Clinical instructors who teach skills not covered in the program are responsible to assess the student’s competence with the skill prior to patient treatment.

1ST YEAR PTA STUDENTS
SKILLS LEARNED FALL SEMESTER
 
PTA 1410
INTRO TO PT ASSISTING
PTA 1411
PROCEDURES for PTAs I
PTA 1431
THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE I
PTA 1460
FUNCTIONAL KINESIOLOGY I
 
Hand-washing* Infrared lamp* PROM* Activity analysis  
Transfers*
(standing pivot, squat pivot, sliding board)
Ultraviolet lamp* AAROM* Hip palpation*  
Bed positioning* (supine, prone, side-lying front, side-lying back) ICP/bandaging for edema* AROM* Knee palpation*  
Mechanical lift* Sensation testing* UE goniometry* Ankle and foot palpation*  
Bed mobility with draw sheet* Girth (circumferential measurements)* UE manual muscle testing* Shoulder palpation*  
Fitting gait device* Contrast Bath LE goniometry* Elbow palpation*  
Vital signs* Paraffin bath* LE manual muscle testing* Wrist and hand palpation*  
Tilt table* Cryotherapy* Neck and trunk ROM assessment (goniometry, tape measure, CROM device) Neck palpation*  
Standing frame* Moist heat* Neck and trunk MMT Lumbar and thoracic spine palpation*  
Gait training on level surfaces*
(2, 3, & 4-point; cane, crutches, walker)
Hand-held dynamometry  
Gait training on stairs*  Passive stretching, UE and LE*  
Transporting a patient in a wheelchair*  Passive stretching, neck and trunk  
Body mechanics*  Note: Neck/trunk ROM assessment, MMT and passive stretching assessed via skill check in PTA 1562 as part of spine unit  
An asterisk (*) indicates that student competence with the skill is assessed via skill check and/or practical exam.  

 

 1st YEAR PTA STUDENTS
SKILLS LEARNED SPRING SEMESTER
 

1st YEAR PTA STUDENTS

SKILLS LEARNED SPRING SEMESTER

PTA 1532
THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE II
PTA 1562
FUNCTIONAL KINESIOLOGY II
PTA 1512 PROCEDURES for PTAs II  

 

PTA 1564

Manual Therapy

Techniques

 

Manual resistance exercise* Data collection – normal gait* *Aseptic technique*  

Nerve Gliding

Mechanical resistance exercise* Data collection – abnormal gait* Ultrasound – direct contact*  

Joint Mobilization – Peripheral Joint

 

muscle stretching, active* (reciprocal inhibition, contract relax, contract relax contract) Hip palpation* Phonophoresis*  

Massage*

Balance and coordination exercises* Knee palpation* Ultrasound – immersion*  

STM – Spine*

Posture education* Ankle and foot palpation* CPM application* (peer check)  

STM – Extremities*

Circulation exercises Shoulder palpation* Mechanical cervical traction*  
Aerobic exercise Elbow palpation* Mechanical lumbar traction*  
Designing and teaching home exercise programs Wrist and hand palpation* Home traction units* (peer)  
Spine exercise protocols Neck palpation* Biofeedback*  
Post-surgical exercise programs and protocols Lumbar and thoracic spine palpation* Supportive taping*  
PNF diagonals* Measuring TMJ ROM Hydrotherapy, including cleaning whirlpool*  
Reflex testing (knee, ankle, elbow)  
Objective flexibility assessment Dynamic splints (will move to PTA 2651 in Fall 2014)  
 Activity analysis Short-wave diathermy* (athermal)  
Activities to improve UE and LE proprioception  
An asterisk (*) indicates that student competence with the skill is assessed via skill check and/or practical exam.  
 

2nd YEAR PTA STUDENTS
SKILLS LEARNED FALL SEMESTER

 
PTA 2651 ADVANCED PT TECHNIQUES PTA 2650 REHABILITATION AND FUNCTIONAL THERAPY PTA 2613 PROCEDURES for PTAS III  
Residual limb wrapping* Functional movement data collection Electrode placement*  
Pool therapy Facilitation techniques* TENS*  
Body mechanics for work tasks Inhibition techniques* D/C & iontophoresis*  
Job simulation Motor learning techniques Microcurrent*  
Cardiac rehab Wheelchair mobility Interferential current*  
Postural drainage* Balance assessments (i.e., Berg) High-voltage pulsatile current*  
Chest percussion* Balance exercises NMES/FES*  
Breathing exercises* Coma stimulation  
Coughing* Transfers for rehab diagnoses  
Relaxation techniques Gait training for rehab diagnoses  
Therapy ball exercises (will be incorporated into PTA 1532 in 2014-15) Adult positioning and handling*    
Dynamic splints  Pediatric positioning and handling*    

 

An asterisk (*) indicates that student competence with the skill is assessed via skill check and/or practical exam.