Welcome to the PTA website!

Physical Therapy is a health care profession which involves evaluation and treatment of individuals whose function is impaired or threatened by disease, disability or injury. Treatment interventions may include the use of exercise, electricity, heat or cold, massage, balance retraining, and gait training.

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Missouri Western State University is designed to prepare graduates to meet the requirements to practice as a PT Assistant in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes and home health. The student is awarded the Associate of Applied Science degree upon successful completion of the program.

As a PT Assistant, you are a member of a health care team working under the supervision and direction of a physical therapist. You may administer different kinds of treatment to decrease pain, including hot packs, ultrasound and electrical stimulation. Physical therapist assistants help patients perform exercises to increase strength and motion. They teach patients how to ambulate with assistive devices like crutches and canes, and instruct in walking with braces and artificial limbs. Excellent clinical skills and communication/interpersonal skills are essential for this career (see Essential Functions).