Sports Medicine/Orthopedic Assistant

Therapy assistants help clients with rehabilitative activities and exercises outlined in a treatment plan developed in collaboration with an occupational therapist. Activities range from teaching the proper method of moving from a bed into a wheelchair, to teaching energy convservation and joint protection techniques. Occupational therapy assistants monitor an individual's activities to make sure they are performed correctly and to provide encouragement. They also record their client's progress for use by the occupational therapist. If the treatment is not having the intended effect, or the client is not improving as expected, the occupational therapist may alter the treatment program in hopes of obtaining better results. In addition, occupational therapy assistants document billing of the client's health insurance provider.