Description
Assess, plan, and deliver evidence-based rehabilitation for musculoskeletal injuries and post-operative conditions to restore mobility and strength, relieve pain, and return patients to work, sport, and daily activities.
- • Plan and implement individualized orthopedic rehabilitation programs to restore function, relieve pain, and prevent re-injury.
- • Perform and document orthopedic initial evaluations to identify impairments and establish a plan of care.
- • Reassess outcomes and modify interventions according to healing timelines and patient response.
- • Provide manual therapy, including joint and soft-tissue mobilization, and prescribe therapeutic exercise.
- • Instruct patients and caregivers in home exercise programs, body mechanics, and joint protection.
- • Collaborate with orthopedic surgeons, primary care providers, and athletic trainers to coordinate care and protocols.
- • Review referrals, imaging reports, and surgical notes to guide treatment within scope.
- • Document goals, prognosis, interventions, and progress in the medical record.
- • Obtain informed consent and explain risks, benefits, and alternatives of proposed interventions.
- • Discharge patients when goals or protocol milestones are achieved and arrange follow-up or referrals.
- • Test and measure range of motion, strength, joint mobility, gait, balance, and functional capacity; record outcome measures.
- • Set measurable goals, anticipated progress, and timelines for reevaluation.
- • Educate patients on their condition, activity modification, and return-to-sport or return-to-work criteria.
- • Direct, supervise, and communicate with physical therapist assistants and rehab support staff.
- • Apply therapeutic modalities such as cryotherapy, heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, or traction as indicated.
- • Teach and mentor students in orthopedic physical therapy practice.
- • Evaluate, fit, and adjust braces, splints, orthotics, and assistive devices; coordinate modifications with orthotists.
- • Provide education on injury prevention, ergonomics, lifting techniques, and health promotion in clinics or the community.
- • Refer patients to community resources or other providers when additional services are needed.
- • Integrate current research and clinical guidelines into practice; participate in quality improvement or research projects.
- • Lead group classes for prehabilitation, joint replacement education, or post-operative rehabilitation.
- • Fabricate or modify simple supports, taping, and exercise aids as needed.
- • Screen for red flags and refer to appropriate practitioners for conditions outside orthopedic physical therapy.
- • Provide gait training and instruction in safe use of crutches, canes, or walkers after lower-extremity injury or surgery.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
