A PTA, or physical therapy assistant, works with patients receiving physical therapy due to injury, surgery, or a chronic condition. They provide care under the direction of a primary physical therapist. Patients are assigned a series of exercises and stretches, depending on what needs to be treated. As a PTA, you set up therapies, such as heat therapy, for the patients to enable them to relax their muscles and reduce pain. You then instruct the patients on how to perform the treatments prescribed by their doctor and the physical therapist. Some examples of exercises used during physical therapy include pedaling on a stationary bike, arm lifts on a weight machine, or forward lunges. You follow the patient from station to station, ensuring they have proper form, and document their progress.