South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 101 - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION- STATE BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINERS
Article 6 - STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
Section 101-10 - Use of Aides in the Practice of Physical Therapy
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024
Aides are non-licensed personnel who assist the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant but whose duties do not require an understanding of physical therapy or formal training in anatomical, biological, or physical sciences. Education or training of the physical therapy aide shall not exceed the scope of activities described in Section 40-45-290. Aides are not to be assigned duties that may be performed only by a licensed physical therapist or licensed physical therapist assistant. When aides are utilized in the treatment of patients, the following guidelines shall apply:
(1) when applying hydrotherapy, heat or cold treatments, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may allow an aide to assist patients in dressing and undressing, drape and position the patient in preparation for treatment, clean and fill the whirlpool, attend the patient during treatment, wrap the patient's extremities after a paraffin bath, and place the hot packs on the patient; and
(2) when applying electrotherapy, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may allow an aide to prepare the area to be treated and to prepare equipment and apply electrodes as specified by the physical therapist and physical therapist assistant; and
(3) when applying traction, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may allow an aide to prepare the patient for treatment, position the patient, and apply the cervical or pelvic harness; and
(4) when applying therapeutic exercise, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may allow an aide to set up the patient's exercise equipment, prepare the equipment, and give the patient established amount of weights for resistive exercise; and
(5) when applying gait training, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may allow an aide to prepare equipment such as crutches, walkers, parallel bars, and braces and to assist the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in gait training of the patient.
