Acute Care - The stage of illness or injury characterized by actual or reasonable potential for a rapid change in medical status that would affect the physical therapy plan of care.

Assessment - Observational, verbal, or manual determinations of the function of the musculoskeletal or neuromuscular system relative to physical therapy, including, but not limited to, range of motion of a joint, motor power, postural attitudes, biomechanical function, locomotion, or functional abilities, for the purpose of making recommendations for treatment.

Board - The Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice.

Consultation - The offering of information aimed at the resolution of perceived problem.

Department - The Department of Health.

Direction - The PT’s authorization and empowerment of a PTA or unlicensed personnel to carry out actions requiring licensure.

Direct Supervision - Supervision by a PT who is licensed in Florida. Except in a case of emergency, direct supervision requires the physical presence of the licensed PT for consultation and direction of the actions of a PT or PTA who is practicing under a temporary permit and who is a candidate for licensure by examination.

Dry Needling - A skilled intervention, based on Western medicine, that uses filiform needles and other apparatus or equipment to stimulate a myofascial trigger point for the evaluation and management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, pain, movement impairments, and disabilities.

General Supervision - Supervision of a PTA, other than by direct supervision, whereby the PT is accessible at all times by two-way communication, available, to respond to an inquiry when made and readily available for consultation during the delivery of care and is within the same geographic location as the PTA.

License - The document of authorization granted by the board and issued by the department for a person to engage in the practice of physical therapy.

Myofascial Trigger Point - An irritable section of soft tissue often associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers.

Physical Therapist - A person who is licensed and who practices physical therapy in Florida.

Physical Therapy Assistant - A person who is licensed perform patient-related activities, including the use of physical agents, whose license is in good standing, and whose activities are performed under the direction of a PT.

Physical Therapy Practitioner - A PT or a PTA who is licensed and who practices physical therapy in Florida.

Physical Therapy Assessment - Observational, verbal, or manual determinations of the function of the movement system relative to physical therapy, including, but not limited to, range of motion of a joint, motor power, motor control, posture, biomechanical function, locomotion, or functional abilities, for the purpose of physical therapy treatment.

Practice of Physical Therapy - The performance of physical therapy assessments and the treatment of any disability, injury, disease, or other health condition of human beings, or the prevention of such disability, injury, disease, or other health condition, and the rehabilitation of such disability, injury, disease, or other health condition by alleviating impairments, functional movement limitations, and disabilities by designing, implementing, and modifying treatment interventions through therapeutic exercise; functional movement training in self-management and in-home, community, or work integration or reintegration; manual therapy; massage; airway clearance techniques; maintaining and restoring the integumentary system and wound care; physical agent or modality; mechanical or electrotherapeutic modality; patient-related instruction; the use of apparatus and equipment in the application of such treatment, prevention, or rehabilitation; the performance of tests of neuromuscular functions as an aid to the diagnosis or treatment of any human condition; or the performance of electromyography as an aid to the diagnosis of any human condition only upon compliance with the criteria set forth by the Board of Medicine.

Program Plan - The establishment of objectives (goals) and specific remediation techniques.

Standards - Conditions and performances which are essential for quality physical therapy service and patient care.

Unlicensed Personnel - Any individual, working or volunteering in a physical therapy setting, not holding a current license as a PT or PTA.

Reference

Fla. Stat. § 486.021

Fla. Admin. Code § 64B17-6.001