(1) Physical therapy or physiotherapy. — Treatment of any disability, injury, illness or other condition of health, or the prevention of such disability, injury, illness or other condition of health in the human being, and his rehabilitation, by the use of the physical, chemical and other properties, of heat or cold, light, water, electricity, sound, massage and therapeutic exercises, which include posture and rehabilitation procedures; as well as the administration of neuromuscular tests to aid the diagnosis or treatment of any human condition. For purposes of this chapter, “physical therapy or physiotherapy” does not include the use of radiology or of electricity for surgical purposes, including cauterization.
(2) Physical therapist or physiotherapist. — A professional related to the health field who applies physiotherapy or physical therapy following the diagnosis and prescription or the referral of a physician authorized to practice medicine in Puerto Rico.
(3) Board. — The Board of Physical Therapy of Puerto Rico, as established in § 243 of this title.
(4) Physical therapy assistant. — A person who has obtained an associate degree in physical therapy and who, under the direction and direct supervision of a physical therapist duly licensed by the Board, carries out activities related to physical therapy delegated to him by the latter. The work carried out by the physical therapist assistant shall not include those complicated procedures requiring greater specialization nor shall it include clinical evaluations of the patient nor the planning or evaluation of the patient’s treatment.
History —June 29, 1962, No. 114, p. 337, § 1; May 28, 1970, No. 41, p. 97, § 1; May 30, 1976, No. 79, p. 245, § 1.