The physical therapist assistant is prohibited from performing which of the following tasks?

The physical therapist assistant (PTA) operates under the supervision and directive of a licensed physical therapist (PT). In Ohio, as well as in many other states, PTAs have specific scopes of practice that delineate what tasks they can and cannot perform independently.

The prohibition against completing pre-operative instructions or crutch fitting and training prior to the physical therapist's evaluation is rooted in the necessity of a comprehensive assessment performed by a PT before any treatment plan can be developed or initiated. This allows the therapist to determine the appropriate interventions tailored to the patient’s specific needs.

Initiating standing orders by a physician also falls outside the PTA's scope of practice. Standing orders are directives that allow healthcare professionals to implement specified procedures or treatments without direct authorization from a physician for each individual case. However, PTAs are not authorized to initiate such orders; they must work within the framework established by the PT in collaboration with the physician.

Consequently, since all the tasks listed are prohibited for a PTA to perform independently, the correct answer encompasses the entirety of these activities, affirming the necessity of adherence to regulatory guidelines concerning PTA roles and responsibilities.