(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any person from acting within the scope of a license issued to that person under any other law; provided that the person shall not claim to be a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant, or that the person is performing physical therapy or physical therapy services.

Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 461J-3

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Educational institution: means public schools as defined under chapter 302A, privately operated schools of lower education, and colleges, the University of Hawaii, and other universities. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 461J-1
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Physical therapist: means a person who is licensed to practice physical therapy in this State. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 461J-1
  • Physical therapist assistant: means a person who is licensed as a physical therapist assistant in the State and assists the physical therapist in selected components of treatment or intervention. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 461J-1
  • physical therapy services: means the examination, treatment, and instruction of human beings to detect, assess, prevent, correct, alleviate, and limit physical disability, bodily malfunction, pain from injury, disease, and any other physical or mental condition as performed by a physical therapist appropriately licensed under this chapter. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 461J-1
  • Practice of physical therapy: includes , but is not limited to, the use of the following:

    (1) Physical agents, such as heat, cold, water, air, sound, compression, light, electricity, and electromagnetic radiation;

    (2) Exercise with or without devices, joint mobilization, mechanical stimulation; biofeedback; postural drainage; traction; positioning, massage, splinting, training in locomotion, and other functional activities with or without assisting devices; and correction of posture, body mechanics, and gait;

    (3) Tests and measurements of: muscle strength, force, endurance, and tone; joint motion, mobility, and stability; reflexes and automatic reaction; movement skill and accuracy; sensation and perception; peripheral nerve integrity; locomotor skill, stability, and endurance; activities of daily living; cardiac, pulmonary, and vascular functions; the fit, function, and comfort of prosthetic, orthotic, and other assisting devices; posture and body mechanics; limb strength, circumference, and volume; thoracic excursion and breathing patterns; vital signs; nature and locus of pain and conditions under which pain varies; photosensitivity; and the home and work physical environments. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 461J-1

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit students in an educational program for physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, or physical therapist support personnel from participating in activities that are conducted as part of the educational program and are under the guidance and direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a person licensed as a physical therapist or as a physical therapist assistant in another state or foreign country from practicing physical therapy in this State if the person is part of an educational demonstration or instructional program or seminar sponsored by an educational institution, hospital, medical care program, the Hawaii Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, or any other similar person or group, for the duration of the program or seminar and confined to the purpose of the program or seminar.
(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit an individual from acting as an athletic trainer under chapter 436H.
(e) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who is practicing in the United States Armed Services, United States Public Health Service, or Department of Veteran Affairs pursuant to federal regulations for state licensure of healthcare providers from practicing as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant; provided that if the person, while federally employed as a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant, engages in the practice of physical therapy outside the course and scope of the person’s federal employment, the person shall be required to obtain a license in accordance with this chapter.
(f) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a physical therapist who is licensed in a jurisdiction of the United States or another country from engaging in the practice of physical therapy if that person by contract or employment is providing physical therapy to individuals affiliated with or employed by established athletic teams, athletic organizations, or performing arts companies that temporarily practice, compete, or perform in the State for no more than sixty days in a calendar year.