(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as allowing physical therapists to practice medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, chiropractic or nursing.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 63-13-104

  • Physical therapist assistant: means a person who meets the requirements of this chapter for licensure as a physical therapist assistant and who performs physical therapy procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated only by the supervising physical therapist. See Tennessee Code 63-13-103
  • Physical therapy: means the care and services provided by or under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist who is licensed pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 63-13-103
  • Practice of physical therapy: means , whether by in-person encounter or via telehealth, telemedicine, or provider-based telemedicine, as authorized by §. See Tennessee Code 63-13-103
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b)

(1) Except as provided in § 63-13-303, the scope of practice of physical therapy is under the written or oral referral of a licensed:

(A) Doctor of medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, podiatry, or osteopathy; or
(B) Nurse practitioner or physician assistant pursuant to § 63-6-204(b).
(2) The scope of practice of physical therapy shall not include the performance of treatment where the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant uses direct thrust to move a joint of the patient’s spine beyond its normal range of motion without exceeding the limits of anatomical integrity.
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