Provider Spotlight
Tanea Spanton is a Physical Therapy Assistant at Body One Physical Therapy, who graduated from the University of Indianapolis in 2015. After graduating, she worked for two years at the IU University Hospital with pre- and post-transplant patients. Tanea spent time in Florida working at a specialty practice focused on the hand, where she gained knowledge working under the hand therapy specialist. Tanea knew she wanted to work in an outpatient setting, rather than a nursing home or hospital, and work in a patient-centered setting. When Tanea talked with Dr. Brian Pease at Body One Physical Therapy, and learned about the continuing education, residency program, and amount of time spent dedicated to patients, she knew it was where she wanted to be.
As a PTA, Tanea is an extension of the Physical Therapist. While unable to perform the initial exam or to develop the plan-of-care, PTAs like Tanea function in every other way as a PT would. She has a broad education, and is further trained by working with the more specialized physical therapists. PTAs can treat any condition a patient comes in with, and a patient seeing a PTA will receive the same type of care as they would from a PT. If a PTA thinks the patient is responding faster or slower to the treatment plan, s/he can discuss the plan with the Physical Therapist to see if the patient should be re-assessed at that time. A PTA like Tanea works closely and communicates with both patients and Physical Therapists to ensure the client progresses well in treatment.
Tanea says that although she may be more knowledgeable in some areas after working under specializing Physical Therapists, she just loves treating people – period! She enjoys working with older adults, sport injuries, and everything in between. Tanea also shares her passion for helping patients by being an adjunct clinical instructor at UIndy, and providing real-world help and training to PTA students. When Tanea isn’t teaching PTA students or helping patients at Body One, she and her husband have plenty of hobbies to stay busy. They love NFL and hockey games, going to concerts and festivals, traveling to tropical islands for get-away vacations, and spending time with Rex, their Boxer.