Physical therapy and occupational therapy treatment are two types of rehabilitative care. It’s tough to select between occupational therapy and physical therapy. There are some critical differences between the professions. PT focuses on rehabilitating injuries, whereas OT focuses on helping individuals perform day-to-activities independently.
Occupational and physical therapy are valuable lines of work to enter into. Still, it’s essential to understand the pros and cons of each before deciding which is the right healthcare career path for you. The main difference between occupational therapy & physical therapy is that occupational therapy focuses on improving a client’s ability to perform activities of daily living and physical therapy aims at boosting a client’s ability to perform a movement of the human body.
This blog will take a closer look at both types of therapies, their benefits, and how they differ.
What do Occupational Therapists do?
What makes occupational therapy different is that occupational therapists treat the whole person- not just one issue. Whether they assist those recovering from injuries or with developmental or cognitive disabilities affecting their motor skills, emotions or behavior, OTs are helping people fully engage in daily life.
Occupational therapy treatment uses a holistic approach to examine why a client’s participation in activities has been affected and the client’s roles and environment.
The approach focuses on three areas:
- Wellness promotion
- Rehabilitation
- Habilitation
What do physical Therapists do?
In contrast, a physical therapist treats the patient’s impairment from a biomechanical perspective. Physical therapy improves the impairment by increasing mobility, aligning bones and joints, or lessening pain.
Physical therapists aim to intercept injuries or get their patients back in motion with exercises, massage, and other techniques. They focus on preventing injuries and can help people avoid surgery or a long term-reliance on medications.
This approach is necessary and can lead to fulfilling activities, but a PT’s primary goal is to rehabilitate an injury, not the entire patient.
What are the key differences?
Physical therapy concentrates on helping improve your movement, mobility, and function. A physical therapist may do this by doing exercises, stretches, or other physical activities.
For example, a person who has had knee replacement surgery may visit a physical therapist as part of their recovery. The physical therapist will work with the patient to help strengthen their knowledge and increase the range of motion in their knee joint. This can help them move more efficiently with less pain and discomfort.
Occupational therapy treatment focuses on helping you perform daily tasks more quickly. This therapy focuses on improving your fine and gross motor skills to carry out specific day-to-day activities. The occupational therapist will also focus on making regular exercise more optimal for your everyday life.
For example, an occupational therapist may help someone recovering from a stroke clean up how to do daily tasks.
What are the similarities?
Despite their differences, there are some ways that PT and OT are similar. These include:
- Conditions: There is considerable overlap with the health conditions for which both therapies may be recommended.
- Design: Both types of treatment provide hands-on care tailored to the patient’s specific needs.
- Tasks: There can be some overlap in the functions performed. For example, occupational therapists may also teach stretches or exercises. Physical therapists may work on movements to help with daily activities.
- Goals: Both types of therapy set goals and assess your progress as you work to achieve them.
- Purpose: Physical therapy and occupational therapy treatment both aim to improve your overall functioning, quality of life, and knowledge about how to maintain your health and well-being.
What type of therapy can you expect?
The therapy you will receive will be tailored to your specific needs. The physical therapist will carefully analyze your medical history and current health condition to develop a plan and goals for your therapy.
Physical therapists use a variety of techniques, including:
- Targeted exercises
- Stretching
- Hands-on manipulation
- Application of hot and cold
- Massage
When is occupation therapy needed?
OT may be suggested when a condition or illness affects your ability to do various day-to-day tasks. Some examples of conditions that OT may be used for include:
- Recovery from an injury or surgery
- Pain management
- Neurological conditions
- Joint conditions
- Hand conditions
When is physical therapy needed?
PT is often recommended when a condition affects your movement or range of motion. PT can be used for:
- Improving mobility after an injury
- Recovery following a surgical procedure
- Pain management
- Joint conditions
- Heart conditions
- Cancer
Which therapy to choose?
You may consider a physical therapist if you have a condition affecting your ability to walk or move a body part without pain. They can work with you to reduce pain, exercise, stretches, and other methods.
Or maybe you have noticed difficulty performing daily tasks, such as picking up objects or getting dressed. In this scenario, working with an occupational therapist could help improve the motor skills needed for these specific tasks.
But all above, whether benefits of occupational therapy, it’s essential to talk to your doctor about the right therapy. They can help advise you on the benefits of each treatment and which one is suitable for your specific needs.
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