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What is the difference between physical and occupational therapy
I am a 21 year old male with a degree in Laboratory Science looking into switching career paths into physical or occupational therapy
#occupational-therapy #physical-therapy #medicine
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Gerald’s Answer
Physical therapy involves therapy to support a person's ability to move (walk, climb stairs, move from lying down to sitting up and back to lying down, moving from sitting to standing and back to sitting). If a patient is in a wheelchair, it's supporting the patient to move in a wheelchair. PT also focuses on strength, endurance, and range of motion.
Occupational therapy involves therapy to support a person's ability to perform their "activities of daily living", such as eating, going to the bathroom, transfers from standing to sitting on a toilet, showering or bathing, and putting on and off clothes. OT can also help with social skills, managing finances, and plan/organize one's daily life.
They are both very important for people who have a chronic condition that affects their ability to function. For example, someone who had a stroke, heart attack, a severe infection, or a major event like a fall or a motor vehicle accident. You would be working closely with people, and frequently, you would see immediate results as you help people recover from an injury or an illness.
Occupational therapy involves therapy to support a person's ability to perform their "activities of daily living", such as eating, going to the bathroom, transfers from standing to sitting on a toilet, showering or bathing, and putting on and off clothes. OT can also help with social skills, managing finances, and plan/organize one's daily life.
They are both very important for people who have a chronic condition that affects their ability to function. For example, someone who had a stroke, heart attack, a severe infection, or a major event like a fall or a motor vehicle accident. You would be working closely with people, and frequently, you would see immediate results as you help people recover from an injury or an illness.
As a P.T. I answer this question a lot. But, I think this is a very comprehensive breakdown and very well written.
Katrina Francis
Updated
Christi’s Answer
I am an occupational therapist.
In general, occupational therapists work more on fine motor skills and physical therapy works on gross motor.
In a school setting an OT will work on handwriting, a PT will work on walking.
In an outpatient therapy setting, a PT will work on the lower extremity typically and an OT will work in hand therapy.
In a hospital setting a PT will work on getting a patient out of bed and walking and an OT will work on getting them up and doing an activity that is important to them.
In general, occupational therapists work more on fine motor skills and physical therapy works on gross motor.
In a school setting an OT will work on handwriting, a PT will work on walking.
In an outpatient therapy setting, a PT will work on the lower extremity typically and an OT will work in hand therapy.
In a hospital setting a PT will work on getting a patient out of bed and walking and an OT will work on getting them up and doing an activity that is important to them.
Updated
Kristen’s Answer
I want to suggest a couple of resources that will provide some information for you to better understand the difference between Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy. Both of these disciplines are represented by national organizations that promote the profession.
You can search for: APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) and AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) to learn about what PTs and OTs do, information on salaries, education requirements, possible work settings.
I have been a Physical Therapist for 30 years and some things I like best about the profession include: working with people to improve their quality of life, working with other healthcare professionals in a hospital setting and the continuum of learning.
Good Luck!
You can search for: APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) and AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) to learn about what PTs and OTs do, information on salaries, education requirements, possible work settings.
I have been a Physical Therapist for 30 years and some things I like best about the profession include: working with people to improve their quality of life, working with other healthcare professionals in a hospital setting and the continuum of learning.
Good Luck!