How does occupational therapy differ from physical therapy




















View Larger Image. Written by. Kathy Mileski loves the idea of helping others be as mobile and active as they possibly can. She believes that every person has the potential to do amazing things. That belief bolstered by her training and experience has helped her clients to achieve success in their rehab goals no matter where they are in terms of their recovery.

Related Posts. Back Injury Prevention Program. The two practices are similar in many ways and have a lot of overlap between fields. The main difference is to recognize when trying to understand the difference between the two therapies is this: While occupational therapy strives to help people live as independently as possible, the goal of physical therapy is to assist an individual with pain relief and restoring motion and mobility.

So how do you decide which is right for you? In a general sense, we are more familiar with physical therapy then we are with occupational therapy. The reason for this is simple. The goal of occupational therapy is to empower a patient with the ability to have agency over their own life.

By helping a patient learn or relearn how to perform the tasks associated with living, occupational therapists restore patient independence and otherwise enhance the quality of life. Exactly what this looks like will vary according to the goals of the patient and the specialty of the occupational therapist. For example, an occupational therapist might help a patient:. This number can vary substantially depending on exactly where they are employed :.

The BLS also estimates that, between and , the number of occupational therapists in the United States will rise from , to roughly ,—a 24 percent increase. This is much higher than the seven percent increase expected across all occupations. In order to practice as a licensed occupational therapist, you must meet the unique requirements of the state you wish to practice in.

Undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career as an occupational therapist can opt into a pre-occupational therapy program if it is offered by their university. These programs are specifically designed to prepare undergraduates for with the information and experience they will need to be successful at the graduate level. Physical therapy PT is a medical field that focuses on treating patients who have experienced illness or injury that has resulted in pain, muscle weakness, or decreased range of motion.

Physical therapists will typically work with patients who have experienced an injury or illness which has impacted their bodily function in some way, such as:. Physiotherapy techniques can also decrease pain and restore the function of muscles. This type of therapy can even eliminate the need for expensive surgery or medication in the future. These movements use the large muscles of the body and are often referred to as gross motor skills.

Physios are often musculoskeletal and movement specialists who have an in-depth knowledge of the human musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, integumentary and cardiovascular systems. On the other hand, occupational therapists focus on improving fine motor skills , which involve using the smaller muscle of the hands. Fine motor skills are vital for a child to perform their daily self-care and academic tasks.

Self-care tasks can include brushing teeth, getting dressed, opening their lunchbox, and eating. Academic tasks include such things as using scissors, drawing, typing, and writing. The conditions requiring occupational therapy usually derive from physical or behavioural disabilities as well as injuries. Treatment will include functional activities, in an effort to enhance visual, cognitive, and coordination skills.

The goal is to help your child flourish while doing activities associated with being a kid: learning, playing, and growing.



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