Occupational vs Physical Therapy - What's the Difference?
73OT vs PT
Some say that PT addresses the lower half of the body while OT addresses the upper half. Others say that PT works on gross motor coordination while OT works on fine motor.
Physical therapy focuses on big movements, it's generally true. Their goal is often to restore movement and mobility. They assess the ability to roll in bed, sit up, stand up, walk, maintain balance, etc. They use things like stretching and exercise, manipulations, electrical stimulation, heat, and cold to restore these movements.
Occupational Therapy focuses on restoring function. The idea is to help each person become as independent as they can possibly be. This starts with things like brushing teeth and getting dressed, self feeding, getting in and out of the tub, combing hair, or going to the bathroom. After that it extends to roles, jobs, hobbies, etc. OTs use many of the same mechanisms that PTs use to restore function - it's just the approach and the overall goal that might be different.
Most patients initially say that they want to be able to walk again. I ask them, "When you get to the door, how will you open it?"
Websites
- American Physical Therapy Association
"The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is a national professional organization representing more than 71,000 members. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education." - The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
"The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy develops and administers the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for both physical therapists and physical therapist assistants." - American Occupational Therapy Association
"The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is the national professional association established in 1917 to represent the interests and concerns of occupational therapy practitioners and students of occupational therapy and to improve the q - The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
"The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT®) is a not-for-profit credentialing agency that provides certification for the occupational therapy profession."
Occupational Therapy Reference Materials
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Physical Therapy Reference Materials
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nice hub. very informative. now i know the difference between the two.. i thought they were the same. http://www.siakoi.com/recreation/sports-in-beijing
Clear, succinct explanation. Thanks a lot!
We have Occupational Therapists in Elementary schools now. That helps kids deal with their stress. That's a great idea.
Good general overview of the differences between OTs & PTs. Depending on the practice setting, it's hard to explain the difference between the two. Function has to be looked at by both disciplines, although the perspectives are different. For example, I tell all my PT students "It's great if someone can walk in a straight line for 150ft, but if they can't get into the bathroom or on/off the toilet on their own, does it matter?" In an ideal world, there is a lot of overlap with PT & OT, although the idea that PT focus is more on the gross mobility aspect of functional movements is right on.
I use a similar analogy - "If you can walk to the door but you can't open it, what's the point?" :)
Great Article, lot of people think OTs and PTs are the same..
A lot of people don't even know what OT is.
Very helpful!
Thank you for your analysis, and I do agree with you. We can't say one field is better than the other for patients in general as it depends on every case's condition.
Good info. I think both OT and PT are essential for many conditions such as stroke, amputation, and many neurological diseases. Both have unique skillsets essential for regaining function.
MrMarmalade 4 years ago
Val is enjoying reading about you. Keep it up please