It is not uncommon for people to get confused with physical and occupational therapy, and it is understandable since having similar names can trick anyone of us. If you wonder what is the difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy?
This article sheds light on the differences that make the therapy distinct. Both require different skills from therapists, education, practice, and working, and it is essential to understand the differences first and then understand which one is effective.
Let us move ahead in the article to learn more about the difference between occupation and physical therapy. We will also know how these two have similarities that make one confused between the two. What therapists work on, their approach to healing, their method of healing patients, and so on.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a branch that manages patients going through different conditions.
These conditions involve anything related to patients' physical, mental, and emotional state.
So, when it comes to what is vocational therapy, it is a subfield in occupational therapy. The treatment assesses patients' interests, abilities, aptitude, intelligence, and so on.
The occupational therapist practice area differs vividly from physical therapy. The primary condition that they deal with involves:
- Birth injuries and congenital disability
- Sensory disorder, or sensory processing disorder
- If in case a person is dealing with traumatic injuries in the brain
- Autism condition
- Developmental disorder
The goal of occupational therapy is to allow patients to control their lives. The patients also understand how to cope with the difficulties in life and the health considerations.
What Is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy usually gets offered to those who have gone through an accident, injury, or treating a patient with an illness. Due to such incidences, patients suffer from muscle pain, pressure, weakness, or even decreased range of motion.
Physical therapy massage near you works with a patient who has gone through any injury, accident, or illness.
- Injury due to fractured bone
- Dealing with a musculoskeletal condition
- Going through torn rotator cuff, neck and back disorder, and joint disorder
- Cardiopulmonary condition
- Sports injuries
- Women health concern
The main goal of centers of physical therapy massage near you is to handle pain, improve muscle condition, deal with endurance, muscle improvement, and more. The primary purpose of treatment depends upon the kind of treatment a person needs.
Similarities between Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists
Both occupational therapists and physical therapists focus on improving patients' quality of life. They also provide appropriate knowledge to patients about taking care of their health and overall wellbeing.
Occupational therapists can teach you exercise and stretches. At the same time, a physical therapist may help you with movement, flexibility, motion, and other daily activities.
What is vocational therapy, and does it differ from occupational therapy? There can be an overlap between the two treatments.
All in all, both health care providers aim to heal and treat patients to get their health on track.
Vocational Therapists emphasize assessing, training and development. Vocational therapists’ focus is on prevention and healing from injuries, illness, and other health conditions the patient is dealing with.
Overall purpose; Both the therapies aim to improve bodily functions, quality of life, knowledge on how to take care of the health.
Design: Both types of therapy focus on designing a hands-on approach to treating patients. These approaches are tailored based on specific needs.
Tasks and Goals: Both types of therapy emphasize filling duties. These tasks are based on the goals set to improve health.
Conclusion
Now that you know the similarities and differences. The question of 'the difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy is now straightforward.
Both therapies aim to heal and improve one's health and well-being. It typically deals with curing patients and giving them life back.
Pain, injuries, and illness can affect one's life and disturb one's peace. Through therapies, patients can help cope with the changes and heal. They can look ahead to perform tasks that were supposed to be difficult once.
The therapist put their minds to creating tailored sessions for patients. These tailor-made sessions are meant to give more meaningful results.