What is the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy?
The Basic Difference The most basic difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy is that a PT focuses on improving the patient's ability to move their body whereas an OT focuses on improving the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living.
Should I Choose outpatient or inpatient physical therapy?
A physical therapist could potentially have a client who has suffered a stroke and is relearning how to walk with an assistive device whereas an occupational therapist may have the same client but they are being trained on how to use a wheelchair to get from his or her bed to the bathroom toilet in order to perform their own toileting.
What are the pros of outpatient physical therapy?
There is one main difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy: Occupational therapy is used to help or regain patients’ ability to perform day-to-day tasks on their own, and physical therapy is used to improve patients’ ability to move their bodies and manage their pain.
What is physical therapy and how does it work?
While both occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) support patients with physical and mental health goals, there are fundamental differences between these careers including the education pathway, work environment, day-to-day tasks, as well as average pay and time commitment. ... and experience. All of these are first learned in ...
Why are physical therapists needed?
A large number of physical therapists are needed to help those individuals strengthen and improve regular body motion. Advancements in the medical field drive up the demand for physical therapy careers, as well.
What does a physical therapist do?
In general, physical therapists treat specific areas of the body to improve strength, movement, balance, and to improve the quality and safety of mobility. For example, a physical therapist would help an adult client with a degenerative condition to improve his or her ability to walk and manage stairs with an assistive ambulatory device.
How many occupational therapist jobs will be created in 2028?
The BLS projects 23,700 new jobs to open in the occupational therapy field by 2028. The profession is expected to grow by 18%, more than three times the average national growth rate across all occupations.#N#This growth rate is largely due to the aging Baby Boomer population in need of occupational aid in their advanced years. Individuals with Alzheimer’s, stroke, and general dystrophy – all common in older individuals – can greatly benefit from the help of an occupational therapist. The average number of individuals affected by long-term physical or mental disability only increases the demand for properly educated and trained occupational therapists. It’s clear that the growing need for occupational therapists will contribute to their high demand for the foreseeable future.#N#If you are interested in learning more about occupational therapy, take a look at Gwynedd Mercy University’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program.
What is the role of occupational therapist?
Occupational and physical therapists both provide necessary interventions to help individuals gain or regain skills, improve independence, use assistive devices, and/or modify their environments to improve their performance of varied daily activities. Despite having some common professional principles that are similar, ...
How much does an occupational therapist make?
The median annual salary for occupational therapists was $84,270 in 2018, according to the BLS. The best-paid 10 percent in the profession earned more than $120,750, while the lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $55,490.
What are some examples of injuries that physical therapists can help with?
Examples of some common injuries physical therapists can help with are arthritis, sprains, muscle strains, back and neck pain, and fractures. Physical therapists are trained to teach helpful exercises to restore movement ...
What do therapists do with mobility?
Both therapists are working on mobility but in different ways and for different reasons. Work with clients across the lifespan of development, from babies to older adults. Review education, health, and/or medical records to understand a client’s prior level of function and current challenges.
What is the difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy?
There is one main difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy: Occupational therapy is used to help or regain patients’ ability to perform day-to-day tasks on their own, and physical therapy is used to improve patients’ ability to move their bodies and manage their pain. While both professions focus on clients who are recovering ...
How long does it take to get a physical therapy degree?
Then you need to attend graduate school to earn your Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. DPT programs typically take about three years to complete; however, time to completion can vary, depending on the program and other factors. You will need to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination ...
What are the duties of an occupational therapist?
While occupational therapists focus on helping patients recover from physical injuries, their main focus is on activities of daily living (ADLs), such as brushing teeth, doing laundry, etc. OTs develop plans to help patients accomplish daily tasks in an easier or less painful way. Their responsibilities include: 1 Assessing the patient’s functional abilities, including sensory, cognitive, emotional, and physical elements 2 Developing a treatment plan 3 Helping the patient achieve goals set in the treatment plan 4 Creating and using assistive technology to promote independence in daily activities 5 Helping patients improve the motor skills needed for meaningful daily tasks, such as getting dressed or taking a shower 6 Working with patients who have memory loss or other cognitive issues 7 Providing home exercises for patients and recommendations for continued therapy
What is the main focus of occupational therapy?
While occupational therapists focus on helping patients recover from physical injuries, their main focus is on activities of daily living (ADLs), such as brushing teeth, doing laundry, etc. OTs develop plans to help patients accomplish daily tasks in an easier or less painful way. Their responsibilities include:
How long does it take to become an occupational therapist?
MOT programs typically take around two years to complete, but again, time to completion can vary.
What is the job growth rate for occupational therapy?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational therapy is projected to see 18% job growth from 2018 to 2028. Similarly, physical therapy has a projected job growth rate of 22% from 2018 to 2028.
Where do occupational therapists work?
Physical therapists and occupational therapists can work in a variety of settings, including acute care, inpatient and outpatient settings, long-term care, schools, home health environments, and skilled nursing facilities. While the job duties of these professions do differ, physical therapists and occupational therapists often collaborate on teams.
What is the difference between OT and physical therapy?
This can help them move more easily with less pain and discomfort. Occupational therapy, also known as OT , focuses on helping you perform daily tasks more easily.
What is the difference between OT and PT?
Physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) are types of rehabilitative care. While they have similar goals and treat many of the same conditions, they also differ. PT focuses on restoring or improving movement, strength, and range of motion. OT aims to improve the motor skills you need to perform daily tasks.
What type of therapy do physical therapists use?
Physical therapists use a variety of techniques, including: targeted exercises. stretching.
What are some examples of overlap in the tasks performed by occupational therapists?
Tasks. There can be some overlap in the tasks performed. For example, occupational therapists may also teach stretches or exercises. Physical therapists may work on movements to help with daily activities, such as getting in and out of the tub. Goals and monitoring.
What is the goal of rehabilitative care?
The goal of rehabilitative care is to improve or prevent the worsening of your condition or quality of life due to an injury, surgery, or illness. While there are some similarities between physical therapy and occupational therapy, there are also key differences. This article will take a closer look at both types of therapies, ...
What can an occupational therapist do to help someone recovering from a stroke?
For example, an occupational therapist may help someone recovering from a stroke relearn how to do daily tasks, like dressing or eating with utensils. They may also make changes in the home, like installing a grab bar in the shower.
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy, also known as OT, focuses on helping you perform daily tasks more easily. This type of therapy focuses on improving your fine and gross motor skills so you can carry out specific day-to-day activities.
What is the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy?
Occupational Therapy. As compared with Physical Therapy, occupational therapy tends to focus more on evaluating and improving a persons functional abilities and improving their ability to perform activities of daily living. An occupational therapist often does not directly treat a person’s injury using techniques such as manual therapy ...
What is physical therapy?
The physical therapy profession (also called ‘physiotherapy’ in many parts of the world) tends to be more focused on evaluating and diagnosing movement dysfunctions as well as treating a person’s injury itself.
What is the most common treatment for physical therapy?
Some other types of treatment more commonly used in physical therapy treatment are acupuncture, intramuscular stimul ation (IMS), cupping, ...
What is the goal of occupational therapy?
Helping people improve their ability to carry out their daily tasks is a prime goal of the occupational therapist. An OT is more likely to perform on-site assessments of both the home environment and work environment and give recommendations on suitable adaptations of each to allow for a better quality of life.
Is OT the same as PT?
There is often confusion about these two professions and some even think that the two are synonymous. There are significant differences between the two professions, and there are also many grey areas where the two overlap.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy (PT) is the treatment of disease or injury with physical techniques such as exercise, cold and heat treatments, massage, and stretching. PT can be practiced in a hospital, an outpatient clinic, and even at home.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy (OT) is similar to physical therapy but focuses more on helping you become independent in performing activities of daily life (ADL). These activities may include brushing your teeth, getting dressed, or simply getting out of bed; each session is customized to your normal living behaviors.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech therapy focuses on the improvement of language, communication, swallowing, and fluency. One of the most common symptoms that we treat at Sheltering Arms is dysphagia, which refers to difficulty swallowing.
What is a physical therapist?
Physical therapists diagnose and treat medical problems or health-related conditions that limit a patient’s ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives, according to the American Physical Therapy Association.
What is occupational therapy?
For those who need help with day-to-day activities, an occupational therapist specializes in evaluating and improving a person’s functional abilities, according to the American Occupational Therapy Association. They help patients through rehabilitation to develop and improve the skills they need for everyday living and working.
What is an athletic trainer?
An athletic trainer is a healthcare professional who help athletes and other athletically active people to prevent and recognize injuries that come as a result of physical activity, according to Livestrong.
What is the difference between inpatient and outpatient physical therapy?
When it comes to choosing the best physical therapy facility, the difference between inpatient and outpatient therapy depends largely on personal preference. Some people need the constant encouragement and motivation of a physical therapist to make any progress at all, while others are self-starters who easily make progress on their own. If you find that you progress more in your physical therapy goals when you have the freedom to move at your own pace and take your exercises home with you, outpatient therapy is probably the best option. On the other hand, if the idea of being in an environment where you can focus solely on your physical therapy and receive regular input from others is appealing to you, inpatient rehab may be the best option. Whichever option you choose, there are plenty of great facilities staffed with caring professionals who can help you reach your physical therapy goals.
What is the benefit of outpatient physical therapy?
Another major benefit of outpatient therapy is the ability to work on your exercises further in the comfort of your own home. Outpatient physical therapy can therefore give you greater control over your own progress. Depending on how much you do on your own, you can progress as quickly as you want. There is also often less pressure on you ...
How does outpatient therapy work?
If you live close to your outpatient therapy center, outpatient care may be a convenient option for you. Another major benefit of outpatient therapy is the ability to work on your exercises further in the comfort of your own home. Outpatient physical therapy can therefore give you greater control over your own progress. Depending on how much you do on your own, you can progress as quickly as you want. There is also often less pressure on you to meet timing goals in terms of your progress.
What is inpatient rehab?
Inpatient Rehab Pros. Physical therapy is an intensive process that can have major effects on your health for the rest of your life. Many people choose to invest time in attending an inpatient rehab center, which allows them to focus solely on their physical therapy. Inpatient rehab is a particularly powerful treatment option for people who require ...
What are the drawbacks of inpatient rehab?
Another drawback of inpatient rehab centers is that their rules and regulations may be stricter since they are providing a temporary living facility in addition to rehabilitation programs. You should inquire about the regulations of any center before attending to make sure that their rules are acceptable to you.
Why is physical therapy important?
Physical therapy is an important aspect of the healing process, whether you are experiencing pain and discomfort as the result of an injury or a lifelong disability . Physical therapists are specially trained to work with injuries, and many specialize in a particular area of the body.
Is physical therapy as effective as rehab?
Because the time you get to spend with your physical therapist is limited, outpatient physical therapy does not usually produce results as quickly as an inpatient rehab facility. If your physical therapy needs are not particularly intensive and you can afford to get better over a longer period of time, outpatient physical therapy may be ...