What is the difference between Occupational and Physical Therapy?

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve and adapt in all facets of their lives. Occupational therapy assists people in developing the "skills for the job of living," necessary for independent and satisfying lives.

The very word "occupation" - means an activity which "occupies" our time.

• A child in grade school has the occupation of learning, and playing.
• A senior may want to continue driving safely in order to stay active in their community.
• A pet owner may need to get food out without hurting her back.
• A husband may need to keep track of all his medications as well as his disabled wife's medication
• Caregiver for a person on hospice might want to learn if it is possible to keep the person to a chair

All of these tasks are occupations and participating in them is vital to maintaining overall health and wellness, satisfaction and security, function and ability.

The occupational therapist is focused on the person, the task and the environment. The environment includes the physical surroundings, the caregiver, and the communication of the healthcare team.

Both Occupational and Physical Therapist have Masters or Doctorates degrees and are licensed in California. (Who we are). The OT and PT often work as a team, enhancing each other's and the client and family / caregiver's efforts.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy, broadly speaking, involves direct manipulation of muscles, joints and other parts of the body affected by an injury or chronic illness. Strength training, heat treatments, massage and supervised exercises may all be elements of physical therapy. Individual physical therapy regimens often depend on the type of injury or condition, the patient's age and specialized treatments prescribed by a physician.

Speech Therapy/Language Pathology

The rehabilitation of patients who have difficulties with communication and/or swallowing. Communication includes both expressive and receptive skills, writen or verbal.

Click here for a video about Occupational Therapy on aota.org.