Occupational Therapy vs Physical Therapy: What's the Difference?

OT vs. PT: What's the Difference?

by D.O.C., OTD/C

The Difference

The most distinctive difference between physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) is that physical therapists focus on improving the patient's ability to move their body after an injury or ailment, whereas an occupational therapist focuses on improving the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living after an injury or ailment. In addition, PT’s foundation was in physical rehabilitation whereas OT was founded in mental healthcare and physical rehabilitation.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists focus on adapting, modifying or changing daily activities that a person is required or wants to do but also work on strengthening as a means of rehabilitation, overlapping with PT. OTs might alter the activity, environment, or the skills of the person. For functional skills, an OT might help patients improve their fine (small finger movements) or gross motor (large body movements) skills.

OTs often work with patients who may be recovering from an injury that has impacted these skills. The focus is not only on rehabilitation, but also on the prevention of further injury. Functional and pain-free movement is essential to ones quality of life. Occupational therapists also create and develop treatment plans and home exercise programs to help their patients avoid surgery or prescription pain medications. OTs also understand the emotional aspects of recovering from an injury and are often their patient's biggest cheerleaders.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists are movement experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. PTs focus on restoring the ability to move, reducing pain, and improving gross motor skills while promoting function and independence, and preventing disability. Gross motor skills are typically developed in childhood and are used in the movement and coordination of the arms, legs, and other large body parts.

Myth

The notion that OT is limited to upper body rehabilitation and PT is limited to lower body rehabilitation is false. An OT can justify working on lower extremities just like PT can justify working on upper extremities. For example, as long as OTs are able to tie that LE exercise or activity to an OT goal, OT can absolutely work on LEs. It is important for occupational therapists to assess the lower extremity and create functional goals for the patient like putting on pants after a hip replacement. PTs could be doing the same exercise, however, they do not have the same goal as the OT for the patient. For instance, they may be working on ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion in order to increase ankle stability for balance with ambulation. We would do those exercises to promote ankle ROM to donn/doff shoes and socks.

Where we work

PTs and OTs can be found in any number of settings including hospitals, private practice, early intervention, and long-term care facilities, working with patients across the lifespan from infants and children to adults and the elderly. PTs and OTs aren't confined to typical healthcare settings as therapists also work in schools, in fitness or wellness facilities, sports settings, and even travel to patients' homes.

-O.C., OTD