Occupational Therapy vs Physical Therapy

By Brad - Wednesday 28 May 11:25 am

Within the Therapy Sector there is constant confusion between Occupational Therapy Jobs and Physical Therapy. Which one is the preferred method of treatment and are they the same thing?

Both forms of therapy have many similarities as the training involved from both sides run on a close parallel. However, they are in fact very specialized in quite a few different ways. Both therapies assist patients in increasing muscular strength and awareness of the body and how it works. Both therapies require a far-reaching comprehension of human anatomy and physiology, and they both address issues such as weakness and under active muscle development whilst giving advice on how to improve these conditions.

But it is the finer points that make each therapy unique and make them stand apart from each other. Occupational therapy jobs focus more around activating the bodily tools that are inherently yours, and making them work optimally for you. In a case where a person has suffered an injury, an Occupational Therapist would not treat the injury itself, but rather assist you to become physically and mentally functional with the injury and be able to cope with it as you gradually build up towards recovery.

In this case, a Physical Therapist would treat the injury itself on a physical level. Helping to heal the torn tissues or ligaments through manipulation and massage and their extensive knowledge of the musculoskeletal system and how it works. Occupational Therapy jobs center more on life skills and healthy living habits, and how improving them will thus improve your life. Whereas Physical Therapy jobs would concentrate on treating an actual impairment, injury or disability

With regards to salary differences, the remuneration amounts for both Occupational Therapy jobs and Physical Therapy jobs vary according to what area you would be working in, which company or hospital you would be working for, how many clients you have on your books etc. On average Physical Therapy jobs get paid a marginal amount more per annum than Occupational Therapy jobs do.

On the whole, Physical Therapy is a more widely known form of therapy and is thus often trusted further than Occupational Therapy is. However it might not always be the appropriate tool for the job at hand as we now know.

Posted in: Therapy Jobs