Manale Occupational & Physical Therapy East Los Angeles (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between occupational therapist and physical therapist? ›

And while they may overlap in some aspects, occupational therapists focus on helping individuals engage in meaningful activities and tasks, while physical therapists focus on improving physical function, mobility, and strength.

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.

That being said, OT has less science needs than PT and is probably easier to get into. Once in the job I would say math isn't really needed - main skills are people skills, critical thinking, time management, and common sense, lol.

While physical therapy provides rehabilitation of the body to help heal and prevent injuries or other physical ailments, occupational therapy takes a more holistic approach that involves physical well-being alongside emotional, social, and environmental well-being.

Occupational therapy (OT) is a branch of health care that helps people of all ages who have physical, sensory, or cognitive problems. OT can help them regain independence in all areas of their lives. Occupational therapists help with barriers that affect a person's emotional, social, and physical needs.

The occupational therapist provides a comprehensive assessment and designs a treatment plan based on your needs and goals. Examples of needs and goals that might be part of occupational therapy treatment include: Exercises to improve posture, flexibility to reduce pain and improve mobility and the use of the arms.

Occupational therapists work with people who have permanent disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, and may need help with daily tasks. They recommend options and show clients how to use appropriate adaptive equipment, such as leg braces, wheelchairs, and eating aids.

Occupational therapy supports people whose physical or mental health, environment or social circ*mstances make it difficult to take part in the activities that matter to them. An occupational therapist will work with you to identify strengths and difficulties you may have in everyday life.

Occupational therapists use a lot of interesting techniques to develop children's fine motor skills. For example, painting and using cutlery help to foster control, dexterity, and thumb and finger holds. Popping bubble wrap is not only a fun activity but also improves manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination.

How do physical and occupational therapists work together? During a rehabilitative treatment program, physical and occupational therapists will work together to help patients identify goals and then use their specific treatment protocols to help patients achieve those goals.

Why is it called occupational therapy? ›

The profession's founders thus adopted the name, occupational therapy, or therapy through being meaningfully occupied[. In contemporary occupational therapy, the activities with which people occupy time are still referred to as occupations.