I’ve asked multiple people and have never gotten a clear answer. They’re always consulted together in the hospital, but I’m sure they have different responsibilities.
In: Other
It can be hard to get an answer to this because OTs and PTs both work in a really broad array of settings, and often these are not at all similar. I am an OT working primarily with children, but there are OTs working with older adults, in mental health, in acute care, in prisons, with people experiencing poverty, etc.
Occupational therapy: think of “occupation” as a task that “occupies” your time. This can include getting dressed, brushing your teeth, painting a picture, cooking a meal, writing an essay, driving, etc. If you are disabled, injured, ill, or in some way unable to do what matters to you, OT can help. Maybe you need to improve your balance and coordination (PT can do this too). Maybe you need to develop your social skills (something speech-language pathologists may also address). Perhaps you need to learn to use adaptive equipment (wheelchair, reacher, shoes with zippers instead of laces, etc.) Or maybe a change in the environment could help (which could mean advocating for accomodations at work/school, putting up visual supports at home, etc.) Finding a way to support participation in what you want and need to do is the goal.
Physical therapy focuses on ensuring your body systems are working together in a way that is safe and functional. That might mean addressing balance and coordination, safely navigating a variety of surfaces (e.g. uneven floors, stairs), improving postural control, building strength/endurance/flexibility, transferring from one surface to another (e.g. wheelchair to tub, chair to stand), etc.
In my setting with kids, I primarily work on developing motor skills (e.g. grasping toys, throwing a ball, sitting without falling over), self-care (dressing, etc.), executive function (basically using your brain in an organized way), and managing sensory needs and emotional regulation. But I used to work in home health with older adults, and we primarily addressed transferring between surfaces (chair, tub, toilet, etc.), dressing, functional balance during daily tasks, caregiver training (esp. with dementia where new learning is difficult), using adaptive equipment, etc.
Latest Answers