4 answers
Lauren
Student
Greenwich, Ohio
1
Question
Updated
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How should I go about choosing between physical and occupational therapy?
career selection
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4 answers
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Lauren. Both careers focus on helping people improve their lives, but in different ways. Physical therapists mainly help patients improve movement, strength, and overall physical function. They often work with people recovering from injuries or surgeries. Occupational therapists, on the other hand, focus on helping patients perform daily activities and live as independently as possible.
A good way to decide is to think about what kind of work sounds more interesting to you. You can also try shadowing or volunteering in both areas. Seeing what the jobs are really like can help you understand which one fits you.
The most important thing is to learn more about both jobs, try them out if you can, and think about what fits your interests, skills, and lifestyle. Doing this will help you make a choice you feel confident about and start your career in a path that's right for you.
Wishing you all the best.
A good way to decide is to think about what kind of work sounds more interesting to you. You can also try shadowing or volunteering in both areas. Seeing what the jobs are really like can help you understand which one fits you.
The most important thing is to learn more about both jobs, try them out if you can, and think about what fits your interests, skills, and lifestyle. Doing this will help you make a choice you feel confident about and start your career in a path that's right for you.
Wishing you all the best.
Melanie Silverman
Chief Clinical Officer
21
Answers
Laguna Beach, California
Updated
Melanie’s Answer
Hi Lauren,
Great question! I suggest talking to professionals in the field and watching some videos to learn about the differences between physical and occupational therapists. Both are amazing careers that truly improve people's lives. You could contact a hospital department to speak with someone in the field. Just make sure to list your questions beforehand, so you're ready for the conversation.
Best of luck!
Melanie
Great question! I suggest talking to professionals in the field and watching some videos to learn about the differences between physical and occupational therapists. Both are amazing careers that truly improve people's lives. You could contact a hospital department to speak with someone in the field. Just make sure to list your questions beforehand, so you're ready for the conversation.
Best of luck!
Melanie
Lauren Ellis Triemstra
Physical Therapist Assistant
29
Answers
Joliet, Illinois
Updated
Lauren Ellis’s Answer
Hi Lauren!
I'm a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). When I was in PTA school, I was also a rehab tech, which is an entry-level position. I was fortunate to have both physical therapy and occupational therapy in my outpatient orthopedic clinic. As a rehab tech (rehabilitation technician, or physical therapy aide), I supported the therapists by cleaning equipment, providing equipment for the patient, providing modalities like ice/heat/electrical stimulation/ultrasound, etc., and completing various administrative tasks and laundry. I'm sure the job duties vary by company. I mention all this because I think that sort of position and experience would be a great place to learn. If you're able to obtain an entry-level position as a tech in a clinic where they offer both PT and OT, you can see firsthand what it looks like in real time. If not, consider completing observation hours in both a PT and OT setting.
As a PTA, I find my job physically demanding. I complete passive range of motion or other manual therapy techniques with patients of their lower extremities. So that means that I'm the one bending their knee into flexion and extension, perhaps after a knee replacement surgery. This can be tough physically, and the larger the patient and larger the leg, the more work it is for me. Throughout the day it could also be the ankle or the shoulder, hip, back, or neck as well. I'm suffering some wear and tear from the physical demands the manual aspect of patient care as a PTA puts on me and my body.
In OT, therapists can perform manual therapy on shoulders as well, but it's primarily the upper body. Elbow, wrist, fingers. So in terms of manual therapy, this service can be performed in sitting with a patient across the treatment table from the therapist. It may be less bending or rotating than I do as a PTA, but they're still using their hands quite a lot. HOWEVER, it varies by setting.
Outpatient orthopedic is where you'll find patients with sports injuries, pain that may require surgery, surgical patients, etc. They are physically able to arrive to the PT or OT clinic. I worked in outpatient PT for 10+ years. It's busy. I saw an average of 15 patients a day during a 10 hour day. You may have a higher volume in an outpatient PT/OT setting.
You'll find other settings like inpatient (hospital) or sub-acute/rehab (which is like a short-term care nursing home facility). So those types of patients may not require a lot of manual therapy, but maybe they require more assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Getting dressed. Using the bathroom. Brushing their teeth. Eating. These patients may require more strengthening exercises that are focused on improving their function. Both PTs and OTs (and assistants like myself) might have similar goals for a patient that requires that they are strong enough to stand up from their wheelchair in front of their sink to brush their teeth. In PT, we'd focus on lower body strengthening and balance for the patient to tolerate prolonged standing. In OT, they would work on upper extremity range of motion and strengthening of the shoulder/elbow/wrist/hands and finger dexterity exercises. But both disciplines of therapy may work on sit to stand transfers, which is where the hands on contact comes into play. The patient may require assistance to rise from a seated position, requiring the therapist to lift the patient with a gait belt. So OTs are also having to assist with lifting the patient to standing just like in PT.
Both PT and OT offer an opportunity to work hands-on, in-person with patients. They both provide that job satisfaction of helping improve the health and life of others. Other than our job title on our name tags, some patients don't know the difference between us since we work alongside each other as coworkers. There's some overlap in exercises and manual therapy. The hours are pretty similar. The schedules are typically equally as busy. Both careers are in demand. You have access to the same types of settings to work. It comes down to where it will hold your interest the most. I enjoy the variety of diagnoses in PT, treating most of the whole body except elbow/wrist/hand. But I'm also pretty drained from the physical demands of a job in PHYSICAL therapy. Go figure!
I agree that you should check out the APTA and the AOTA. You can also consider PTA or COTA (certified occupational therapist assistant) programs if Master and Doctorate programs seem out of reach.
Observe in PT and OT settings. Or a clinic/setting that has both.
Consider an entry-level job as a rehab tech to gain in person experience.
Decide where you'll be most engaged and what's important to you.
Good luck!
I'm a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). When I was in PTA school, I was also a rehab tech, which is an entry-level position. I was fortunate to have both physical therapy and occupational therapy in my outpatient orthopedic clinic. As a rehab tech (rehabilitation technician, or physical therapy aide), I supported the therapists by cleaning equipment, providing equipment for the patient, providing modalities like ice/heat/electrical stimulation/ultrasound, etc., and completing various administrative tasks and laundry. I'm sure the job duties vary by company. I mention all this because I think that sort of position and experience would be a great place to learn. If you're able to obtain an entry-level position as a tech in a clinic where they offer both PT and OT, you can see firsthand what it looks like in real time. If not, consider completing observation hours in both a PT and OT setting.
As a PTA, I find my job physically demanding. I complete passive range of motion or other manual therapy techniques with patients of their lower extremities. So that means that I'm the one bending their knee into flexion and extension, perhaps after a knee replacement surgery. This can be tough physically, and the larger the patient and larger the leg, the more work it is for me. Throughout the day it could also be the ankle or the shoulder, hip, back, or neck as well. I'm suffering some wear and tear from the physical demands the manual aspect of patient care as a PTA puts on me and my body.
In OT, therapists can perform manual therapy on shoulders as well, but it's primarily the upper body. Elbow, wrist, fingers. So in terms of manual therapy, this service can be performed in sitting with a patient across the treatment table from the therapist. It may be less bending or rotating than I do as a PTA, but they're still using their hands quite a lot. HOWEVER, it varies by setting.
Outpatient orthopedic is where you'll find patients with sports injuries, pain that may require surgery, surgical patients, etc. They are physically able to arrive to the PT or OT clinic. I worked in outpatient PT for 10+ years. It's busy. I saw an average of 15 patients a day during a 10 hour day. You may have a higher volume in an outpatient PT/OT setting.
You'll find other settings like inpatient (hospital) or sub-acute/rehab (which is like a short-term care nursing home facility). So those types of patients may not require a lot of manual therapy, but maybe they require more assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Getting dressed. Using the bathroom. Brushing their teeth. Eating. These patients may require more strengthening exercises that are focused on improving their function. Both PTs and OTs (and assistants like myself) might have similar goals for a patient that requires that they are strong enough to stand up from their wheelchair in front of their sink to brush their teeth. In PT, we'd focus on lower body strengthening and balance for the patient to tolerate prolonged standing. In OT, they would work on upper extremity range of motion and strengthening of the shoulder/elbow/wrist/hands and finger dexterity exercises. But both disciplines of therapy may work on sit to stand transfers, which is where the hands on contact comes into play. The patient may require assistance to rise from a seated position, requiring the therapist to lift the patient with a gait belt. So OTs are also having to assist with lifting the patient to standing just like in PT.
Both PT and OT offer an opportunity to work hands-on, in-person with patients. They both provide that job satisfaction of helping improve the health and life of others. Other than our job title on our name tags, some patients don't know the difference between us since we work alongside each other as coworkers. There's some overlap in exercises and manual therapy. The hours are pretty similar. The schedules are typically equally as busy. Both careers are in demand. You have access to the same types of settings to work. It comes down to where it will hold your interest the most. I enjoy the variety of diagnoses in PT, treating most of the whole body except elbow/wrist/hand. But I'm also pretty drained from the physical demands of a job in PHYSICAL therapy. Go figure!
I agree that you should check out the APTA and the AOTA. You can also consider PTA or COTA (certified occupational therapist assistant) programs if Master and Doctorate programs seem out of reach.
Lauren Ellis recommends the following next steps:
Donna Calvert, PT, PhD
physical therapist
62
Answers
Mission, Kansas
Updated
Donna’s Answer
The first thing I would suggest is that you go to each of the professional organization websites and review their materials. You can find a list of universities that offer these graduate degrees there with more information about training needed.
An “entry level” degree is the degree level needed to enter the profession. Right now, for physical therapy (PT), it is a clinical doctorate, or a DPT. A DPT is typically 2.5-3 years of graduate school following completion of an undergraduate degree. For occupational therapy (OT) the entry level degree is at the Masters or clinical doctorate level. Like PT, a graduate OT degree will take 2.5-3 years after you obtain your undergrad degree. Once you have completed the graduate program you desire, you must pass a state board exam before you can be licensed to practice in that state.
Practically, OT’s and PT’s often treat similar types of patients. However, the functions each works on varies. PT’s tend to work on strengthening, movement and ambulation. OT’s work on strengthening and activities of daily living such as dressing and grooming. Both types of therapists focus on making the patient as independent as possible and can work in a variety of settings. (e.g. clinic, hospital, schools etc.)
Shadowing/observing the different therapists can be helpful as well as talking with them about their respective responsibilities. But start with the professional organization websites.
American Physical Therapy Association = apta.org
American Occupational Therapy Association = aota.org
An “entry level” degree is the degree level needed to enter the profession. Right now, for physical therapy (PT), it is a clinical doctorate, or a DPT. A DPT is typically 2.5-3 years of graduate school following completion of an undergraduate degree. For occupational therapy (OT) the entry level degree is at the Masters or clinical doctorate level. Like PT, a graduate OT degree will take 2.5-3 years after you obtain your undergrad degree. Once you have completed the graduate program you desire, you must pass a state board exam before you can be licensed to practice in that state.
Practically, OT’s and PT’s often treat similar types of patients. However, the functions each works on varies. PT’s tend to work on strengthening, movement and ambulation. OT’s work on strengthening and activities of daily living such as dressing and grooming. Both types of therapists focus on making the patient as independent as possible and can work in a variety of settings. (e.g. clinic, hospital, schools etc.)
Shadowing/observing the different therapists can be helpful as well as talking with them about their respective responsibilities. But start with the professional organization websites.
American Physical Therapy Association = apta.org
American Occupational Therapy Association = aota.org