Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy

After an injury, people can be referred to either an occupational or physical therapist. However, there is often confusion about what differentiates one from the other. The goal of physical therapy is to restore mobility and decrease pain. Occupational therapists also work to improve mobility and decrease pain but their primary goal is to enable performance of daily activities. In orthopaedic outpatient practices, occupational therapists focus on rehabilitation of the upper extremity.

Therapy Techniques Used in Occupational Therapy

Common activities such as dressing oneself, writing, or playing a sport can be difficult to perform after an injury. Occupational therapy can help minimize swelling, numbness, weakness, and stiffness so that individuals can return to the tasks and activities they need or want to do. Occupational therapists use a number of techniques that can include manual therapy, fabricating orthoses, exercise, patient education, neuro re-education, and activity to meet specific patient needs. Occupational therapists frequently have patients practice performing daily activities in the clinic such as ironing, opening pill bottles, or turning a key.

A patient practicing ironing after a broken wrist

Custom-Made Orthoses for Return to Sports

Custom-made orthoses enable athletes to return to sports while providing protection from re-injury. By working with an occupational therapist and orthopaedist, athletes can get custom-made orthoses for a wide variety of sports, such as basketball, tennis, rowing, rock climbing, and weight-lifting. Custom-made orthoses can enable a return to activity.

Custom-Made Orthoses for Return to Sports

Custom-made orthoses enable athletes to return to sports while providing protection from re-injury. By working with an occupational therapist and orthopaedist, athletes can get custom-made orthoses for a wide variety of sports, such as basketball, tennis, rowing, rock climbing, and weight-lifting. Custom-made orthoses can enable a return to activity.

A custom-made orthosis after a severe joint sprain

Occupational therapy expertise

For patients who need comprehensive, high quality occupational therapy in the D.C. area, the SMARTherapy centers of Washington Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine offer a wide range of treatments coordinated and managed by expert therapists who work closely with many of the top orthopaedic specialists in the area.

Want to know more?

For more information about occupational therapy, email us or request an appointment. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Sarah Wilson is an occupational therapist at the SMARTherapy Center at Washington Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, specializing in the evaluation and treatment of injuries and disorders of the upper extremity. She earned her Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2001 from Misericordia University, and is working on her PhD at Nova Southeastern University. Sarah became a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) in 2005, and a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) in 2008. She has been with WOSM since 2007.