You love staying active and testing your endurance along the hiking paths near Marlton, Whiting, and Somerset. But, if you’ve been sidelined by a recent injury, it’s helpful to know more about the recovery techniques and treatments that will get you back to your adventurous way of life.
To help you learn more about the type of rehabilitation techniques that are best for you, the experts at Trinity Rehab have created this guide to the Differences Between Occupational & Physical Therapy.
With these insights, you’ll arrive to your first appointment at our state-of-the-art facilities near Howell, Hamilton, and Somerville prepared to heal your body.
Occupational vs Physical Therapy: Main Difference
Put simply, occupational therapy centers around promoting each patient’s ability to perform daily activities—whether that’s cooking, cleaning, driving, or even working in an office. On the other hand, physical therapy focuses primarily on the patient’s injury, thereby increasing mobility and decreasing pain.
Now that we’ve defined the main distinction between occupational therapy vs. physical therapy, let’s get to know each method a little bit better.
Understanding Occupational Therapy
Think about it: No matter what type of injury you’re suffering with, it’s important to ensure that you can still stay in pace with your responsibilities, both at home and at your job. Well, that’s where an occupational therapist can help.
By carefully reviewing your living and working environments, an occupational therapist will boost your ability to move around and perform everyday tasks by adapting your surroundings to fit your needs—regardless if you’re suffering from a broken bone, a neurological condition, or an amputation.
On top of that, occupational therapy treatments often improve your independence, so that you don’t have to rely on your family or close friends for assistance. That way, you’ll be able to keep up with your household duties or work schedule in an environment that’s tailored to your body and your injury.
To increase your quality of life even more, most occupational therapy professionals will visit your workplace or home to see what type of space you have.
Then, they’ll offer up suggestions that’ll make daily living easier, and may even provide you with customized tools that’ll aid you in completing different tasks, like reaching for a certain item in a tall cabinet or getting to the second floor of your home.
Your Guide to Physical Therapy
Of course, once you realize that you’re injured, you want to make sure that you cross the recovery finish line as soon as possible. That’s why board certified physical therapists come with years of experience in treating all types of injuries and conditions.
By focusing less on the individual and more on the root of the problem, your physical therapist will provide you with a recovery plan that's tailored to your specific injury, your goals, and the progress of your recovery.
In addition, most Doctors of Physical Therapy will take time to properly diagnose your condition and present you with the techniques and modalities that address your specific problem.
Some of the most effective treatments used by physical therapists are things like:
- EPAT (Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Therapy)
- The McKenzie Method
- Manual Therapy
- IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization)
- Myofascial Release
- Kinesio Taping®
- And more
Thanks to the innovative therapy techniques employed by your psychical therapist, you’ll heal the source of your pain and get back to your favorite activities in no time.
Choose Your Physical Therapy Plan Today!
At Trinity Rehab, we’re committed to assisting patients near Marlton, Whiting, and Somerset in finding the right treatment for your injury.
Luckily, the compassionate physical and occupational therapists at our facilities will support you throughout every phase of your recovery by designing a customized treatment plan that aligns with your needs.
