Table of ContentsDefinition of Physical TherapyDefinition of Occupational TherapySimilarities, Differences and Benefits of Physical and Occupational TherapySimilarities​DifferencesConclusionReferences​Life is filled with a myriad of excitement, movement and constant energy. However, sometimes due to genetics or simply other medical reasons, an individual may be born with conditions that do not allow their body to fully function as it normally should. Problems and problems may arise because this person's life has been hindered by the fact that he cannot perform specific movements. Furthermore, even if an individual is not born with any pathology, life continues and he could get injured at any time due to various circumstances. Just because someone gets injured doesn't mean they will stay that way forever, and so physical therapy and occupational therapy come into play. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay ​These two types of therapies can work side by side to help people recover and heal their muscles. At any age, people can undergo physical or occupational therapy to aid recovery and develop muscle strength that they may not have been born with or simply lost due to an accident. This article will discuss the similarities, differences, and benefits of physical and occupational therapy within the human body. During the middle of the 2009-2010 season, Kobe Bryant sprained his ankle. This caused him to miss a total of five games. During this time, he had to have someone help him nurse his ankle back to health in order to play. This is where therapy comes in. There are two types of therapy used for people who injure themselves. The first is physical therapy and the second is occupational therapy. Both are used to build muscle strength, but they have differences and some benefits associated with them. Physical Therapy Definition People are placed on this earth to live their lives to the fullest and reach their greatest potential. However, life is unpredictable and people never know the next time they might get hurt and experience physical injury or pain. Sometimes people are in so much pain that they need additional assistance to resume the life they once lived, and that's where physical therapists come in. Physical therapy is defined as “the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatments, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery.” This means that instead of having to use extremely advanced procedures, physical therapists focus on the injured body part and attempt to restore it to its original and perhaps even better health. Physical therapists (PTs) can be viewed as “movement experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed exercises, hands-on care, and patient education.” The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) states that the role of a physical therapist is to identify and pinpoint a patient's specific condition or injury, find out what caused it and how it is affecting the body. Then they treat it and teach their patients how to regulate and govern their condition to continue living the life they previously lived. While many people are able to see physical therapists in hospitals, other physical therapists work in locations such as: outpatient clinics/clinics, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, extended or subacute care facilities, homes, education or research centers, and schools , PTs also practice in sectorssuch as hospices, industrial, work or other work environments and finally fitness centers and sports training facilities. While this may be the most common form of therapy, it is not the only type available to people. Definition of Occupational Therapy By definition, occupational therapy is “a form of therapy for those recovering from a physical or mental illness that encourages rehabilitation through carrying out activities required in daily life.” In other words, occupational therapists (OTs) help people who have problems that affect their daily lifestyle. The American Occupational Therapy Association Incorporated states that some of the most frequent situations in which occupational therapy is used are "to help children with disabilities participate fully in school and social situations, to help people recovering from an injury to regain skills and provide support to older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes” (About Occupational Therapy) The purpose of OT is to assist patients in coping with their condition and help them perform daily activities that their problem may prevent them from doing. Some of the things that people might have trouble with are simple tasks such as: schoolwork, taking care of some hygiene aspects, cooking, cleaning, moving around, speaking and many other simple activities.​During OT, some of the standard procedures provided on. treatment includes: assessing and evaluating an individual, creating a personalized method and procedure to suit that patient and assist them in developing how they carry out their daily activities and, finally, developing an outcome agenda to ensure that the patient is achieving their goal, and if not, they change the method and try a different route. OTs may also recommend various types of supplies to place in the patient's environment to fit the patient's condition and help the patient feel comfortable. One of the primary goals of OT is to ensure that the patient's surrounding atmosphere is one in which he or she is able to learn and improve with ease. Similarities, Differences, and Benefits of Physical and Occupational Therapy Similarities​Although these professions have different titles, they perform still have some of the same tasks and have some of the same goals in mind. In accordance with St. Catherine University's Online OT, in both of these careers, OTs and PTs educate people on how to prevent and avoid injuries, educate people on the healing and recovery process, help people develop their ability to carry out their daily activities. learning activities from training and education and, finally, take on important roles and specialize in their areas of expertise and knowledge (St. Catherine University, 2017). In addition, these specialists help treat a large number of people of any age. Differences There are several components that make it easy to identify physical therapy from occupational therapy. One of the main conflicts in practices is what is treated and for how long. Physical therapy identifies an injury that a person may have suffered and sets an entire treatment plan on the condition of the injury and the damage it has done to the body. The PT examines income and outcomes from a “biomechanical perspective” (St. Catherine University Online OTA, 2017). They map out and plan “individualized treatment plans that may include exercises and games to improve motor skills and strength, as well as massage, muscle stretching, and hot and cold therapy” (MAS Medical Staffing, 2017).​When it comes to activities physical therapy fornewborns, physical therapists assist children with disabilities, birth defects, posture problems, and problems with motor skills. Motor skills are skills learned to generate a predetermined movement outcome with maximum certainty. Conditions such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, neuromuscular disorders and stiff neck hinder a child's ability to fully understand their motor skills. PT also provides children with small alternative movements to perform if their body fails to perform a skill correctly.​When it comes to adolescents and adults, PT helps patients recover from any injury they have suffered.by focusing on elements such as dexterity, strength and water exercises to strengthen muscles. According to a Medical Staffing blog, physical therapists use massage, hot and cold therapy, ultrasound and red light therapy to work on tissues and muscles throughout the body. Meanwhile, as some older individuals suffer from injuries such as osteoporosis, strokes, hip replacements, and hernias, physical therapists help them with movement that may now be limited or restricted due to their aging bodies. Furthermore, the type of therapy also teaches patients the ways in which they can reduce the pain they may feel in their body. Although occupational therapy works towards similar goals, it has different methods to achieve different results. Occupational therapy works to help people overcome whatever conditions they may have. They then outline plans to assist these patients in carrying out daily activities that have been hindered or difficult to carry out due to their condition. Since the condition is something that affects an individual's livelihood, OTs plan to care for the person as a whole, not just one part of the body. They are dedicated to helping the patient's daily bodily movements, and depending on the person's condition, the time needed to treat the patient may be longer than if they only needed physical therapy. As mentioned above, occupational therapy is used on individuals of all ages. When treating newborns and infants, the Birth Injury Guide states that OTs work with children whose motor skills and sensory processing are not fully intact and functioning as they should. Some symptoms shown in children like this are weak muscle tone, hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity, and lack of ingenuity or dexterity. To treat children with these symptoms, OTs will work to develop muscle strength in children with various child-appropriate exercises and equipment. Likewise, for children with sensory issues, treatment is concerned with using distinct acts to help improve those senses that may be lacking. Likewise, OTs assist children when they present with injuries, chronic conditions, behavioral issues, developmental issues. and physical disabilities. Treatment involves making sure children learn to perform basic functions like eating and using extra equipment which can be things like hearing aids, wheelchairs, walkers, or anything that helps accommodate them. This means they are focusing on more cognitive tasks that require mental and emotional assistance rather than just physical.​OT in adolescents and adults is quite minor and basically only targets the patient's motor skills if they have been affected by illnesses, in addition to teaching patients about their needs and how to address them. In contrast, when it comes to the elderly, there is an abundance of topics that enter into the treatment analysis. When older adults suffer from stroke, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or sensory loss,#1.