What are the pros and cons of being a physical therapist vs. an occupational therapist ?

Question

I have been told that many physical therapists wished they went into occupational therapy because of the more variety of fields they can enter. This led me to wonder about other pros and cons. Can anyone lend me their expertise?

Thanks.

Answer 1

I would agree with the pros and cons listed by Mistify. These are the pros and cons of both professions, and it is true that they are rather similar. However, I believe that you are right that there are many more options for specialization with occupational therapy.

Physical therapists work a lot with large muscle groups. They are the ones who teach people how to walk again after an injury or illness. Much of what they do is directly related to the "physical" in terms of helping people to increase strength, range of motion, endurance, etc. Some people associate physical therapy more with athletic injuries. This is true because most athletic injuries happen to the hips, knees, ankles, and shoulders. Aside from the shoulder, all of these areas are primarily covered by physical therapy. (OT also will do shoulders) Because of this, some pro sports teams will have a physical therapist on their staff...they will not have an occupational therapist.

Occupational therapists deal with the physical, social, and emotional aspects of illness, injury, and disability. If they cannot help a person fully recover from an injury, they will help the person adapt their life so they can be as independent as possible. Occupational therapists can work in NICU's, birth to three programs, school districts, hospitals, rehab centers, mental health settings, work settings, and nursing homes. They can be home/work modification consultants, work in community wellness programs, and complete driving evaluations for senior citizens and people with disabilities. OT specialties include hand therapy, lymphedema treatment, and even incontinence care. The possibilities are really endless, so there are really a number of avenues you can go down.

Now, please know that I have a bias. I am an occupational therapist. I chose to go into this profession because of the philosophy of helping people to help themselves. I believe that when a person experiences an illness or disability, it is the little things (like going to the bathroom yourself, taking a shower independently, getting dressed) that you miss the most. As an occupational therapist, I get to help people re-claim control of their lives. I get to give them the gift of dignity and independence. To me, there is no other profession I would rather pursue.

Answer 2

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RE:
What are the pros and cons of being a physical therapist vs. an occupational therapist ?
I have been told that many physical therapists wished they went into occupational therapy because of the more variety of fields they can enter. This led me to wonder about other pros and cons. Can anyone lend me their expertise?

Thanks.

Answer 3

Physical therapy is more "sportsy", occupational therapy generally involves helping people learn or re-learn the daily activities of self-care (eating, dressing, etc.) I would guess that there is a significant amount of psychology involved in both fields, as you are helping people who have lost (or never achieved) certain abilities. There will be frustration to help patients through, a sense of helplessness to overcome, and, at least with physical therapy, there is often physical pain that has to be worked through. Both require creativity -- you are dealing with people in both fields. Both are very hands-on. I think the level of reward would depend on the therapist. I suspect that the field of physical therapy would allow for a wider range of occupational options (i.e. sports training, injury recovery, developmentally delayed children, elderly patients recovering from stroke or catastrophic injury). Both are great fields, and both require a huge amount of compassion for people, and a significant investment in your education and training. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

Answer 4

I don't find this to be true at all. PTs and OTs probably work in all the same settings except for mental health (even then, you may find a few PTs who are working with those with both psychological and physical disorders). Both fields have similar pros:
1. some level of autonomy
2. design treatment programs
3. both very rewarding to see people meet goals
4. both are in demand
5. both have a sound salary
6. both can promote to managerial positions
7. both have areas of specialty/certification

both have similar cons:
1. working occasional nights and weekends
2. can be physically demanding
3. may come into contact with body fluids

Both are very similar except that PT may cover a wider range of body systems.