Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy — What’s the Difference?
Learn the key differences between occupational therapy and physical therapy—and how each supports recovery and independence after injury or illness.
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“Occupational therapist and physical therapist collaborating on neuro rehabilitation in Vancouver WA”
Understanding the Overlap—and the Difference
If you’ve ever been referred to therapy after an injury, stroke, or surgery, you might wonder:
What’s the difference between occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT)?
Both professions help people recover function—but they focus on different goals and use distinct methods to get there. At Orca Therapy in Vancouver, WA, we specialize in neurological occupational therapy, helping people rebuild the skills needed for daily life after stroke, concussion, or brain injury.
Let’s break down how OT and PT complement each other—and how you’ll know which one you need.
💪 Physical Therapy: Restoring Strength, Mobility, and Movement
Physical therapists (PTs) focus on the body’s physical structures and movement systems. Their goal is to restore mobility, strength, endurance, and range of motion—especially after orthopedic or surgical injuries.
A PT session might include:
Strengthening and stretching exercises
Gait (walking) training
Manual therapy for joint or soft tissue mobility
Balance and coordination drills
Research consistently supports the role of physical therapy in improving physical function and reducing disability across a range of conditions (Sherrington et al., 2020).
Think of PT as restoring how your body moves.
🧠 Occupational Therapy: Relearning Life’s Everyday Skills
Occupational therapists (OTs) help people relearn and adapt the activities that give life meaning—work, self-care, hobbies, and community participation.
In neuro occupational therapy, treatment goes beyond movement to include cognitive, sensory, and perceptual recovery.
An OT session might focus on:
Regaining independence in dressing, cooking, or driving
Rebuilding memory, attention, and executive function after concussion or stroke
Modifying the home or workplace for accessibility
Sensory regulation and fatigue management
Evidence shows that occupational therapy significantly improves participation and daily functioning for people with neurological and orthopedic conditions (Steultjens et al., 2004; Laver et al., 2020).
Think of OT as restoring what your movement allows you to do.
🧩 How OT and PT Work Together
In many cases—especially after neurological events like stroke or brain injury—OT and PT work side by side.
For example:
A PT might focus on improving balance and leg strength to walk safely.
An OT then builds on that by practicing how to carry groceries, climb stairs, or cook dinner without losing balance.
Both use principles of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire itself through meaningful, repetitive activity—but OT integrates that training into real-world tasks.
Studies have shown that combining physical and occupational therapy improves overall outcomes and participation in daily life (Veerbeek et al., 2014).
⚖️ When to Choose Neuro Occupational Therapy
If your biggest challenges are related to:
Memory, attention, or thinking
Sensory overload or visual changes
Fatigue or trouble organizing your day
Reintegrating into work, driving, or parenting
—then neuro OT may be the best next step.
At Orca Therapy, our goal is to bridge the gap between medical recovery and real-life function—helping you return not just to walking or moving, but living fully.
References
Sherrington C, et al. Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020. Link
Steultjens EMJ, et al. Occupational therapy for stroke patients: A systematic review. Stroke. 2004. Link
Laver KE, et al. Occupational therapy for adults with stroke. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020. Link
Veerbeek JM, et al. Early and Intensive Rehabilitation after Stroke. Stroke. 2014. Link
