Why are OT and PT separate?

[deleted671726]

I don't know if this is a question that has been covered in the past, but I am wondering why are PT and OT different jobs and schools? I was hoping employed PTs could shed some light on this topic.

In my opinion, it would make sense to have one position do both. They seem far more similar than different. I am only a PT student right now, so maybe I just lack the real world experience. It seems like PT and OT are very similar - curriculum, treatment, etc. From my experience in hospitals and clinics, PT's work with ambulation and transfers, while OT's work with hands and ADL's. These seem like two sides of the same coin. I do not see the need/logic for this split. In PT school, there is a lot of stress on function and ADL's also. I do not go to OT school, so I do not know that side, but I feel like PT's have the knowledge to do what OT's do (and I am sure the vice versa is also true). I think that this split of PTs and OTs just weakens both professions.

Does anyone know if this split was always there? Curriculums are almost identical, so why not just have a PT/OT degree? Does having PT and OT separate hurt or benefit each respective profession?

What do you guys think?

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[DesertPT]

PT school is bit heavier on basic sciences, OT school is heavier on psychosocial aspects. That's one difference off the top of my head. OT school also focuses more heavily on UE, PT school to me seems to be more evenly dispersed throughout the body. But I've never been an OT student, this is just a couple of impressions I've got in my very superficial exposure to OT's/OT students.

The fundamental difference is that PT's are movement specialists, and OT's are functional independence specialists. There is a lot of crossover, and the differences between the two are sometimes intricate. But the training is substantially different and there is a definite need for both.

 

[ptlover]

PT school is bit heavier on basic sciences, OT school is heavier on psychosocial aspects. That's one difference off the top of my head. OT school also focuses more heavily on UE, PT school to me seems to be more evenly dispersed throughout the body. But I've never been an OT student, this is just a couple of impressions I've got in my very superficial exposure to OT's/OT students.

The fundamental difference is that PT's are movement specialists, and OT's are functional independence specialists. There is a lot of crossover, and the differences between the two are sometimes intricate. But the training is substantially different and there is a definite need for both.

Totally off topic - you're alive! Lol

 

[deleted671726]

It seems to me that function and movement are very interrelated and trying to keep them separate is more difficult than working on both.

Can you describe how the training is different? I was looking at OT school curriculums and it looks 90% identical to a PT curriculum.

Again, I bring this up because I feel like combining the two jobs will help the profession more than keeping them separate. And it seems like a very realistic and simply logistical change. Has there ever been a push to combine the two into one position/degree?

 

[callmecrazy]

This isn't a thorough answer, but it might give you a better idea of the differences that exist. These are some of the things I think the OTs I work with are far more qualified to do, and some we barely touched on if at all in school.

- feeding: including textures, equipment, and techniques
- setting up sensory diets
- handwriting
- basic hygiene tasks with total vision loss

On the same token, they're always going to default to the PTs when it comes to gait and LE ortho issues, among others. We also collaborate on a daily basis though. At least in my setting, 2 uniquely knowledgable professionals working together are always going to be more effective than one person trying to do everything.

 

[NewTestament]

I see OTs helping patients perform ADLs and fine motor skills, while PTs help patients perform gross motor skills. The skill set of a PT and OT slightly overlaps, but the professions aren't the same at all. OTs and PTs have different personalities and characteristics. The only characteristic they sure is altruism.

Of course, I hear all the time that OTs work with the upper extremities and the PTs work with the lower extremities, but this is incorrect.

 

[Bones26]

One of the issues plaguing OT is their lack of clear, concrete focus as a profession. Fine motor skills, ADLs, IADLs, cognitive therapy, sleep hygiene, play and leisure therapy are all foci of OT. I'm sure there are others I'm missing. There IS overlap with PT and SLP, but there are so many aspects that are clearly OT. For PT to "take on" all aspects of OT would likely require an additional 1.5-2 years of school and make our scope of practice so incredibly broad it would be ridiculous.

Maybe you should spend some more time Googling or shadowing OT in multiple settings if you can. OT has it's own, distinct role in rehab science, and it's for the patient's benefit.

 

[deleted671726]

Hmm what you guys definitely makes sense and is helping me to have a better understanding. Thank you for taking the time to explain it to me. I recently learned (or was at least taught by a professor) that due to a misplaced comma, the billing cap for PT includes SLP but OP has its separate billing cap. This made me wonder how many things for PT and health care in general are the way that they are because it is effective or if it is just the way it is because it is long slow difficult process to change it. This was one topic that came to mind and it makes more sense now. Thanks again for those who replied. If anyone has anything else to add that would help me to understand more, that would also be appreciated.

 

[DesertPT]

Of course, I hear all the time that OTs work with the upper extremities and the PTs work with the lower extremities, but this is incorrect.

Thank you. This is one of the most annoying over-generalizations out there. Some people don't even know that there can be such a thing as a PT who is a hand therapist...