Jobs PT can have, & NOT OT
Started by SuperKirby
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So I hear OT's cannot work in sports medicine?
Hi Superkirby,
First thing you have to understand, is that question really depends on the region of the country you're planning on working in. For instance, in my experience in in New England, the PT's in most places are responsible for fitting/sizing wheelchairs and all the adjunct equiment needed, as well as training the patients to use. This is not he case in parts of the mid atlantic and mid west, as some facilities have more OT's that perform this function.
In general, there's a lot of overlap. PT only areas (as far as I know):
-gait training -stair training - lower extremity strengthening -spinal symptoms -exercise tolerance testing -pulmonary clearance -sports related functional focus
OT only areas (I know less about this):
- splinting -cog -feeding -oral motor -adl's that include cooking, cleaning, dressing, bathing
everywhere else you can think of, there's a lot of overlap, with PT's usually taking up more of the slack from the lack of OT's in a lot of areas. OT is definitely a profession in need, however, with all the changes that may take place in the health care world over the next 20 years, you may see either more concrete division between the two fields to help clarify identities, or you may see the combining of the professions into one profession with subfield divisions
First thing you have to understand, is that question really depends on the region of the country you're planning on working in. For instance, in my experience in in New England, the PT's in most places are responsible for fitting/sizing wheelchairs and all the adjunct equiment needed, as well as training the patients to use. This is not he case in parts of the mid atlantic and mid west, as some facilities have more OT's that perform this function.
In general, there's a lot of overlap. PT only areas (as far as I know):
-gait training -stair training - lower extremity strengthening -spinal symptoms -exercise tolerance testing -pulmonary clearance -sports related functional focus
OT only areas (I know less about this):
- splinting -cog -feeding -oral motor -adl's that include cooking, cleaning, dressing, bathing
everywhere else you can think of, there's a lot of overlap, with PT's usually taking up more of the slack from the lack of OT's in a lot of areas. OT is definitely a profession in need, however, with all the changes that may take place in the health care world over the next 20 years, you may see either more concrete division between the two fields to help clarify identities, or you may see the combining of the professions into one profession with subfield divisions
that is great info, thanks dr. feel good.
