What are the differences regarding education and responsibilities between an occupational therapist and a physical therapist?

Answer 1

An occupational therapist (OT) has completed a master's degree in an OT program accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Occupational therapists address several areas in their rehabilitation of a patient— activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, bathing, grooming, toileting, and transfers. OTs also are members of the team that focuses on upper-extremity movement and function, including fine-motor control and hand-eye coordination.
The physical therapist (PT) is a member of the rehabilitation team who has completed a graduate program in physical therapy from a college or university program accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association's (APTA) accrediting body, the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The physical therapist is the member of the team who is responsible primarily for improving the patient's strength, range of motion, balance, and mobility. The physical therapist specializes in appropriate strength and endurance exercises, assisting in controlling pain, providing skin care treatment, and providing modalities (such as ultrasound, diathermy, hot packs, and whirlpool treatments).