The Difference Between Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy

Recovering from a workplace injury can require multiple types of treatment. Initially, the victim may need first aid or emergency medical care to stop the bleeding or address other immediate concerns following a workplace accident. Then, he or she might need surgery, a cast, or another type of medical procedure to correct the injured body part. The victim might need to take an antibiotic or another type of drug before and after this procedure. But a victim's recovery often does not end with a procedure or a prescription.

To regain full control of the affected area of the body and rebuild the muscle tone and strength in that area, the victim may need physical or occupational therapy. This is done under the guidance of a certified physical or occupational therapist. Each type of therapy is designed to aid the recovery of specific areas of the body and processes that may be lost as a result of an injury. If a victim needs either type of therapy as part of his or her rehabilitation from an injury sustained in a workplace accident, the compensation he or she receives from a workplace accident claim may cover its cost.

In physical therapy, a physical therapist diagnoses the patient's physical impairments and develops a treatment plan to overcome them. Often, this treatment plan involves controlled movements and the use of mechanical force to expand the patient's range of movement over a period of time. There are multiple subareas of physical therapy, such as orthopedic physical therapy, neurological physical therapy, palliative physical therapy, and clinical physical therapy. An individual may undergo physical therapy after breaking a limb, suffering from a slipped disc, or suffering from arthritis.

Despite its name, occupational therapy does not rehabilitate a patient's vocational skills like interviewing and working as part of a team. Occupational therapy exists to help patients adjust to changes in their environments or their bodies after they are injured. For example, an individual who loses a leg in an accident may be fitted with a prosthetic leg. He or she may undergo occupational therapy to learn how to walk using the prosthetic leg. Another example of occupational therapy is speech therapy, which aids individuals who have lost language skills due to brain injuries relearn how to speak and communicate with others.

If you have been injured in a workplace accident, you might need physical or occupational therapy to completely recover from the effects of the injury. You might also be entitled to receive monetary compensation for your damages if the accident was due to another party's negligence. To learn more about seeking compensation for your damages through a San Jose workplace accident claim, set up your initial consultation with a member of our team at Corsiglia, McMahon, & Allard, L.L.P. We proudly serve clients throughout the Bay Area, San Mateo County, Alameda County, San Benito County, Monterey County, and Santa Clara County.

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