Have you occurred to you how children with autism are treated? There are two kinds of therapies we will discuss in this article, occupational therapy and physical therapy. For more explanation keep reading.
What is the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy?
People do not have a clear idea about what is the exact difference between both occupational and physical therapy. They think at first glance they are the same. Here are the functions of each one:
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Occupational therapy
It is a branch of health care that takes part in helping people to perform their daily tasks. Occupational therapy includes either self-care or academic tasks and responsibilities such as dressing, social activities, having their meals, writing, typing, and sports. It also focuses on enhancing your child’s ability to be independent as possible through organized activities and exercises.
OT does not only help children on the behavioral aspect, it also improves your child in emotional and social aspects. It could help them also to do the following:
- Child enabled to control his balance, coordination, and endurance.
- According to the gross motor activities by OT, the child can stand, walk and sit.
- The child could are more independent in performing their daily tasks.
- The child is socially able to deal with anger and frustration.
Concerning treatment, occupational therapists help children to engage in their life through organizing functional exercises. These activities improve the child’s fine motor skills such as movements like fingers, toes, and hands. It works also on enhancing cognitive skills, attention, eye coordination, sensory processing abilities, and Body Awareness. They help them to engage in their life. You can visit ABC website, occupational therapy section to book an appointment for asking and getting information and instructions for your child’s conditions.
Who should be treated with OT?
- Autism
- Children who were born due to complication
- sensory processing disorders
- developmental delays
Physical Therapy (Physiotherapy)
It is customized especially in movement dysfunctions and ability. Physiotherapists specialized in treating the physical problems of those who have injuries and disabilities. They work on gross motor skills which involve big muscles of the body to enable them to perform their daily routine.
Children who have disabilities or movement difficulties are not able to adapt as normal kids. So, it affects somehow their social life. Physiotherapists are responsible for establishing a well-studied long-term program based on the child’s exact condition. They should provide a comprehensive program that enables the child to get better in the future. As they use effective ways and techniques that provide support, decrease the pain, and long-term impact of reducing pressure on the functions of muscles. This kind of therapy is less expensive than surgical or medical intervention.
Physiotherapy enhances children’s abilities in the following:
Balance and coordination
Body awareness
- Endurance
- Functional mobility
- Gross motor skills
- Flexibility
How could you choose between Occupational therapy and physiotherapy?
As discussed in the article occupational therapy is different from physiotherapy. Each one has its approach, methods, knowledge, treatment, and cases. But make sure to diagnose your child before deciding if one of which is more convenient for your child’s condition than the other. Visit ABC website and click on counseling for information about such therapies.
Occupational therapy VS physiotherapy
Both physical and occupational therapists studied anatomy and the musculoskeletal system. They are knowledgeable about musculoskeletal injuries and rehabilitation than a general practitioner medical doctor. The occupational therapist plays an essential role in raising people’s awareness to avoid injuries as possible through an organized program. Meanwhile, the physical therapist works intensively on improving the ability and flexibility to do the daily routine activities through education and training. It is worth mentioning that both therapies are needed in many cases of injury recovery
