Role of Physio and Occupational Therapists
Just out of interest, what do they do? I've done some work shadowing in the related specialties and it seems a bit interesting... but I'm still not very clear about their differences.
What are the roles in the hospital?
Besides this, how long is an undergraduate course?
Can anyone be kind and share their physio and/or occupational therapy course notes with me? Just a sample or two... I just wanna see what the course is like and what you learn. Thanks.
Right now I'm having a dilemma of the differences between a chiropractor, physio and occupational therapist!
What are the roles in the hospital?
Besides this, how long is an undergraduate course?
Can anyone be kind and share their physio and/or occupational therapy course notes with me? Just a sample or two... I just wanna see what the course is like and what you learn. Thanks.
Right now I'm having a dilemma of the differences between a chiropractor, physio and occupational therapist!
The way i mentioned it in my Physio interview (And my random OT one)..was that Physios work on a larger area, they concentrate on making the whole body to the best of its ability.
OT is more task specific. They concentrate on improving a persons potential with the more day to day things.
You could always do a little reading up on both areas, see if that makes things any clearer...then get some more work experience if you can.
OT is more task specific. They concentrate on improving a persons potential with the more day to day things.
You could always do a little reading up on both areas, see if that makes things any clearer...then get some more work experience if you can.
You could have a dig around at www.csp.org.uk - that's the chartered society of physios website.
Physio does cover a lot of the body - not just outpatients type stuff that you may have come across if you had sports injury. There's also stuff like rehabilitation after a stroke or improving movement after a patient develops Parkinson's - they both come into the neuro side of things. Then there's cardiorespiratory, which is a lot of rehabilitation after a heart attack, abdominal surgery, or problems breathing such as COPD, asthma etc.
Outpatients/musculoskeletal covers a lot more than just sports injuries - just thinking back over the last week of placement, I've seen people after a fracture, people with osteoarthritis, running injuries, plus a load of others - and some that might surprise you - such as someone aged 28 with sickle cell anemia. This can mess up the blood supply to the thigh bones, meaning the patient needed a hip replacement, and physios help with this post-op (so can work closely with orthopedics departments, along with all sorts of others too). I've also seen a lady who got lower back pain after havign a baby (the abdominals have to adapt to a pregnancy, so they're weak afterwards and so don't suppport the back), plus several shoulder problems. Some of them come about as a result of a bad set up of the computer!
Not too sure about OT - we've got an OT department at the placement and they do seem to help work out how to manage everyday things with some sort of impairment - so this morning I saw them going through cooking stuff with a patient.
Physio undergrad is 3 years, I think OT is the same but I wouldn't swear to that.
Physio does cover a lot of the body - not just outpatients type stuff that you may have come across if you had sports injury. There's also stuff like rehabilitation after a stroke or improving movement after a patient develops Parkinson's - they both come into the neuro side of things. Then there's cardiorespiratory, which is a lot of rehabilitation after a heart attack, abdominal surgery, or problems breathing such as COPD, asthma etc.
Outpatients/musculoskeletal covers a lot more than just sports injuries - just thinking back over the last week of placement, I've seen people after a fracture, people with osteoarthritis, running injuries, plus a load of others - and some that might surprise you - such as someone aged 28 with sickle cell anemia. This can mess up the blood supply to the thigh bones, meaning the patient needed a hip replacement, and physios help with this post-op (so can work closely with orthopedics departments, along with all sorts of others too). I've also seen a lady who got lower back pain after havign a baby (the abdominals have to adapt to a pregnancy, so they're weak afterwards and so don't suppport the back), plus several shoulder problems. Some of them come about as a result of a bad set up of the computer!
Not too sure about OT - we've got an OT department at the placement and they do seem to help work out how to manage everyday things with some sort of impairment - so this morning I saw them going through cooking stuff with a patient.
Physio undergrad is 3 years, I think OT is the same but I wouldn't swear to that.
Yep OT is more function based and works on activities of daily living like washing, dressing, eating, cooking etc... they will help teach patients how to do things like transferring from a bed to a chair, into and out of a bath, on and off the toilet, how to get into bed after having a hip replacement etc. OT's will also work with people developing skills like memory, numerical skills, processing information and other brain-related tasks! Like Physio's, OT's rotate around different specialties like neurology and orthopaedics and may do different things based on which area they are in. I work as a physio and thats the sort of things our OT's do anyway!!
On the other hand Physio's mainly work with physical movement- regaining it or improving it following injury or illness, e.g. after a stroke, after a fracture, after falls etc. Specific techniques to do this would include improving muscle strength, improving balance, improving walking patterns etc...Respiratory physio's work with patients post surgery or with breathing difficulties like asthma, or patients in intensive care. Basically to improve their breathing and maintain good lung function after surgery etc. Physio's also rotate around different clinical areas and can work anywhere from patients homes to hospitals, to clinics, intensive care and many other places.
I hope you'll see that they are very different jobs but the roles do sometimes actually get a bit of overlap, for instance both OT's and Physio's would be involved in improving a patients ability to transfer from a wheelchair to a bed as it involves a activity of daily living (getting into bed) as well as a physical movement (having the strength in the arms, trunk and legs) to get across to the bed.
I hope that helps!! I would recommend shadowing both a physio and an OT to get an idea of which you'd prefer.
On the other hand Physio's mainly work with physical movement- regaining it or improving it following injury or illness, e.g. after a stroke, after a fracture, after falls etc. Specific techniques to do this would include improving muscle strength, improving balance, improving walking patterns etc...Respiratory physio's work with patients post surgery or with breathing difficulties like asthma, or patients in intensive care. Basically to improve their breathing and maintain good lung function after surgery etc. Physio's also rotate around different clinical areas and can work anywhere from patients homes to hospitals, to clinics, intensive care and many other places.
I hope you'll see that they are very different jobs but the roles do sometimes actually get a bit of overlap, for instance both OT's and Physio's would be involved in improving a patients ability to transfer from a wheelchair to a bed as it involves a activity of daily living (getting into bed) as well as a physical movement (having the strength in the arms, trunk and legs) to get across to the bed.
I hope that helps!! I would recommend shadowing both a physio and an OT to get an idea of which you'd prefer.
Reply 4
An OT undergraduate course in most places is 3 years. They can work in a hospital, in the community, in school... and loads of places. In the hospital they asses the patients.. some need OT's and others don't. The patients who are able to walk around on their own, dress themself, wash themself etc generally don't need the help from an OT. But the patients who might have a bit of trouble walking or dressing may need help. OT's will ask the patient what they have at home eg what sort of chair they have, bath, shower, toilet etc. If someone has a low chair and has had a hip replacement they will need their chair raising so it is the OT's job to sort that out. Or if someone needs a rail by the toilet or a commode or something then the OT will sort that out. They basically go round the wards sorting out who needs what then they get to do home assessments where they look at if the patient is safe in the home and if they can do day-to-day activities ok and if they need any equipment or carers in the home to help. OT's in the community may visit people in their homes or in rehab centres/ I hope that helps. I shadowed an OT for 6 weeks and loved it so it might help you to get in some work experience.
Reply 5
Occupational therapy: working within everyday settings education/homing/working.
Occupational therapists make your therapy work around you and make it work for you. Im not good with Physio so sorry.
In an area that may include OT includes Ed. A community OT may go into the setting and see how they might need it to be improved for the patient
Occupational therapists make your therapy work around you and make it work for you. Im not good with Physio so sorry.
In an area that may include OT includes Ed. A community OT may go into the setting and see how they might need it to be improved for the patient
Right... Those comments are somewhat along the lines in my impression of OT and PT.
I'm currently doing a week's worth of WE in a school catering for disabled students. The staff who introduced us to the school questioned us the diff. between OT and PT and she said like OT deals with the upper body and PT with the lower body. But I was under the impression that OT deals with daily life. That was what I answered and I said stuff like OTherapists changing models/facilities and then this stupid student next to me was like "models?" and PT.... don't know much about it until now
Thanks a lot!
My other problem with the 2 courses is that... they don't sound very technical if you know what I mean........... (sorry if I'm wrong... don't criticize me!)
Can anyone please be kind and share some of their OT/PT notes with me? I really wanna have a look and see what the course content is like. Thanks!
I'm currently doing a week's worth of WE in a school catering for disabled students. The staff who introduced us to the school questioned us the diff. between OT and PT and she said like OT deals with the upper body and PT with the lower body. But I was under the impression that OT deals with daily life. That was what I answered and I said stuff like OTherapists changing models/facilities and then this stupid student next to me was like "models?" and PT.... don't know much about it until now
Thanks a lot!My other problem with the 2 courses is that... they don't sound very technical if you know what I mean........... (sorry if I'm wrong... don't criticize me!)
Can anyone please be kind and share some of their OT/PT notes with me? I really wanna have a look and see what the course content is like. Thanks!
Catchetat
the diff. between OT and PT and she said like OT deals with the upper body and PT with the lower body.
My other problem with the 2 courses is that... they don't sound very technical if you know what I mean........... (sorry if I'm wrong... don't criticize me!)
My other problem with the 2 courses is that... they don't sound very technical if you know what I mean........... (sorry if I'm wrong... don't criticize me!)
Whoever told you that was talking a load of rubbish!! Yes OT deals with activities of daily living, physio deals with physical problems, upper and lower body!!
I can't speak much for OT as I'm not one, but as a physio I can tell you it is VERY technical!! Part of the training involves learning the anatomy and physiology of the body (much like medicine), understanding the mechanics of the human body, how it moves how it works. You also learn about lots of different illnesses and diseases and how to help restore the body back to functional levels. We need to understand the effects of different drugs on the body, what happens in different surgeries etc.... understand about nutrition, psychology etc...probably the most technical aspect is working in intensive care or high dependency- we need to understand tons of different monitors that critically ill patients are attached too (sometimes as many as 10 monitors!!), analyse blood results, decide on oxygen levels and work with extremely ill patients, helping keep thier lungs in good working order using specialised equipment and ventilators
It can be very stressful at this end but I love it, its so medical and incredibly rewarding as the doctors really do value our input and skills. Its basically a profession that is as technical as you want it to be.Wow. My impression of physiotherapists in a hospital environment was always simply arranging mini game and other rehab activities for patients, particularly ones who had a stroke before. At times, with pregnant women with counseling their concerns like back care and stuff. I never knew that their nature of work is so broad!
I'm very much interested in anatomy and physiology of the body, which explains why I like Medicine. What I'm planning to do is to study a Physiotherapy/OT degree in Hong Kong (hence cheaper for me). If I would like to work in that field then I will very likely continue with it. If not, after I finish the course I'd probably apply for Medicine.
You talked about learning the effects of different drugs on the body and in different surgery. But how does that relate to your job?
When you mean high dependency, do you mean patients who are highly dependent on monitors and such? And why do you have to analyze blood results and oxygen levels? Don't people who work in hematology do that?
I've seen people extracting sputum out from the lungs of patients with bronchitis. Are they, then, physiotherapists?
Sorry for asking so many questions but I'd really like to know more about the course. Perhaps any one of you could send me some of your lecture notes please? Thanks!
I'm very much interested in anatomy and physiology of the body, which explains why I like Medicine. What I'm planning to do is to study a Physiotherapy/OT degree in Hong Kong (hence cheaper for me). If I would like to work in that field then I will very likely continue with it. If not, after I finish the course I'd probably apply for Medicine.
You talked about learning the effects of different drugs on the body and in different surgery. But how does that relate to your job?
When you mean high dependency, do you mean patients who are highly dependent on monitors and such? And why do you have to analyze blood results and oxygen levels? Don't people who work in hematology do that?
I've seen people extracting sputum out from the lungs of patients with bronchitis. Are they, then, physiotherapists?
Sorry for asking so many questions but I'd really like to know more about the course. Perhaps any one of you could send me some of your lecture notes please?
Thanks!Reply 9
I'm not sure what you would get out of anyone's lecture notes as the person would tend to write only the stuff they think is important rather than what actually is important!
If you really want to know what kind of things are involved in being a physio then may I suggest a book called Lessons on Massage by Margaret D. Palmer. My CE on one of my placements had a copy and I thought it was a very good introduction to virtually all aspects of physiotherapy. It's a very, very old book first published in 1901 and the edition that I am using is a reprint of the 2nd edition of 1906, published this year. The book contains anatomy and physiology, massage for specific areas and details of various diseases. Obviously it is quite dated in some areas, but overall it is worth reading and it covers most aspects of a first year physio course apart from stuff such as social issues and study skills.
As for the difference between OTs and Physios, my view would be that the main difference is that Physios are more invoved with acutely ill patients when they first come into hospital and the OTs become more involved as the patient recovers and is being prepared to get back into their normal lives.
So for example, a patient who has had a stroke and has lost function in their arm and leg would be seen by a physio to help them to recover as much function in that limb as possible. Once they are well on the way with that recovery then the OT would teach them how to deal with everyday tasks albeit with limited functionality of the limb. So there would be no point in an OT coming and saying to the patient when they are first admitted, 'Right, I'll show you how to dress yourself'. if the person can't move their arm at all!
I would suggest looking at the NHS Careers website for details of what is involved in different health careers.
If you really want to know what kind of things are involved in being a physio then may I suggest a book called Lessons on Massage by Margaret D. Palmer. My CE on one of my placements had a copy and I thought it was a very good introduction to virtually all aspects of physiotherapy. It's a very, very old book first published in 1901 and the edition that I am using is a reprint of the 2nd edition of 1906, published this year. The book contains anatomy and physiology, massage for specific areas and details of various diseases. Obviously it is quite dated in some areas, but overall it is worth reading and it covers most aspects of a first year physio course apart from stuff such as social issues and study skills.
As for the difference between OTs and Physios, my view would be that the main difference is that Physios are more invoved with acutely ill patients when they first come into hospital and the OTs become more involved as the patient recovers and is being prepared to get back into their normal lives.
So for example, a patient who has had a stroke and has lost function in their arm and leg would be seen by a physio to help them to recover as much function in that limb as possible. Once they are well on the way with that recovery then the OT would teach them how to deal with everyday tasks albeit with limited functionality of the limb. So there would be no point in an OT coming and saying to the patient when they are first admitted, 'Right, I'll show you how to dress yourself'. if the person can't move their arm at all!
I would suggest looking at the NHS Careers website for details of what is involved in different health careers.
Catchetat
Wow. My impression of physiotherapists in a hospital environment was always simply arranging mini game and other rehab activities for patients, particularly ones who had a stroke before. At times, with pregnant women with counseling their concerns like back care and stuff. I never knew that their nature of work is so broad!
I'm very much interested in anatomy and physiology of the body, which explains why I like Medicine. What I'm planning to do is to study a Physiotherapy/OT degree in Hong Kong (hence cheaper for me). If I would like to work in that field then I will very likely continue with it. If not, after I finish the course I'd probably apply for Medicine.
You talked about learning the effects of different drugs on the body and in different surgery. But how does that relate to your job?
When you mean high dependency, do you mean patients who are highly dependent on monitors and such? And why do you have to analyze blood results and oxygen levels? Don't people who work in hematology do that?
I've seen people extracting sputum out from the lungs of patients with bronchitis. Are they, then, physiotherapists?
Sorry for asking so many questions but I'd really like to know more about the course. Perhaps any one of you could send me some of your lecture notes please? Thanks!
I'm very much interested in anatomy and physiology of the body, which explains why I like Medicine. What I'm planning to do is to study a Physiotherapy/OT degree in Hong Kong (hence cheaper for me). If I would like to work in that field then I will very likely continue with it. If not, after I finish the course I'd probably apply for Medicine.
You talked about learning the effects of different drugs on the body and in different surgery. But how does that relate to your job?
When you mean high dependency, do you mean patients who are highly dependent on monitors and such? And why do you have to analyze blood results and oxygen levels? Don't people who work in hematology do that?
I've seen people extracting sputum out from the lungs of patients with bronchitis. Are they, then, physiotherapists?
Sorry for asking so many questions but I'd really like to know more about the course. Perhaps any one of you could send me some of your lecture notes please?
Thanks!Yes to the sputum question - it's part of the job os a cardioresp physio, and also to the games for stroke patients - probably games designed to help restore useful function though. All part of the broad spectrum that is physio - and nothing like an outpatients setting where it's seeing patient after patient, often with widely differing problems from all over the body - great variety which I guess is why at the moment it's my area of choice.
Haematology is blood disease - resp physios need to look at blood gases and chemicals to tell them stuff about how well you're breathing and to suggest techniques to improve this - equally it'd have a role to play in not trying to mobilise the patient too much.
Let me clear the confusion between OT n PT here...both professions are much related to each other.physiotherapist work on physical rehabilitation of the patients after an injury through modalities for pain relief first n then improving muscle strength thru exercises..while as occupational therapist deals with the patients at physical,emotional n mental level...provide exercises for muscle strengthening and then later jump on activities f daily living...they can deal with pediatric cases much better than physiotherapist as they hv knowlege about mental health also...in other words, occupational therapist can work as physiotherapist but physiotherapist cannot work as an occupational therapist...cx they can't assess the mental status f the child.
Let me clear the confusion between OT n PT here...both professions are much related to each other.physiotherapist work on physical rehabilitation of the patients after an injury through modalities for pain relief first n then improving muscle strength thru exercises..while as occupational therapist deals with the patients at physical,emotional n mental level...provide exercises for muscle strengthening and then later jump on activities f daily living...they can deal with pediatric cases much better than physiotherapist as they hv knowlege about mental health also...in other words, occupational therapist can work as physiotherapist but physiotherapist cannot work as an occupational therapist...cx they can't assess the mental status f the child.
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