Occupational VS Physical Therapy?

Physio is strictly physical rehab (musculoskeletal often; can include cardic, pulmonary, etc) -- it's about rehabilitating body parts and body systems. Ankles, knees, etc. They use functional exercises, but the goal is to get "a thing" to work to a decent degree again. Patients might be young/middle aged people who've hurt themselves in sport, or people of any age after injury or surgery, long term illness. Getting back to moving, getting parts to work.

OT is helping the *person* adjust to new constraints after an illness or injury, by helping them learn to do stuff in new ways (wash themselves, use a toilet, brush teeth, write, go shopping, plan their days/week, readjust to work), i.e., through "occupation". OTs also sometimes deal with more physio type stuff with hands, for some reason. Other than the hands thing, it's more psychological. Patients might be kids living with autism, older people dealing with fallout from stroke, people of any age dealing with brain injury. Getting back to living.

Physio is strictly physical rehab (musculoskeletal often; can include cardic, pulmonary, etc) -- it's about rehabilitating body parts and body systems. Ankles, knees, etc. They use functional exercises, but the goal is to get "a thing" to work to a decent degree again. Patients might be young/middle aged people who've hurt themselves in sport, or people of any age after injury or surgery, long term illness. Getting back to moving, getting parts to work.

OT is helping the *person* adjust to new constraints after an illness or injury, by helping people learn to do stuff in new ways (wash themselves, use a toilet, brush teeth, write, go shopping, plan their days/week, readjust to work), i.e., through "occupation". OTs also sometimes deal with more physio type stuff with hands, for some reason. Other than the hands thing, it's more psychological. Patients might be kids living with autism, older people dealing with fallout from stroke, people of any age dealing with brain injury. Getting back to living.

This good distinction

A lot of this difference depends on the setting therapists work in as well. I am a physical therapist and manager of a clinic that contains PTs, OTs, and SLPs (Speech Language Pathologists).

PTs often work with specific musculoskeletal complaints throughout the body but also can address balance, functional activities such as gait/transfers, etc.

OTs may also work in musculoskeletal areas (usually involving the upper extremity) but also work a lot with activities of daily living "ADLs" which can include such things as dressing, bathing, paying bills, using the community transit, etc. OTs can also address vision issues, sensory issues, as well as cognition issues.

SLPs work with swallowing issues, issues with speech including word retrieval and memory as well as clearness of speech, stuttering, etc.

Let me know if there are any other specific questions or if you would like more detail and I'd love to help