Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between occupational therapy and physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a health care profession directed at evaluating, maintaining and restoring physical function (Canadian Physiotherapy Association, 1999). Occupational therapy is a health profession that looks at physical function too but in terms of how it affects your ability to do the things that are important to you and your occupations. Occupational therapists also have the knowledge and training to work with people with a mental illness or emotional problems such as depression and/or stress.
Occupational therapists often work alongside physiotherapists, as part of a team of health professionals. Just as physical therapists use physical exercise and modalities to treat physical movement dysfunction, occupational therapists use and adapt occupations to treat or prevent occupational dysfunction due to physical, mental or environmental factors.
