Physical Therapy vs. Physical Rehabilitation – What’s the Difference?

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When we think of physical rehabilitation, many people aren’t aware of all the different therapies and treatments that it includes. People often associate physical therapy and physical rehabilitation as one and the same; however, physical therapy is actually under the umbrella of physical rehabilitation. So, what is the difference between the two, and what are the different types of physical rehabilitation?

What Are the Main Types of Physical Rehabilitation?

Merriam-Webster describes physical rehab as: “A medical specialty concerned with preventing, diagnosing, and treating disabling diseases, disorders, and injuries by physical means (as by the use of electrotherapy, therapeutic exercise, or pharmaceutical pain control)”—Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

The therapies used for treatment are intended to help improve your quality of life by restoring your body’s natural functionality. The injuries or illnesses treated could be affecting your joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, spinal cord, brain, or nervous system.

Rehabilitation can not only improve the physical aspect of your well-being but also your mental and cognitive state. It should also be noted that treatments may differ by age, especially with pediatric and geriatric therapy.

Physical rehabilitation typically covers three major types of therapies.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy (PT) is the treatment of disease or injury with physical techniques such as exercise, cold and heat treatments, massage, and stretching. PT can be practiced in a hospital, an outpatient clinic, or even at home. It can help with conditions like arthritis, joint replacements, sports injuries, knee pain, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and much more.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy (OT) is similar to physical therapy but focuses more on your upper extremities (arms and hands) to help you become independent in performing activities of daily life (ADL). These activities may include brushing your teeth, getting dressed, or simply getting out of bed; each session is customized to your normal living behaviors. Many of the therapies and treatments may also be similar to those practiced with physical therapy. While PT focuses on improving the functionality of your body, OT focuses on the actual activity that you need or want to perform every day.

Speech and Language Therapy

Speech therapy focuses on the improvement of language, communication, swallowing, and fluency. One of the most common symptoms that we treat at Sheltering Arms Institute is dysphagia, which refers to difficulty swallowing. Dysphagia can be caused by a stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, or a physical injury affecting your tongue, mouth, throat, or esophagus.

When your ability to speak properly is affected, this is called aphasia. Some physicians may use the term aphasia interchangeably, while others use aphasia when referring to a total loss of the ability to speak.

Sheltering Arms Institute has licensed physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists who can treat a variety of conditions and diagnoses. To schedule an evaluation, contact us online or call (804) 764-1000.

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