If you are trying to recover from an injury, be it a musculoskeletal one or a traumatic brain injury, or you’re looking for a way to manage chronic pain or improve your physical performance, you will know that you need professional help. Yet, you may not really be sure what kind of help. Occupational therapy, as talked about here, and kinesiology often pop up as potential solutions.
But, how can you choose one or the other. Both of those professions are there to support function, movement and rehabilitation. Yet, the goals and the entire treatment processes and approaches can vary significantly. So, you may find yourself confused about which option is right for you.
Well, what we are going to do right now is talk a bit more about both of them. Hoping to help you get a better understanding of those specific treatment options, so that you can then decide what you want to get for yourself. Without any further ado, thus, let us get started.
Understanding Occupational Therapy
Okay, we are going to begin with occupational therapy. To cut right to the chase, this profession focuses on helping individuals perform those daily meaningful activities, also called, well, occupations. Those include everything from dressing and cooking to driving, working, and participating in hobbies. The goals is to help people regain their independence and improve their quality of life after an injury, an illness, a disability, or some developmental challenges.
Read more about it: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/occupational-therapy
So, what occupational therapist do is assess how your cognitive, physical, emotional and environmental factors could be affecting your ability to function. They help people relearn daily tasks after a stroke, thy support children with developmental delays, they recommend adaptive equipment when necessary, and address your fine motor skills and hand therapy. Looking beyond muscles and joints, these experts examine how a person interacts with his or her environment, and they help make improvements.
Who is it, thus, that typically visits occupational therapists? Well, a wide range of people. From individuals recovering from surgeries or strokes and adults with chronic pain to people with neurological conditions, and children with sensory or developmental challenges. Basically, this is the right move for everyone that wants to improve independence in their daily lives.
Understanding Kinesiology
Onto kinesiology now. This is the scientific study of human movement, and the professionals working in this field apply knowledge of biomechanics, physiology, anatomy, and exercise science to improve physical performance, strength, mobility, and boost injury recovery. So, while occupational therapy focuses on functional independence in people’s daily lives, kinesiology actually focuses on optimizing movement and, of course, physical conditioning.
These professionals design personalized exercises and rehabilitation programs for all of their patients. And, as you can see at Symmetry Injury Rehabilitation, those programs can include quite a lot of goals. From correcting posture and movement patterns and enhancing athletic performance, to improving strength and flexibility, reducing pain through exercise and preventing future injuries.
Kinesiologists often work in fitness centers, rehabilitation clinics, and similar places. Plus, they are sometimes a part of corporate wellness programs, as well as sports environments. And, as you may have guessed it, they help people meet various goals.
So, people who are looking for good recovery after musculoskeletal injuries will see these professionals. The same goes for people managing chronic back and neck pain, as well as athletes looking to improve performance, and individuals wanting structured and supervised exercise. So, if your goal is to rebuild your strength, improve your mobility, or generally return to physical activity, kinesiology may be the way to go.
What Do You Need?
Now that you understand these two different practices, chances are that you are wondering which one is right for you. And, well, I have briefly hinted above at the scenarios when you may want to see one or the other, but let me make things clearer anyway. In short, you should consider an occupational therapist if you are struggling with daily activities after an injury or illness, if you have difficulty with fine motor tasks, if you are supporting a child with developmental challenges and if you are experiencing cognitive or neurological limitations.
On the other hand, kinesiology (additional info) is right for you if you need guided rehabilitation after a muscle or joint injury, if you want to deal with chronic pain, if you need structured exercise support, are returning to sport or need posture correction or strength building. As you can see, both of these fields have their areas of application. And you can decide for yourself which option is right for you.
Finally, you should know one more thing. You can absolutely see both of these pros. In fact, in many rehab settings, these two professionals work together to provide you with the best possible care and to address both the function and your physical capacity, aiming at helping you meet various goals.