Occupational Therapy vs. Physiotherapy
An NDIS plan will almost always include funding for therapy under its Capacity Building section. This NDIS funding is used to help a Participant reach their goals. Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy are 2 of the most common NDIS supports funded.
Here's a quick overview:
- An Occupational Therapist (OT) focuses on fine motor skills (the movements of the small muscles of the body) and aims to help improve the quality of participation in an individuals’ daily functional tasks.
- A physiotherapist focuses more on gross motor skills (movements using the large muscles of the body) to help improve the quality of movement of the human body.
In practical terms “A Physiotherapist can help you get to the bathroom, but you better have an Occupational Therapist around to help you accomplish anything once you get there!”
The Physiotherapist helps with the physical movements, whereas the occupational therapist helps with the functional task at hand.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists focus on improving gross motor skills, which are those that need full body movement and involve the big muscles of the body to perform daily functions.
These everyday functions include:
- sitting upright
- standing
- walking
- running
- hand-eye coordination
- ball skills.
Without gross motor skills, children will have trouble playing with friends at the playground, playing sports, or just moving around.
Why Would an NDIS Participant Need Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapists are trained in the treatment of individuals who have difficulty moving as a result of an injury or disability.
They will often develop a specialised treatment program for an NDIS participant based on the specific needs of a participant.
A Physio will develop a plan that is aimed at improving their ability to be as mobile and independent as possible in order to reach their NDIS goals.
A Physiotherapist will analyse their impairment from a biomechanical perspective and will develop a plan that will restore the function of muscles in order to improve the impairment itself by increasing mobility, aligning bones and joints and/or lessening pain.
What kind of Disabilities would need Physiotherapy
Disabilities that affect movement, like Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Injuries, Brain Injuries, and Neurological injuries would benefit from Physiotherapy funding in their NDIS plan.
What are Gross Motor Skills
When it comes to children, physiotherapists often work more with an individual's physical mobility to move their body in order to do those activities of daily living, navigating safely through their environment, and getting to their destination.
These movements use the large muscles of the body and are often referred to as gross motor skills.
What is the Goal of Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapists are often able to analyse an individual's impairment from a biomechanical perspective and through exercise and play.
They then work to improve the impairment itself by:
- increasing mobility,
- aligning bones and joints and/or
- lessening pain.
Physiotherapists work with individuals of all ages on the following skills and more:
- Gross motor skills
- Functional mobility
- Gait mechanics
- Strength
- Endurance
- Balance & coordination
- Equipment and orthotics training
- Motor control and motor planning
- Body awareness
- Pain relief
- Flexibility
- Wound care
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapists (OT) focus on improving fine motor skills, which involve using the smaller muscles of the hands.
Fine motor skills are vital for an individual to perform their daily self-care and employment or academic tasks.
Self-care tasks can include:
- brushing teeth
- getting dressed
- opening a lunchbox
- eating.
Academic or employment tasks include such things as:
- using scissors
- drawing
- typing
- writing
- using a phone
Find an NDIS occupational therapist near you
Why Would an NDIS Participant Need Occupational Therapy?
An Occupational Therapist (OT) treats the whole person - the word 'occupation' refers to 'all meaningful and purposeful activities'.
For children, these 'occupations' include playing, learning, and socialising. Whether a child has developmental or cognitive disabilities 'affecting their motor skills, emotions and/or behaviour, OTs are helping them to fully engage in daily life.
If a Participant's impairment impacts their ability to participate in functional tasks, OTs will often find ways to adapt the task and/or suggest materials to help manage them.
OTs are also trained to help Participants organise and interpret information from the environment (sensory integration).
Occupational Therapists work with NDIS Participants on the following tasks and skills, as well as many others:
- Self-care tasks
- Gross motor skills
- Fine motor skills
- Executive functioning
- Cognitive skills
- Attention
- Sensory processing abilities
- Body awareness
- Motor planning/ praxis
- Visual spatial awareness and visual motor integration
- Hand eye coordination
Find an Occupational Therapist with availability
The Overlap Between Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
Physical and Occupational Therapy are similar in that they are both recommended for an Participant living with a disability. For instance, both Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy can help a Participant perform the self-care act of getting dressed.
This is because Physiotherapy will improve balance, while occupational therapy will improve their ability to use their hands to put on their clothes.
In addition, gross motor skill development is essential to performing certain tasks requiring fine motor skills, such as writing or using scissors.
For example; a child will need to have the gross motor skill of sitting upright before being able to use a pen and write or cut up shapes with a pair of scissors.
Collaboration is key — NDIS Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists often work together. If there is not an available OT, get started with your Physiotherapist!
As they say, “teamwork makes the dream work”!
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