What’s The Difference Between Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and Pelvic Floor Occupational Therapy?

What’s the difference between pelvic floor physical therapy and pelvic floor occupational therapy? Pelvic floor therapy is provided by a physical therapist (PT) or an occupational therapist (OT). What’s the difference between PT and OT? Is there a difference between PT and OT in pelvic health? Let’s get into it. 

First it’s important to understand that “Pelvic Floor Therapy” is not a protected term, so technically you may see it used in scenarios that aren’t PT or OT at all. Also an OT or PT does not have specific requirements for them to state they are providing pelvic floor therapy.

For example, an Emsella chair or TENS chair at a doctors office, where they advertise urinary incontinence treatment or “strengthening” the pelvic floor by sitting passively in a chair clothed for 28-30 minutes while the chair triggers the equivalent to over 11,000 kegel exercises. Now we’re not getting into my opinion on that chair right now, but just here to say that that is NOT the same thing as pelvic floor therapy, whether that’s pelvic floor PT or pelvic floor OT. However, you may see this advertised as pelvic floor therapy or treatment.

So when recommended pelvic floor therapy, ensure you go to a provider who actually is a physical therapy provider or an occupational therapy provider, if you want actual pelvic floor therapy. 

Additionally, ensure that provider is specialized in a way that fits your pelvic health needs. Pelvic floor therapy is a speciality within these professions. This means that it requires continued education, training, and mentorship to be able to provide ample care. At Anxious Pelvis Clinic, we are solely focused on pelvic health. Our primary therapist has taken years of training and continued education, has received multiple different mentorships, stays up to date with research, attends pelvic health conferences, and continues to seek and maintain further education and training. 

So the takeaway with that is make sure if you want specialized care, that the provider is truly specialized in the areas you need or you’re seeking, no matter their background profession.

That being said, let’s circle back to what’s the difference between pelvic floor PT and pelvic floor OT?

Possibly a lot and possibly not much….let’s talk about it. Primarily, the difference will be the background training and the lens with which someone treats. 

Background on both professions a whole: 

Physical Therapy

Defined by the APTA, Physical Therapy is: “treatment provided by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant that helps people improve their movement and physical function, manage pain and other chronic conditions, and recover from and prevent injury and chronic disease.” 

PT may come in with a biomechanical, exercise science based lens looking holistically at the physiological and musculoskeletal system. A PT may blend anatomy, physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, clinical pathology, and behavioral sciences in their treatment and assessment lens.

Occupational Therapy

As defined by AOTA, “Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants focus on the things you want and need to do in your daily life. Occupational therapy intervention uses everyday life activities (occupations) to promote health, well-being, and your ability to participate in the important activities in your life. They are skilled health care professionals who use research and scientific evidence to ensure their interventions are effective. With strong knowledge of a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup, occupational therapy practitioners can evaluate how your condition (or risk for one) is affecting your body and mind, using a holistic perspective.”

OT may blend anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, occupational therapy theory, activity analysis, human development, behavioral science, environmental modification, and more into their treatment and assessment lens. It blends physical rehabilitation, mental health/well-being, and cognitive retraining for a biospychosocial approach to care.

The Takeaway

From a base training, OT and PT may look very similar, but PT may have more biomechanical and exercise science based training, whereas OT might have more mental health and sensory/neuro-based training. However, both professions are collaborating together, and both professions can take the same continuing education courses to specialize in pelvic health. You may find a PT that works very heavily in the sensory system, or with a somatic lens. You can also find an OT who works very biomechanically, with a high focus on exercise science and the musculoskeletal system. So all in all, it just depends on the person!

What’s more important than your therapist’s background profession, is how your therapist can support you and if they are the right fit provider for you. You might look what a particular therapist is passionate about or has specialty training in, and how that compares to your needs and wants. You may look at what type of clinic environment you’re looking for, or methods of treatment that are primarily used. Every provider is different, and it’s an individual choice who is best for you.

Questions? Please reach out!

If you have any questions about this post or you want to confirm Anxious Pelvis Clinic Pelvic Floor Therapy is the right fit for you, please email us at hello@anxiouspelvisclinic.com or book a session here.