HealthcareThe Link between Occupational Therapy and Kinesiology

I know. Both these terms are rather confusing, aren’t they? It’s not everyday someone comes up to you and tells you that they’re an occupational therapist or a Kinesiologist. Nonetheless, these professions are real – not to mention, they’re quite purposeful.

Then again, you don’t just wake up one day and decide that you want to be one. At the very least, I know that something has sparked your interest to look into these professions. Maybe you read about them somewhere or someone recommended that you meet any or both of these specialists. Either way, you made a good call soliciting for online advice and information before plunging into the unfamiliar head first.

The first thing you have to understand about these two is that although they are related, they are not the same – and no, I’m not just referring to how different they are phonetically. Kinesiology is what you may call a “prerequisite” to Occupational Therapy as it deals with the study of human movement (kinesis means to move and logy refers to study, after all). But the professionals who practice occupational therapy is in no way synonymous to the professionals who practice Kinesiology. As I said, these are two entirely different professions (read more).

So first things first, let us define the two as individual terms.

What Is Kinesiology?

If we dissect the word, as mentioned above, it becomes “kinesis” and “logy.” Both terms I’ve explained as well. But although the raw definition of the words roughly translates to the study of human movement, Kinesiology is often regarded as the “study of muscle testing.”

Why is this so?

This is because the activity of the muscles – or more specifically, the activity of the nerves and neurotransmitters that delivers signals to the muscles – is closely observed by a Kinesiologist. It has been studied that when there is a particular stressor in the body, it would show on muscle activity, or the lack thereof. A stressor may potentially block or weaken the signals sent by the brain through the neural circuits to the muscles of the body. When the signal is hampered or weakened, the muscles affected do not elicit the appropriate response.

A Kinesiologist then traces this weak response to corresponding parts of the body (believed to be associated or connected to a certain muscle tissue) and tries to find the stressor causing the disturbance. Once the stressor is located, it is corrected, realigned, or positioned appropriately through chiropractic therapy, acupuncture, and other alternative medicine methodologies.

Now, where does occupational therapy fit into all of this?

What Is Occupational Therapy?

Now, occupational therapy is a little different. It is when a practitioner or professional administers techniques and methodologies to help a person (usually a uniquely abled individual) achieve independence on everyday tasks and other relevant activities required by his or her occupation. This type of therapy is not necessarily focused on achieving a single thing. The goal often varies for every individual as each person has different needs and different things they want to achieve independence from. The therapist’s goal, whether they are a pediatric occupational therapist helping children or a practitioner working with adults, is to help his or her client achieve what it is that they are physically, emotionally, or mentally challenged to do.

Take someone who suffered half-paralysis due to a mild stroke for example. In this case, a client would usually request for his occupational therapist to help him empower himself to take charge of his personal care again. This may range from being able to eat, bathe, get dressed, and other routine tasks a person may do on a daily basis. Since that is the client’s goal, the therapist will see to it that they devise a way for the client to accomplish these tasks. This is done through rehab, simulation, practice, and creative instruction.

So, what does this have to do with Kinesiology?

The Link Between The Two

For occupational therapists, it is important that they can identify what each of their clients are capable of doing. This is where muscle testing often comes in handy. It is also helpful to know whether their client has significant physical or mental stressors that prevent them from achieving their goals. Again, this is where Kinesiology can shine.

So as you can see, although it’s not a requirement, Kinesiology may work hand-in-hand with Occupational Therapy when necessary to hasten the treatment of a patient. They’re a power duo that does not only aim to identify the problem but also to figure out how it can be solved which is why many clinics like https://symmetryrehab.ca make it a point to practice these two fields.

Anyway, if you think that being a Kinesiologist or Occupational Therapist is your calling, then by all means – pursue your passion. The world needs more people like you. Be extra ready to train hard though!