I have been given permission to bring this analogy of PT/OT to the OTnow list serve by Barrett Dorko, PT... I invite the OT community to access his readings on numerous topics.
>David, > >I thought of something else with regard to this question. I realize to some >it may seem I've got too much time on my hands but I thought I'd post this >anyway. > >It occurs to me that PT focuses on nurturing and healing while OT >emphasizes activity that can only occur once survival is insured. The >former is characterized by movements designed to strengthen our muscles and >other tissues, the latter by movement that expresses us and reveals our >individuality and humanity. Think about it, physical therapy for animals >makes some sense. Occupational therapy? I don't think so. > >It's my contention that both disciplines are essential for human beings and >they emerge quite naturally from us even in the absence of a trained >professional. Consider a series of scenes from the movie "Cast Away" used >to illustrate my point. (I go to the movies a lot) > >A man finds himself alone on a Pacific island, his physical resources >confined to his own strength and an odd collection of items that have >washed up on the beach. While digging out the meat of a coconut (PT), he >realizes that the same motion when applied to wood might create enough heat >to start a fire (OT). Injuring his hand in the attempt he races to the >ocean and baths his bloody palm in the water (PT). He then discovers that >his bloody palm print on a nearby soccer ball can be modified to appear as >a face (OT). He then returns to the task of scraping wood against wood, >creating smoke but no fire (PT) and turns to speak to the face he's created >(OT-the internal conversation that precedes creative acts) and the fire >finally lights. See? Both disciplines emerge from this man and the end >result is his survival. I think so anyway. I'm almost sure. > >At the movie's end the man writes on an unopened package, "This package >saved my life." I always ask my classes why. For my answer (not necessarily >the correct one) go to "Why the Movie Cast Away is Precisely About My Work" >at http://www.barrettdorko.com/desk.htm > >Barrett L. Dorko, P.T. ><http://barrettdorko.com> David A. Lehman, PhD, PT Associate Professor Tennessee State University Department of Physical Therapy 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd. Nashville, TN 37209 615-963-5946 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: Barrett Dorko [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 9:35 AM To: Lehman, David Subject: RE: PTHER: Re: PT/OT Who does what and why? Sure. Just let me know what happens. Thanks, Barrett At 09:30 AM 11/24/2003 -0600, you wrote: >may I post this on the OTnow list serve!:) > >David A. Lehman, PhD, PT >Associate Professor >Tennessee State University >Department of Physical Therapy >3500 John A. Merritt Blvd. >Nashville, TN 37209 >615-963-5946 >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Barrett Dorko [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2003 9:36 AM >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: PTHER: Re: PT/OT Who does what and why? > > >David, > >I thought of something else with regard to this question. I realize to some >it may seem I've got too much time on my hands but I thought I'd post this >anyway. > >It occurs to me that PT focuses on nurturing and healing while OT >emphasizes activity that can only occur once survival is insured. The >former is characterized by movements designed to strengthen our muscles and >other tissues, the latter by movement that expresses us and reveals our >individuality and humanity. Think about it, physical therapy for animals >makes some sense. Occupational therapy? I don't think so. > >It's my contention that both disciplines are essential for human beings and >they emerge quite naturally from us even in the absence of a trained >professional. Consider a series of scenes from the movie "Cast Away" used >to illustrate my point. (I go to the movies a lot) > >A man finds himself alone on a Pacific island, his physical resources >confined to his own strength and an odd collection of items that have >washed up on the beach. While digging out the meat of a coconut (PT), he >realizes that the same motion when applied to wood might create enough heat >to start a fire (OT). Injuring his hand in the attempt he races to the >ocean and baths his bloody palm in the water (PT). He then discovers that >his bloody palm print on a nearby soccer ball can be modified to appear as >a face (OT). He then returns to the task of scraping wood against wood, >creating smoke but no fire (PT) and turns to speak to the face he's created >(OT-the internal conversation that precedes creative acts) and the fire >finally lights. See? Both disciplines emerge from this man and the end >result is his survival. I think so anyway. I'm almost sure. > >At the movie's end the man writes on an unopened package, "This package >saved my life." I always ask my classes why. For my answer (not necessarily >the correct one) go to "Why the Movie Cast Away is Precisely About My Work" >at http://www.barrettdorko.com/desk.htm > >Barrett L. Dorko, P.T. ><http://barrettdorko.com> > > > > > > > >------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> >Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark >Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. >http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 >http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/jvSolB/TM >---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> > >- >To unsubscribe from pther list, just click on this: >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, visit: http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com The OTnow Mail Archive: www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] ==============================================
