In this article, we’ll dive deeper into these two disciplines, what distinguishes them, and the advantages they provide.
What does a chiropractor do?
Chiropractors are licensed professionals who have earned doctorate degrees. By manipulating different parts of your body, they aim to reduce pain and inflammation. Chiropractic care relies on the principle that your body is able to heal itself with the help of a chiropractor.
Chiropractic care, similar to physical therapy, is a treatment method that does not involve surgery or medications. If you’re considering various treatment options, you may want to start with chiropractic care.
Chiropractic care helps patients with a wide range of health conditions. It focuses on the nervous and musculoskeletal systems specifically.
A chiropractor may:
- recommend a series of at-home exercises and lifestyle adjustments to minimise inflammation and pain
- explore other treatments
- employ techniques like spinal manipulation to help reduce inflammation and pain
- assess symptoms based on a physical examination
Chiropractic care can help you if you have headaches, joint pain, neck pain, or back pain.
What does a physiotherapist do?
A physiotherapist helps you heal by improving your movement and function. This can lead to less pain and improved quality of life overall. Physical therapy aims to help you regain as much movement and function as possible so that you can have the best life possible. Physiotherapists help you stay active and healthy by evaluating you, guiding your exercises and stretches, and teaching you how to care for your body properly.
Physical therapy treatment may include:
- providing critical care to patients in ICUs and emergency departments
- an assessment of your movement, flexibility, and pain
- stretches and exercises to help improve your strength and movement
- posture education on how to move correctly and avoid pain or injury
- cold or heat therapy and other modalities to ease pain
- a wellness plan to help improve your overall health and well-being
- performing wound care
You might only need a handful of sessions with a physical therapist before you begin seeing an improvement in your condition. Physical therapy may be a long-term commitment if you want to get relief from your symptoms. Your physiotherapist will monitor your progress and create a customised treatment plan for you.
To become licensed, physiotherapists must earn a doctorate in physical therapy (DPT).
Physical therapy may be a helpful treatment option if you:
- have restricted movement due to a health condition, surgery, injury or an accident
- experience pain when moving
- want to increase or maintain your mobility
- need to build strength and fight the effects of a health condition, such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis.
Physiotherapists are employed in a number of environments, including workplaces, rehabilitation centres, athletic facilities, outpatient clinics, and hospitals.
What are the similarities between a chiropractor and a physiotherapist?
These professions focus on methods of healing that reduce tension and pain, thus allowing the body to heal itself more effectively. They intend to support your healing process after suffering an injury or experiencing pain in a specific area. A chiropractor and a physiotherapist will physically manipulate your body to reduce tension so that you can heal more effectively, regardless of why you went to see them. In order to be employed in these fields, they also have to be adequately trained and certified.
What are the differences between a chiropractor and a physiotherapist?
The key distinction between a chiropractor and a physiotherapist has to do with the spine. A chiropractor works primarily with the spine, treating conditions that affect functionality and mobility, as well as neurological tissues and the nervous system. Chiropractors use manual techniques, such as spinal manipulation, to align the spine and relieve issues like back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Many spinal issues often lead to problems in other areas of the body, but with a chiropractic adjustment, you can get relief from conditions like fibromyalgia, a common condition that causes pain and sensitivity in the joints and muscles.
Physiotherapists emphasise movement patterns and functionality of certain body parts as opposed to focusing only on the musculoskeletal system. They strive to fix imbalances or weaknesses in muscles. These problems can come from surgeries, injuries, or repeating the same motions repeatedly.
Which therapy should you choose?
How can you determine which type of therapy is suitable for you? The answer to that question lies in the type of condition you have and what your needs are.
If you’re struggling with a painful condition, you may want to consider using both physiotherapy and chiropractic care. Their treatment methods can help improve your quality of life by easing pain. Your doctor can help you understand the type of therapy that will work better for you, and they can offer insight into how a certain therapy could help lessen your symptoms.
Boost your quality of life at CEN Chiropractic Exercise and Nutrition
At CEN Chiropractic Exercise and Nutrition, our job is to help you get rid of the pain. No matter your source of pain, be it lower backaches or headaches, our chiropractor will work to relieve you of any discomfort.
Call us at (02) 9546 6033 or 0421 579 049 now.
References
Physical Therapy (Physiotherapy) or Chiropractic Care? How to Know Which One You Need
https://www.healthline.com/health/physiotherapist-vs-chiropractor
What Is a Chiropractor?
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-chiropractor