Last Updated on February 28, 2023 by Aftab Mughal
Both physical therapy and chiropractic care are used to treat and manage body pains. Authorized and trained medical professionals can use these treatment techniques to alleviate pain. Therefore, whether you’re looking for a chiropractor or a physiotherapist, checking their license is very important.
Despite being similar to each other, both these treatment techniques have different treatment strategies and approaches. And today, we will discuss some of the major differences between these two treatment techniques and how to know which one is better for you.
On this note, let’s take a brief overview of these two treatment options:
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy or physiotherapy (PT) is a medical profession that is concerned with preventing and treating disease and injury in the musculoskeletal system by means of physical therapy interventions and methods. A leading physiotherapist in North Sydney explains that commonly these interventions may be used to prevent or treat physical conditions, such as back pain, neck pain, and injuries caused by sports or other physical activities. This treatment may include the following:
- Evaluation of your flexibility, movement and pain.
- Exercise, stretching and manipulation through hands.
- Posture education.
- Heat or cold therapy.
- Wellness plan to improve your overall health.
In short, you need to see a PT when you’re having difficulty in doing your routine tasks. Similarly, in the case of musculoskeletal problems, you need to see a PT as it’s what they do best.
Read More: physiotherapy downtown Toronto
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care also caters to the problems pertaining to bodily pains. They use the techniques of manipulation to treat these issues. The philosophy behind this treatment technique is the belief that the body can heal itself. Therefore, chiropractors perform interventions or manipulations to treat their patients.
Read More: chiropractor downtown Toronto.
Chiropractic care doesn’t involve the use of medicines or undergoing any form of surgery. So, you should try this treatment before opting for any invasive one. Chiropractic care can treat any issues or problems that involve musculoskeletal or nervous systems.
Some of the treatments it can provide include but aren’t limited to:
- Evaluation of symptoms based on physical exam and tests.
- Treating back pain.
- Adjustment of different areas of the body.
- Use of spinal manipulation.
- Treating joint pains.
- Recommendation of home-based exercises.
Main Difference between Physiotherapy and Chiropractic Care
The basic differences between both these treatment techniques are:
Physiotherapy
- The main purpose of PT is to ensure pain-free movement.
- PTs help to stretch and exercise, that will improve your mobility.
- Physical therapists can treat their patients in almost every kind of environment they are in, they don’t require patients to come to their clinics.
Chiropractic Care
- The basic goal of chiropractic care is to treat and adjust the misalignment of the spine.
- Chiropractors focus on treating problems related to back pain, neck and joint pains, as well as pain in arms or legs and even headaches.
- Chiropractors use manipulations and muscular adjustments to help your body in self-healing.
- Chiropractors can’t treat their patients anywhere. They need specialised spaces to treat their patients as they require special equipment for adjustments and manipulation.
A Quick Overview
Physiotherapy and chiropractic care are two forms of healthcare that focus on treating musculoskeletal disorders. Although both these practices aim to alleviate pain and promote better mobility, there are some key differences between the two. In this article, we will discuss the basic differences between physiotherapy and chiropractic care.
Training and Education Physiotherapists typically complete a four-year university degree in physiotherapy, while chiropractors complete a four-year university degree in chiropractic. Physiotherapists study the entire body and its movement, including anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology, while chiropractors focus on the spine and its relationship to the nervous system.
Treatment Approach Physiotherapy typically focuses on exercise and movement to help restore function and mobility to affected areas. Treatment methods may include exercises, manual therapy, massage, and electrotherapy. Chiropractic care, on the other hand, focuses on spinal adjustments to improve nervous system function and alleviate pain.
Conditions Treated Physiotherapy treats various musculoskeletal conditions, such as back pain, joint pain, and sports injuries. Chiropractic care primarily focuses on spinal issues, such as spinal misalignments, herniated discs, and nerve compression.
Patient Interaction Physiotherapists tend to work more closely with patients, using exercises and manual therapy to help them achieve their goals. Chiropractors may have less frequent visits with patients and focus more on spinal adjustments.
Insurance Coverage Physiotherapy is often covered by private and public health insurance plans, while chiropractic care may have more limited coverage. However, this can vary depending on the individual’s insurance policy and the specific treatment received.
Which Is Better for You?
The bottom line is that both physiotherapy and chiropractic care focus on the pain management of their patients. But which one you should go to for a check-up depends on the type of pain you’re suffering from. So, choose your treatment as per your needs.
