No matter what your health concerns are, it can be challenging to choose the best option among a sea of different treatments. It’s recommended to always talk to your doctor about your treatment options because they will give you helpful suggestions based on your specific needs. If physical therapy and chiropractic care are mentioned, you may be wondering what they are and how they are different. Continue reading to discover the differences between these two popular drug-free and non-invasive treatments.
Physical Therapy versus Chiropractic Care
When it comes to physical therapy (or physiotherapy) and chiropractic care, both treat and manage pain and stiffness in the body. Physical therapists and chiropractors are both health experts with years of specialized training. Of course, there are also specific differences between the two, which we will discuss below.
About Physical Therapy
A physical therapist or PT helps a patient regain function and mobility, as well as reduce pain. Thus, this helps improve the patient’s overall quality of life. A main goal of PT is for patients to achieve the highest level of mobility possible. With improved mobility, patients find it easier to function in their daily life. Physical therapy involves evaluating a patient’s needs, creating a personalized treatment plan, helping the patient perform stretches and exercises, and teaching them about how to maintain an active, healthy life.
Physical therapy usually includes:
- Evaluating a patient’s needs, such as their pain, flexibility, and mobility
- Performing exercises, stretches, or hands-on manipulation treatments to help strengthen a patient’s muscles and thus, boost mobility
- Educating patients about proper posture and injury and pain prevention tips
- Using heat or cold therapy and other techniques to reduce pain
- Maintaining a wellness treatment plan to improve the patient’s overall health
The number and frequency of PT sessions you need depends on your health condition and how fast you regain function and mobility. Generally, patients will notice an improvement after a few sessions. Since this is a drug-free and non-invasive treatment, you will not experience rapid pain-relief like you do with pain-relief medications. However, these medications have unpleasant side effects and only mask the pain symptoms of an underlying condition.
Like other health professionals, physical therapists must earn a doctorate degree in physical therapy (DPT) to become licensed. PTs can work in various places, such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, outpatient clinics, sports facilities, rehabilitation centers, schools, and even businesses. These professionals can specialize in PT, such as sports injury.
Why Choose Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is a good treatment for patients that:
- Have limited mobility due to an accident, injury, recent surgery, or health condition
- Have pain related to mobility
- Want to maintain or improve their mobility
- Need to build strength and address the challenges of a health condition, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or COPD
About Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors are licensed health professionals with doctorate degrees that use a hands-on approach to reduce pain and inflammation, as well as treat the root cause of a patient’s pain through specific manipulations of the body. Chiropractors focus on identifying and treating issues related to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. A main goal of chiropractic care is to allow the body to heal itself naturally with the help of all-natural chiropractic adjustments. Like PT, chiropractic is a drug-free and non-invasive treatment that’s safe, gentle, and effective for people of all ages.
Chiropractic care typically includes:
- Evaluating a patient’s symptoms based on a physical exam and tests
- Performing adjustments to specific areas of the body like spinal manipulations designed to reduce pain and inflammation, as well as prevent pain and injury
- Discussing other types of treatment with patients
- Recommending specific exercises to strengthen muscles, reduce pain and inflammation, and maintain lasting health and wellness
Like physical therapy, how many chiropractic adjustments you need depends on your health condition and how fast you start to feel better. Typically, patients will notice an improvement within a few appointments. Chiropractic is also a drug-free and non-invasive treatment, so you will not experience rapid pain-relief like you do with pain-relief medications. However, these harsh medications have unpleasant side effects and only temporarily mask pain symptoms.
Chiropractors must also earn a doctorate degree to become licensed. They can work in various settings, such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, sports facilities, rehabilitation centers, schools, and even businesses. These health experts can specialize in different types of chiropractic, such as sports injury, prenatal, and pediatric care.
Why Choose Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is a great option for patients that:
- Have back, neck, or joint pain
- Have migraines or headaches
- Have mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression
- Want to maintain or achieve lasting health and wellness
- Need to identify and treat an underlying health condition that is impacting their quality of life
- Want to avoid using harsh drugs or invasive surgeries
Which Therapy Is Best For You?
The therapy that is best for you depends on your specific health goals, budget, and lifestyle. Depending on your health needs, you may find that a combination of physical therapy and chiropractic care is an excellent way to obtain better health and wellness, as well as improve your mobility and flexibility. As always, it’s recommended that you talk with your doctor to determine the best type of therapy for you. Physical therapy focuses more on how the body moves and functions. PTs use exercises, stretches, and hands-on manipulations to help you regain your function and mobility, as well as reduce any pain. On the other hand, chiropractic focuses on treating disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems and uses various techniques to help your body heal itself naturally.
We hope you enjoyed this week’s article discussing the differences between physical therapy and chiropractic care. If you are interested in chiropractic, contact Keystone Chiropractic, the best chiropractors in Plano, TX. Let us help you gain victory over your health!
