Chiropractor vs Physiotherapist

While a chiropractor and physiotherapist may seem similar to many people, there are marked differences between these two practices. Traditionally, chiropractic has focused on the function and structure of the skeleton. Conversely, the physiotherapist focuses on muscle groups. We will explore these differences in this article and take a more detailed look at how these two practices overlap and attempt to fill this gap.

What do Chiropractors do?

Traditionally, chiropractors have expertise in joint and skeletal problems. This often includes neck and back problems, and many people have this image of someone lying down and having their back broken by a chiropractor. What chiropractors really do is manage spinal pressures, misalignments, and tensions and use a variety of convenient methods to achieve this.

Typically, one session is used to discuss the patient’s needs, followed by practical treatments to alleviate the problems. For instance, if the patient is suffering from back pain, a chiropractor can perform spinal joint adjustment in conjunction with the use of techniques such as myofascial release and dry needling.

What do Physiotherapists do?

Physiotherapists specialize in movement disorders, and they are often associated with muscle tension. Often, physiotherapists work with people who have mobility challenges, sporting injuries, premature babies, as well as neck and back pain. Typically, a session involves assessing the situation and needs of a patient, discussing the patient’s goals, while also developing a plan to help achieve those goals. The plan often includes lifestyle changes, including changes to diet, exercise, and mental health.

Chiropractor vs Physiotherapist

There’s a lot of overlap between these two professions. Physiotherapists and chiropractors treat musculoskeletal and joint problems to improve strength and movement, relieve pain, and help you regain full function.

The biggest difference between physiotherapists and chiropractors, however, is that a chiropractor uses manipulations while a physiotherapist uses mobilization techniques. We can compare the two as follows:

Manipulation Technique

Chiropractors tend to use their hands to adjust the joints in the limbs and spine when signs of reduced mobility appear. Specific and gentle manipulation techniques will help restore normal body movements. The treatment aims to help you move around better and more freely.

Mobilization Technique

Physiotherapists can also treat using a variety of electrical therapies and massage techniques.

So Which One Should I Choose?

At Performance Chiropractic + Physiotherapy, we combine physiotherapy and chiropractic to rehabilitate, strengthen, and support the soft tissues that work in the body. Our core value is that if you only do chiropractic care and not physiotherapy, you are missing the boat. And if all you can do is physiotherapy and not chiropractic, you’re also missing the boat. In our practice, our concept combines both. So the proper answer is that both practices should be combined for your best health.

At our clinic, we conduct a very comprehensive and detailed evaluation to identify the best physiotherapy and chiropractic practices combined with lifestyle education and home care systems so you can achieve the results we are both looking for. We promise to be very thoughtful, very caring, and very thorough to help you heal.