Chiro vs Physio
Chiropractic care is sometimes abbreviated to chiro, while physiotherapy is sometimes abbreviated to physio. To the uninitiated, these two treatments can seem terribly similar. While they all relate to your musculoskeletal system, what each of the therapies is focused on differentiates them. In this article, we will review the purposes of each practice and the unique advantage each offers to help you choose the right one for you.
What is Chiropractic?
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), “Chiropractic is a health profession that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the neuro-musculoskeletal system disorders and the effects of the disorders on the overall health. Emphasis is placed on manual techniques, including joint manipulation and/or adjustment, with special emphasis on subluxation.”
Simply put, chiropractic diagnoses and treats neuromuscular disorders through manual, non-invasive manipulation and adjustment of the spine. This means that chiropractic treatment doesn’t involve the use of medications or the need to undergo surgery (although we refer our patients to our trusted partners in severe cases). It’s considered a safe alternative treatment in which the joints are treated with a controlled force to restore the function and mobility of the musculoskeletal system.
Fundamental belief
Chiros believe that a misalignment of the spine can affect your nervous system, which can cause several problems for people. Therefore, the treatments aim to restore the natural structure of the spine to improve the health of the patient and reduce pressure on sensitive neurological tissue.
What is Physiotherapy?
Physio also diagnoses and treats musculoskeletal problems through non-invasive and manual treatments. But that is about all the similarities. While chiro care focuses on the spine, physio focuses on the neuro-musculoskeletal system. Treatments not only aim to relieve pain and treat injuries, but also focus on injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Let’s say you tore your rotator cuff while exercising. After surgery, the rotator cuff muscles begin to atrophy. Even if the rotator cuff heals completely without rehabilitation, it will likely be injured again. This is where physio comes in. To speed up recovery after surgery, physiotherapists will help speed up recovery, rehabilitate the muscles, and minimize atrophy. When you are fully recovered, you can quickly resume your routine with minimal risk of injury.
Physio also uses massage and stretching techniques. The differences are that physical therapists do not manipulate the joints outside of their range of motion and, here is a major difference, they sometimes use active treatments, such as exercises and muscle contraction.
Fundamental Belief
Physical therapists believe that injuries are due to muscle imbalance. Such an imbalance puts your joints out of alignment, leaving you prone to injury. Therefore, the treatment plans focus on rebalancing the muscles, strengthening opposing muscles to return the joints to their natural position, reducing the risk of injury, and improving your posture,.
Chiro vs Physio
Chiro and physio treatments may appear similar on the surface, but each has its purpose that can complement each other. In other words, the combination of these treatments can speed up your recovery process and prevent relapses.
Would it not be great if you could resume your normal activities as soon as possible with less risk of injury? If you live in Edmonton and suffer from neck, shoulder, and chronic back pain, then you should visit the team at Performance Chiropractic + Physiotherapy. We have well-trained physiotherapists and chiropractors to help you relieve your pain.
