Physiotherapy vs Chiropractic

That car accident left a number on your body. Back pain, herniated disc, whiplash – you have severe pain. What can you do about this? When it comes to recovering from a sports injury or car accident, you have several options. You can visit a conventional doctor for a prescription (and risk a variety of nasty side effects) or see a physiotherapist.

Or would visiting a chiropractor be better?

Is there actually a difference? When it comes to physiotherapy vs chiropractic, what is the best option to recover from your injuries?

Physiotherapy vs Chiropractic

Some decades ago, chiropractors and physiotherapists were part of the same medical branch and worked together. Today there are two distinct fields.

Despite their differences, physiotherapists and chiropractors share the same goals: pain relief and improved range of motion. Both treat joint and soft tissue injuries and can use similar secondary techniques like ultrasound and massage therapy to enhance healing.

However, this is where the similarities end.

Primarily, chiropractors use practical manipulations to realign the spine and other joints. Although they treat soft tissue injuries and sometimes have a masseuse on staff, their principal focus is usually to properly align the joints.

On the other hand, physiotherapists focus primarily on muscle and movement. Patients learn a series of exercises to develop their flexibility and strength. When joint misalignments are corrected, physiotherapy relies on strengthening the muscles so that the joints can return to their place.

Physiotherapy vs Chiropractic – Which One Should I Choose?

If chiropractors and physiotherapists treat similar injuries, how can you know the right one for you? If you’ve never seen a healthcare professional before, you probably don’t even know the actual cause of your injury.

Regardless of your injuries, you must see the chiropractor and physiotherapist several times before you’re fully healed. Every patient is different. Don’t associate a friend’s pain with pain similar to what you are feeling. Each treatment plan is determined by a comprehensive neurological and orthopedic examination. Thereafter, treatment is performed and recommended. Typically, the medical practitioner will ask you to come back in a day or two to discuss a more detailed treatment plan based on your first results.

At Performance Chiropractic + Physiotherapy, every new patient receives an X-ray to identify any underlying skeletal problems that may be responsible for their symptoms. After this initial consultation, our professionals will develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your injuries. Make an appointment today and see how wonderful it is to live without pain!