How Are Chiropractic Care and Physical Therapist Different?

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How Are Chiropractic Care and Physical Therapist Different?

Think about the last time you experienced chronic pain. If it was a back problem, your friends or family might have suggested you see a chiropractor, but did anyone suggest you see a physical therapist?

Chiropractic care differs from physical therapy, but many people don’t understand what distinguishes these two forms of pain management. Physical therapists and chiropractors are both knowledgeable about reducing pain and improving mobility and function rather than just treating symptoms with surgery or medication.

Continue reading to learn more about the differences between physical therapy and chiropractic care, as well as which is the best option for your pain! And if you have more questions, don’t hesitate to contact Paul Wiener Physical Therapy for the answers you need.

What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy is also a natural way to treat pain. Physical therapists are movement experts who specialize in improving a person’s quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. They focus on joint health and can treat a wide array of pain conditions that result from injuries, illnesses, degenerative conditions, and more.

Physical therapy teaches a patient skills that allow them to independently take control of their pain for the rest of their lives, and it also offers benefits for people who have a simple goal of being healthier and preventing health problems in the future.

Physical therapists conduct thorough evaluations to develop customized treatment plans that will improve a person’s mobility, manage or reduce their pain, restore their range of motion, and prevent disabilities from occurring. A physical therapist educates patients on how to change their overall movement and recommends targeted exercises they can perform independently to work towards healing.

Physical therapists can also work with ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, laser therapy, and more as treatment options. The biggest part of a physical therapist’s role is not only to treat the underlying cause of a person’s pain, but also to educate them so that they can prevent future injuries from occurring.

What is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic care focuses on neuromusculoskeletal issues. This specifically involves the diagnosis and treatment of movement disorders involving the spine and joints, although chiropractors can address pain symptoms in other parts of the body as well. Chiropractors often use hands-on methods of treatment to alleviate a person’s pain symptoms, but they may also utilize tools such as EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) and laser therapy.

People tend to see a chiropractor for neck, back, or spinal pain. According to the Mayo Clinic, during a typical session, a chiropractor will ask the patient to lie down for treatment, and then they will use their hands to apply a controlled, sudden force to a joint, pushing it beyond its usual range of motion. Sometimes popping or cracking sounds can be heard as adjustments are made to joints during the treatment.

At our clinic, we embrace the knowledge that chiropractic care isn’t just about making the pain disappear; we believe in identifying the underlying causes influencing your overall health and well-being.

Chiropractic care is about understanding and learning the cause of pain to improve your overall quality of life. We work diligently to ensure that our services are of the best quality. We focus on educating our patients about the chiropractic care that they are about to receive.

Chiropractors professionally approach patient care, starting with a detailed health history, a comprehensive physical examination, and ordering any test necessary to develop a working diagnosis. Next, we create a treatment focusing on alleviating pain, restoring function, and preventing future problems from arising.

The manual treatment methods used by chiropractors range from stretching and sustained pressure to specific joint manipulations. Practitioners use their hands or devices to apply a quick and controlled thrust. The manipulations aim to improve joint motion, alleviate pain, and restore function. Manipulations are most commonly done on the spine, but other parts of the body may also be treated in this way.

Both chiropractic care and physical therapy are great options for pain relief

If you’re unsure whether you should see a physical therapist or a chiropractor, your doctor or medical provider can help you come to a conclusion. In some cases, both of these treatments can be combined to provide maximum relief.

To learn about our physical therapy and chiropractic services, contact Paul Wiener Physical Therapy today. Our physical therapist team is happy to help you get started on a treatment plan that works for you.

Source:

• https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/understanding-pain-management-chronic-pain#1
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chiropractic-adjustment/about/pac-20393513
• https://www.apta.org/your-career/careers-in-physical-therapy/becoming-a-pt

Tags: Physical Fitness, chroninc pain, physical therapy, aches and pains, Natural Pain Relief