What Is the Difference Between Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care?

Physical therapists and chiropractors are both medical professionals who provide treatment for pain and injury. If you are experiencing pain, you may be considering some kind of treatment to relieve your pain, but are not sure what type of professional care you need. Here are some differences between physical therapy and chiropractic care, so you can decide which is right for you.

A chiropractor is a medical professional who diagnoses and treats pain and injuries in the musculoskeletal system, which includes your bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments. A chiropractor focuses strictly on your bones and joints. A misalignment in your spine can cause tightened muscles, neck pain, back pain, headaches, and other symptoms. Chiropractors use joint manipulation/adjustments to loosen stiff muscles and correct misaligned vertebrae. Spinal adjustments chiropractors use are to help you reduce pain, regain movement, and achieve recovery.

A physical therapist is a medical professional who evaluates, diagnoses, and treats injuries and causes of pain and functional limitation. A treatment plan is developed for a person to regain and strengthen mobility, reduce pain, and prevent further injury and disability. A physical therapist works to treat pain caused by number of factors including injury, aging, and disease. Physical therapists are able to analyze issues with body movements such as coordination, flexibility, balance, range of motion and endurance. Services may include the following:

• Sports injuries and orthopedic injuries, including concussions, joint injuries, and post-surgical rehab.
• Workplace injuries such as repetitive stress injuries.
• Neurologic conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, and vascular disease.
• Balance and fall prevention programs.

The primary goal of physical therapy is to help people manage their condition through manual “hands on” therapy techniques, including manipulation or adjustments, postural correction, body mechanics, and exercise techniques. Physical therapists help people of all ages reach long-term goals and help prevent them from surgery and long-term need for prescription painkillers. A physical therapist offers a wide range of options to treat many issues throughout the body, while a chiropractor is more limited to manipulation/adjustments of the joints.  

At Lake Country Physical Therapy & Sportscare all the therapists have gone through extensive training and education. All of our therapists are trained to do adjustments, just as a chiropractor would, and some required complicated adjustments are referred to a local applied kinesiology group. Lake Country Physical Therapy & Sportscare mainstay services are:

• Orthopedic rehab: any muscle, bone, joint, ligament, fascial, or cartilage injury or after surgery. 
• Sports injury rehabilitation and prevention: for all ages, anyone who wants to improve their sport performance, or is just coming out of surgery.
• TMJ treatment: ranges depending on the patient’s specific circumstance. 
• Pelvic pain: pelvic floor (vaginal, anal, penile) and pelvic regions
• Urinary or bowel symptoms: treatments would include biofeedback, bowel and bladder behavioral modifications, abdominal and pelvic floor muscle rehab and depending on the case, pelvic floor electrical stimulation
• Pre-natal, pregnancy, and postpartum care
• Vertigo: treatments are beneficial to restoring equilibrium by challenging balance and head position
• Chronic pain: a plan of care incorporates Associated Awareness Techniques (AAT), and Pain Reflex Release Techniques (PPRT), hands-on bodywork, relaxation techniques, exercise, behavioral modifications, and meditation.

Lake Country Physical Therapy & Sportscare PC offers the very best physical therapy in Ontario County. We treat all your wants and needs with our trusted and experienced Physical Therapists and staff. To begin to feel pain and stress free, start your Physical Therapy journey today and schedule your evaluation by calling (585) 396-1400.