There is a lot of confusion or ambiguity regarding the roles of physiotherapists and chiropractors. While both are primary contact practitioners, their view of pain management and relief can be different, which mean that their methods of going about treatment also varies.
To begin with, you may go to a physiotherapist when you have an injury, pain, disability, or illness that affects your mobility in order to get advice on how to treat it, exercises to improve it, or hands on treatment to alleviate the pain. Physiotherapy is a whole-person science-based approach that incorporates a patient’s lifestyle and empowers them to recover. It is used to treat a wide variety of conditions related to back pain, sports injuries, arthritis, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, whiplash, heart disease, rehabilitation, asthma, pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and many other conditions.
On the other hand, the main focus of chiropractic treatment is the spine and its connection to everything else in the human body. Chiropractors manipulate the spine manually in order to examine and treat problems related to joints, bones, and muscles. Chiropractic treatment is also science-based and relies on a variety of methods to diagnose issues such as medical imaging, hands-on examination, and other approaches. Among the issues and disabilities that a chiropractor treats is back and neck pain, headaches, whiplash, strains, sprains, injuries caused by overuse, sports and work injuries, arthritis, and restricted movement, among other things.
While the similarities between physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment are endless, there are some differences. While physiotherapists focus on pain-free movement, chiropractors focus on pain relief and spine realignment. Another difference is in the range of services that both can provide; while chiropractors focus mainly on issues related to pain in the back, neck, joints, arms, legs, and headaches, physiotherapists take a more general approach to body movement. Moreover, physiotherapists teach patients various stretches and exercises to help in enhancing mobility; whereas, chiropractors work on performing physical manipulations and adjustments in the spine, muscles, and bones where possible in order to allow the body to heal itself. Finally, one of the main differences between chiropractors and physiotherapists is that physios can perform treatment services almost anywhere, while chiropractors usually need specialized spaces and materials in order to perform the required manipulations and adjustments.
As you can see, both physiotherapy and chiropractic care are very important and useful disciplines; however, it is highly recommended that you consult your General Practitioner in order to determine which service would be best for your particular case. And whenever you’re ready, don’t hesitate to book the service you need with us online or by calling 0287 726 377.
