“What is the difference between a physical therapist and a chiropractor?”
I fell a while ago and my back has been hurting a lot. My friend recommends a chiropractor, but I feel that a therapist would be better. What is the difference between a physical therapist and a chiropractor?
14 Answers
Physical therapists are experts in exercise science and biomechanics of the body. They tend to specialize in musculoskeletal conditions. That’s the short answer, I know there’s a lot more to it. Chiropractors work to keep your brain and nervous system healthy and clear of interferences in their functions. As your brain and nerves control everything in your body, keeping them healthy is essential to healing and a healthy life. Pain is also controlled in the brain. Chiropractors and PTs work great when used together. If you had to choose one, I’m biased, so my first choice will always be with the chiropractor, especially because healing the brain and nerves heals pain.
Great Question. Simply put, if you have a more ligamentous or muscular deficit, then a therapist is needed. In 42 years experience in clinical practice, I have never seen a straight muscle dysfunction, though. Most often back pain involves the dis-relationship between Lumbar Discs and Pelvis.
Both professions are moving towards each other in relation to low back pain. Many chiropractor’s perform physiotherapy and many PT's perform manipulation. The difference is a chiropractor's training in manipulation is far and beyond what a PT gets and PT's are heavily trained in rehab.
P.T. Is great for rehab of muscles and soft tissues. Chiropractic is great rehab for improving the joint health with very specific adjustments.
Chiropractors are doctors and Phys Therapists are not, unless they get their doctorates in PT. PT focuses on rehab of injuries and soft tissue and joint malfunction. Chiropractors detect and correct and correct misaligned vertebrae and joints of the body with manipulation of those joints/bones, to take away nerve impingement and imbalance overall; along with everything a PT does. Some Chiropractors ONLY adjust. Others like myself, are called MIXERS, and we do the PT along with Chiropractic. I have met many amazing PT's, as well as Chiro's, so each does fit in well with any injury.
Hope I helped. Got your back!
Dr. Todd Gewant
Hope I helped. Got your back!
Dr. Todd Gewant
There are many similarities between the treatments that a physical therapist performs and those a Chiropractor performs. Both providers mobilize the affected joints, stretch the affected muscles, perform manual therapies and therapeutic exercise. However, the biggest difference in treatment is the use of manipulation of the joints performed by most Chiropractic physicians. Manipulation is the most effective treatment for most cases of lower back and neck pain. Manipulation used to be the Chiropractic icon. Now, Medical doctors and Physical therapists are being trained to perform the techniques.Another difference between Chiropractors and PT's is that Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.)s are physicians, not therapists. We are trained to diagnose, radiograph and treat the condition. If you fell and you have back pain, manipulation will probably give you the greatest results the fastest.
I hope you find this info helpful.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Eric Miller
I hope you find this info helpful.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Eric Miller
Hey there, sorry to hear that you fell and are hurt! I agree with your friend. PT's are fantastic for rehab post-surgery and other muscle concerns. Your nerves are communicating pain, and your nerves control your muscles. That's the big difference between Chiropractors/PT: Chiropractors treat the nervous system which controls everything in the body, PT's treat muscles.
There is a lot of overlap between both professions. Initially, your best bet would be to get an X-ray. That would rule out any kind of fracture from the fall. That would also show what the problem is so that we could get a diagnosis. Then it would tell us who you would need to see in order to fix the problem.
Very generically, Chiropractor’s bread and butter includes joint, nerve and disc related issues. Physical Therapist’s bread and butter includes muscle, tendon and post surgical rebab. There is a lot of overlap between the two, I personally do a lot of muscle and tendon work with Chiropractic. I know a lot of good Physical Therapist who do joint work. So once you get a true diagnosis, find someone that you trust, which might include shopping around a few different offices, then stick with them.
Hope this helps.
Very generically, Chiropractor’s bread and butter includes joint, nerve and disc related issues. Physical Therapist’s bread and butter includes muscle, tendon and post surgical rebab. There is a lot of overlap between the two, I personally do a lot of muscle and tendon work with Chiropractic. I know a lot of good Physical Therapist who do joint work. So once you get a true diagnosis, find someone that you trust, which might include shopping around a few different offices, then stick with them.
Hope this helps.
One of the main differences I that PT’s may only see patients based on a referral from a doc tor – whether a DC, MD or a DO. They cannot legally see patients without referral in most states. The process of identifying the cause of your issue lies with the doctor, not PT. So you will have to see a doctor anyway to get your issue diagnosed. As far as treatments go, PT’s do not have the schooling or skill set to provide adjustment therapies as a DC does. Their scope of practice is limited to the ‘prescription’ or plan of therapy given to them by your physician, they cannot go outside this plan of care.
Thanks,
Dr. Armour, DC
Thanks,
Dr. Armour, DC
A chiropractor is more concerned with joint movement primarily and the muscle system secondarily, as a physical therapist may focus more on the muscle system first and the joints secondarily. Honestly, both professions should be addressing both systems in any musculoskeletal complaint patient. Depending on the chiropractic practitioner you see, they may integrate both systems equally. When searching for a well-rounded chiropractor, ask their office if they incorporate exercise with their treatments. I personally find incorporating chiropractic adjustments with corrective exercise and functional movement patterns to be highly affective.
Taronté E. Venable, DC, DACNB
Taronté E. Venable, DC, DACNB
There is a vast difference in the two professions: one treats symptoms, one looks to correct the cause.
PT does mainly movements, and a doctor of chiropractics should be very rounded.
A PT does stretching and functional techniques to bring the body into balance. A DC performs an adjustment of the spinal column to realign the structure along with stretching, and other modalities to bring the body into balance.
The short answer is that PTs specialize in muscular issues and Chiropractors specialize in joint function. If you believe your pain began after a fall, I would recommend a Chiropractor.
