There are a plethora of differences and similarities between chiropractic care and physical therapy. In this article, we will outline the differences between these two professions so that you can make a decision about which type of treatment will best address your needs.
What Is Physical Therapy?
In general, physical therapy is a profession that seeks to rehabilitate patients after surgeries or injuries. Depending on their individual practice laws from state to state, physical therapists can:
- Prescribe exercise
- Perform modalities such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation
- Provide manual therapy techniques such as massages and graded mobilizations
Naturally, there are many other things that PTs can do to help their patients as well such as dry needling, kinesiotaping, and other treatment techniques.
What Types of Injuries Do Physical Therapists Treat?
Many physical therapists who work in the outpatient setting will typically treat patients after they’ve had knee replacement surgery, rotator cuff tears, or other, similar issues.
Further, there are some niche diagnoses in the physical therapy world that some PTs opt for as a specialty as well. These include vestibular issues, neuromuscular disorders, and other less common diagnoses, such as TMJ.
Additionally, some physical therapists will work in hospitals or inpatient settings where their focus will be more on helping patients transfer, re-learn how to walk, or other goals.
How Long Has The Physical Therapy Profession Been Around?
Depending on how you define “physical therapy”, you could assign many different start dates to the practice. In fact, some scholars even point to the first examples of physical therapy treatments being used in ancient Greece.
However, in the United States, we often place the start of physical therapy (and occupational therapy) beginning with “reconstruction aides” who helped to rehabilitate soldiers during and after World War I. These women were not necessarily trained in the techniques that physical therapists use today, but they were extremely instrumental in helping the soldiers in question return to their lives after coming back from war.
What Is Chiropractic Care?
While there are some exceptions, most chiropractors focus on performing manipulations and adjustments in order to restore spinal alignment for their patients. Chiropractic care focuses heavily on the nervous system’s influence over all other body systems and processes.
What Types of Injuries Do Chiropractors Treat?
Often, people will associate chiropractors with the exclusive treatment of spine-related conditions. These issues commonly include headaches, neck pain, and back pain.
However, chiropractors treat a multitude of conditions throughout the body. For instance, some chiropractors will, in addition to performing spinal adjustments, use peripheral manipulations as well. This may include adjusting a shoulder, wrist, or even the toes!
How Long Has the Chiropractic Profession Been Around?
While there is some dispute about the exact origins of the chiropractic field, most historians point to the year 1895. This was when one of the early leaders of the chiropractic profession, D.D. Palmer, performed a manipulation on the neck of a janitor in his building.
But chiropractic care, just like physical therapy, might have an even longer history. Throughout the centuries, there have been professionals known as “bonesetters” who, essentially, performed manipulations on injured patients.
There is a lot of argument and debate amongst chiropractors and physical therapists with regard to their different treatment philosophies. But in the end, everyone in the medical field should be working together to keep patients healthy.
At Last Chiropractic, we’d love to be your local go-to Lithia, FL chiropractor. If you’re suffering from a painful condition such as chronic headaches, back pain, or neck pain, and want to see what chiropractic care can do for you, book your appointment today.
