Is Physical Therapy More Effective Than Chiropractic Care?
If you have been struggling with pain or an injury, you may be wondering “is physical therapy more effective than chiropractic care?”. With so many options out there, using one of these noninvasive, drug-free approaches is often the best route to a number of conditions.
When you are in pain or are not able to enjoy the activities you used to, you need a solution. There are a wide variety of options out there to get back to your pain-free life, so let us tell you about two long term solutions that you may be considering.
PRO TIP: Learn more about can I see a chiropractor and physical therapist at the same time. Read on this topic from our blog!
Why Get Professional Help For Pain?
Many of us are used to pushing through our pain. We believe that it will naturally subside on its own. Taking the time out of our busy days to go to an office and see a physical therapist or chiropractor near you may seem incredibly inconvenient. What we don’t think about is how greatly our quality of life can improve when we seek out help from a professional.
Both physical therapists and chiropractors are here to work with you to eliminate your pain and get you feeling good again. After all, why should you keep pushing through pain with no end in sight? What’s the difference between these two practices, and is physical therapy more effective than chiropractic care? Let’s break it down.
What to Expect From Chiropractic Care
When you go to a chiropractic office such as Active Sport & Spine Therapy, they will use specialized techniques and equipment to adjust and align your spine. Relieving pain is your chiropractor’s main goal. Chiropractors focus on the nervous system and musculoskeletal system when looking at options to relieve your pain. While most of our body is connected to or impacted by our spine and back health, if your pain is due to an entirely different issue than the nervous and musculoskeletal systems, you may want to look at physical therapy.
An initial visit with a chiropractor can help you decide if your pain is due to something that they can help you with. The chiropractor will do an evaluation with you before they start on any work. Once the source of pain has been established, the chiropractor can work with you to come up with a plan of action. Once you get your schedule worked out, a visit will typically involve them performing adjustments while you lay on a table. There may be a few other exercises involved, but the majority of your visit will be the chiropractor working on your neck or back.
After your first chiropractic session, you may feel immediate relief or it might take a few days to start feeling the benefits. It could take a few or many visits to completely relieve your pain and get you feeling good again. Whether you choose physical therapy or chiropractic care, it’s important to keep in mind that it is a journey to reach your goal or intention.
How Physical Therapy Is Different
Physical therapy differs in a few key ways from chiropractic care. Physical therapy focuses on how the whole body moves together. They focus on the body’s mobility, strength and overall function as a whole. Your physical therapist will make it their goal for you to have pain free movement versus just relieving your pain. They want to see you get back to the activities that you enjoy as much as you do.
Physical therapists work with a wide variety of patients. They may offer hospital or in-home visits for people recovering from surgeries or serious injuries. They also work with athletes who want to get back to their sport. Physical therapists also work with non-athletes who want to get back to normal, pain-free daily activities.
A physical therapist will initially evaluate you to identify the source of your pain or discomfort. Then, they will present you with a plan to eliminate the pain through multiple different exercises and stretches. They will work with you during your sessions to ensure you are completing the exercises or stretches effectively.
While your physical therapist will work with you during your visit, they may also give you exercises to complete at home, outside of your session with them. If you want to be actively working towards pain relief outside of your visits, this might be a good option for you.
Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care Sound Similar…
Physical therapy and chiropractic care are similar in many ways! The main goal of both practices is to get rid of your pain. They focus on managing and getting rid of your symptoms in a nonsurgical, noninvasive way and without the use of drugs. Both a physical therapist and a chiropractor will not only look at the source of pain, but also everything connected to it.
While chiropractors do have their doctorates, both physical therapists as well as chiropractors go to many years of schooling and training to become experts in their field. Professionals in either practice will evaluate you to come up with a plan of action to get you to your pain-free finish line. In either practice, you will have appointments with a professional during which they will physically work with you. But is one better than the other?
So Which One Is More Effective – Chiropractic Care Or PT?
The short answer is…it really depends on your source of pain and your goals. While a chiropractor can assist you in relieving back pain, neck pain and general pain associated with your spine and other joints, a physical therapist can help you through a plethora of physical issues.
Physical therapy’s focus on movement is a great fit for people who want to or need to stay active. While some people just want to live without pain, others want to participate fully in high impact sports or fast moving hobbies. The emphasis on the body’s movement is what may make physical therapy a better choice for active people.
A physical therapist might also provide additional information and suggestions that a chiropractor usually will not. They may suggest other ways you can stay healthy and feeling good. They could also give you other ideas to stay active that fit with the pain you are dealing with. If you have had an injury or surgery, they can guide you towards movements that are helpful and ones that could hinder your recovery.
Conclusion: Is Physical Therapy More Effective Than Chiropractic Care?
There is a lot to consider when deciding if physical therapy might be more effective than chiropractic care for you. Below are a few instances in which physical therapy might be the better option:
- Recent surgery
- Recovering from a sports injury
- Wanting to get back to your active lifestyle
- Already using chiropractic care and want to add physical therapy
Choosing to take a step towards improving your physical well being is a major decision. It is an investment in your time and money. To make sure you go down the right path, you need to consider where the source of your pain is and what your goals are for physical activity and lifestyle. Sometimes, utilizing both physical therapy and chiropractic care is the right choice.
Choose Active Sport & Spine Therapy Of Passaic County NJ
You don’t have to make the decision alone, though. Our professionals can help you decide if physical therapy can be more effective than chiropractic care, depending on your specific circumstances. You can learn more about our location and service areas before you make the big decision to see a chiropractor or sports physical therapist. You can also take a look at Active Sport & Spine Therapy on Google to view our excellent reviews.
