Curious about what is the difference between chiropractor and physiotherapist?
You’re in the right place!
The difference between chiropractic and physiotherapy is Physical therapy, also known as physiotherapy, on the other hand, a chiropractor is a person whose job involves treating some diseases and physical problems by pressing and moving the bones in a person’s back.
Both have similarities and differences, and both are disciplines that treat and manage pain and stiffness in your body. Both are practiced by licensed professionals with years of education in their field.
What Does a Physical Therapist Do?
A physiotherapist/physical therapist, also known as a PT. focuses on improving the quality of living freely by providing the ability to move and function without pain, which, in turn, helps boost your quality of life.
The goal of a PT is to provide you with the highest level of movement possible to function in daily life.
Physical Therapy Treatment May Include:
- An evaluation of pain, flexibility, and movement.
- It can also include various exercises, stretches, or hands-on manipulation to help you get stronger and move better.
- They will educate you about posture and with instructions to avoid further injuries or pain.
- Heat and cold therapy and a variety of other modalities to reduce pain.
- A health plan is provided to improve your overall health.
- They also treat in surgery recovery or emergency departments and ICU.
You may only need a few sessions before you start to notice some improvement in your conditions.
Also, you may need longer-term PT to get relief. PT can evaluate your progress and put together a treatment plan for you.
Why Physical Therapy?
PT can help you recover from:
Have limited movement due to:
- An accident
- Injury
- Surgery
- Health conditions
Feel pain while moving.
Want to maintain or increase your ability to move with ease.
need to build strength and combat the effects of a health condition, such as:
- osteoarthritis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- stroke
- COPD
PTs practice in a variety of settings, including:
- hospitals
- outpatient clinics or offices
- athletic facilities
- rehabilitation centers
- schools
- workplaces
- homes
Physiotherapy encompasses various specialized fields, each catering to different health needs. The main types include:
- Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (which I specialize in) – Focuses on treating injuries and conditions affecting muscles, joints, and bones, such as back pain, sprains, and post-surgical rehabilitation.
- Neurological Physiotherapy – Helps individuals with nervous system disorders like stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, improving mobility and coordination.
- Geriatric Physiotherapy – Tailored for older adults, addressing age-related conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and balance issues to enhance mobility and independence.
- Gynecological Physiotherapy – Supports women through pre- and post-natal rehabilitation, managing issues like pelvic pain, incontinence, and post-surgical recovery.
What Does a Chiropractor Do?
Chiropractors are licensed professionals with Doctorate Degrees who use a hands-on approach to treat pain and inflammation by managing part of your body.
The Philosophy behind chiropractic care is that your body can heal itself with interventions performed by professionals.
Chiropractic care, like physical therapy, does not involve medications or undergoing surgeries.
You may undergo chiropractic care before undergoing any invasive treatment.
A Chiropractor May:
- evaluate symptoms based on a physical exam and tests
- provide adjustments to areas of the body or use techniques like spinal manipulation to help decrease pain and inflammation
- discuss other forms of treatment
- recommend doing certain exercises at home or making lifestyle adjustments to reduce pain and inflammation
Why Use Chiropractic Care?
It can provide relief from your suffering from:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Joint pain
- Headaches
Similarities Between Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care
There are similar goals shared by both chiropractic care and physical care professionals but both may achieve their goals in different ways:
- Both of them focus on managing pain and discomfort using noninvasive and nonsurgical techniques.
- Both may use manual or hands-on therapy to treat a specific condition.
- Both may treat or co-treat the same conditions.
- Both treatment processes focus on wellness plans for their patients.
- Both treat the cause, not just the symptoms, by gaining knowledge about your health history, examining you, and even ordering certain tests.
- Both physical therapists and chiropractors are licensed health professionals with years of education and training.
Difference Between Osteopath and Chiropractor And Physiotherapist
Osteopathy focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders.
Like physiotherapy, it involves both physical treatments mixed with a wider treatment plan that focuses on diet, lifestyle, and empowering the patient.
The principle of osteopathy is that the well-being of the individual is a way that the bone, muscle, ligaments, and connective tissues work with each other.
Osteopathy arguably focuses more on the body as a system, as opposed to the rehabilitative strategies of physiotherapy – however, both treatments seek very similar outcomes.
Chiropractic treatment focuses on the same system of the body as osteopathy, the musculoskeletal system. This means that chiropractic treatment is also concerned with the muscles, the joints, and the ligaments of the body.
Like osteopathy, chiropractic treatment views the body as a system, meaning that treatment of the bones and the joints of the body can promote a feeling of overall general well-being.
How To Choose
Sometimes it depends on the condition, you may even want to use both PT and Chiropractic care to help you gain relief from the pain and improve your life.
It’s always important to talk to your healthcare professional to help you choose and determine by your condition what will work for you better.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is Better, a Chiropractor or a Physiotherapist?
If your back or joints feel locked, stiff, and sore or maybe haven’t responded to other treatments, then a consultation with a chiropractor is recommended. Soft tissue problems are more commonly treated by physiotherapists as well as joint and muscular problems which restrict movement and cause pain.
Q2. Can a Physiotherapist Be a Chiropractor?
Yes, you can become a Chiropractic doctor after a BPT (Bachelor of Physiotherapy) course. You must complete the chiropractic course after completing your Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Courses: Master in Chiropractic.
Q3. How Do I Know If I Need a Physio or Chiropractor?
It vastly depends on the condition, as both of these treatments chase similar output it’s better to always consider talking to a healthcare professional and after a thorough diagnosis you can move forward with the appropriate treatment.
You May Like Also: Top Benefits of Physiotherapy For Better Health and Faster Recovery
Conclusion
Both physiotherapy and chiropractic care focus on pain management and other symptoms using noninvasive techniques.
Physical therapy focuses on how the body moves and functions as a whole.
PT focuses on the exercises and stretches to help you move more easily with less pain.
Chiropractic care primarily focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous system. They mainly use manipulation and adjustments to help you heal.
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