Physical therapy vs. chiropractor: 4 key differences for pain relief

When you’re experiencing pain and trying to look up treatments, your research will probably bring up two terms: physical therapist and chiropractor. Both can be beneficial to helping your overall physical well-being, but it’s important to note their differences to determine which is a better fit for your pain relief.

Physical therapists and chiropractors are both health care professionals who can address musculoskeletal pain with the education they’ve gained through a doctoral degree and licensing exams. They use hands-on treatments to help people along their health and wellness journey. Other parts of their approach may overlap as well, such as lifestyle recommendations and exercise plans.

However, they have just as many differences as similarities, and we’re here to discuss them. We’ll also discuss what sets Performance Rehab apart.

1. Goal

Learning about the mission of each professional provides insight into how they can reduce your pain and improve your health to determine if they align with your current goals.

• Physical therapist 

A physical therapist helps to alleviate symptoms of injuries, conditions or surgical rehabilitation that are impacting your everyday life, such as pain and reduced mobility. They also help to improve your body’s function by increasing your strength, flexibility, balance and range of motion.  

• Chiropractor

A chiropractor helps to alleviate musculoskeletal pain and nervous system issues through spinal alignment and joint manipulation. They focus on spinal health to improve your overall well-being.

2. Parts of the body they treat for pain

Both providers can play a role in your health and wellness journey, as both aim to improve quality of life by addressing painful symptoms. They treat many of the same parts of the body, but their specialties may vary.

• Physical therapist

A physical therapist can help alleviate symptoms that impact most parts of the body, especially in the muscles and joints in the extremities. In addition, physical therapy is often included in treatment plans for people experiencing back and shoulder pain as well. 

• Chiropractor

A chiropractor’s treatment focuses primarily on the spine, meaning that they specialize in neck and back pain. However, they can help with joint adjustments throughout the body, which may include knees, hips and shoulders.

3. Variety of pain management treatment

While both have effective approaches to treating the affected area, the scope of pain treatment varies quite widely between the two professions.

• Physical therapist

Treatment with a physical therapist includes a variety of treatment options that reduce pain while also improving the quality of the affected area. A few types of pain management treatment often included in PT plans include:

• Manual therapy (soft tissue and joint mobilization)

• Occupational therapy

• Targeted exercises

• Dry needling and cupping

• Rehabilitative taping

• Chiropractor

A chiropractor’s treatment for pain will center on hands-on adjustments as well as soft tissue techniques, such as massage therapy. They can also make recommendations for how to reduce pain in between appointments, such as exercises.

4. Causes of pain they treat

Both chiropractors and physical therapists can treat a variety of painful conditions and injuries, including sciatica, whiplash and headaches. But physical therapists can also help with recovery from orthopedic injuries, such as muscle strains and ligament sprains.

As you can see, there’s a lot to compare and contrast between the two health care providers. If you’re unsure about which would be a better fit for your needs and wellness goals, you should schedule an initial consultation with both before booking an appointment. 

Performance Rehab provides physical therapy for the most comprehensive results

Chiropractors are a good choice for many people experiencing spinal-based pain, such as back pain and sciatica. However, if you’re looking to receive treatment that goes beyond pain management, physical therapy may be the right choice for you. 

At Performance Rehab, we not only look at the cause and severity of your pain. We also want to consider your overall wellness goals that we may be able to help you reach. Perhaps you find that you want to improve your coordination and balance as you walk to decrease the risk of injury. If you were injured while playing a sport, we can help optimize the affected area for the best performance.

If you’re experiencing persistent or worsening pain, the physical therapy services at Performance Rehab can help you reduce its impact on your everyday life.

Ready to ditch the discomfort and get moving again? Connect with our experienced rehab specialists and take the first step toward a healthier, more active life. Request an appointment or contact us to get started.