When you are dealing with sudden or long-lasting pain, it’s important that you find the right treatment to help you improve your quality of life. However, it can be difficult to know who to turn to for treatment when you have so many options. If you’re wanting to avoid invasive treatments, you may be looking for options outside of pain medication or surgical procedures. This leaves you with options like chiropractic care and physical therapy.
Some people do not know the difference between chiropractors and physical therapists. This is understandable because both are trained professionals who work with their hands to help reduce pain. However, the similarities stop there.
Chiropractic care vs. physical therapy
Chiropractors have years of training that allows them to treat certain conditions and help improve the body’s ability to heal itself. They primarily focus on spine and joint pain, and treat it using forceful techniques that help release pressure and reduce pain. However, they are not licensed health care professionals who are able to diagnose conditions or help with a number of conditions and injuries.
Physical therapists are licensed health care professionals who, in many states, can diagnose your condition without the need for a doctor visit beforehand. While they often use their hands to perform mobilization techniques that help with pain, they specialize in a much wider range of what they can treat, including:
- Post-surgical rehabilitation
- Sports injury treatment
- Chronic-condition pain management
- Age-related challenges, such as loss of balance
- Workplace injuries
- Auto accident injuries and more
In short, if you’re dealing with a little bit of soreness and pain and need some help keeping it at bay, a chiropractor might be able to help. However, if you want a more thorough treatment for your pain, including treatments that target the cause of your pain, you should visit a physical therapist instead.
Visit SOL Physical Therapy for help with your aches and pains
Are you living with constant pain or a sudden injury and are ready to find help? Our team at SOL Physical Therapy can examine your condition and provide a personalized treatment to help you reach your recovery goals. Contact our team today for more information about physical therapy or to schedule an initial appointment.
