Many times, people get confused about whether to see a physical therapist or a chiropractor in Downtown Salt Lake. Not surprising seeing as both practitioners are licensed health professionals who take care of pain and stiffness in the body.

But how do you know when to book a session with a chiropractor and when to seek the services of a physical therapist? Knowing the differences and similarities between the two health professionals will help solve that dilemma.

In this article, we covered the similarities and differences between a Chiropractor Utah and a physical therapist. So read on.

Similarities Between Physical Therapists and Chiropractors

Both physical therapists and chiropractors are highly trained health professionals with years of training and education. They both have to pass a rigorous licensing examination before they can get the license to practice.

What’s more, both physical therapists and chiropractors focus on managing patients’ pain and discomfort using drug-free and non-surgical treatment modalities. Their aim is often to help manage pain and discomfort while avoiding the need for the patients to go for surgery or any other invasive procedures.

Nevertheless, both professionals can also provide post-operative care to their patients to help them recover from surgery. Additionally, both can use similar treatment procedures like heat therapy and hands-on manual therapy.

The two healthcare professionals can also use Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) to treat a specific condition. Physical therapists and chiropractors can evaluate patient symptoms, take the health history, examine the patient, and even order certain tests.

Even better, they can also recommend exercises that can help improve the patient’s strength, ability to move freely, and range of motion, depending on the patient’s condition.

Another similarity between the two professionals is they not only help patients recover from injury or certain health conditions, but they can also offer preventive wellness assistance.

Differences Between Physical Therapists and Chiropractors

A physical therapist is more of a movement specialist with the primary goal of evaluating how the whole body of a patient moves and functions. On the other hand, the primary focus of a chiropractor is pain relief and alignment of the bones and joints.

A chiropractor also focuses primarily on injuries and disorders of patients’ musculoskeletal systems.

Contrary to most people’s belief, a chiropractor does not only treat the spine. The health professional can also evaluate, diagnose and offer disorders and injury treatment of the entire neuromuscular system (musculoskeletal and nervous system). These include nerves, tendons, joints, and muscles.

For instance, someone with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) in the wrist may receive treatment from a chiropractor, as well as a whiplash victim after a vehicle accident. In addition to treating sports injuries, a chiropractor can also help ease headaches brought on by neck or nervous system dysfunction.

On the other hand, a physical therapist offers treatments for injuries and conditions that affect the function, strength, and mobility of the entire body. Through a comprehensive physical rehabilitation program, the goal of a physical therapist is to get the patient back to their best functioning.

For instance, a patient might seek assistance from a physical therapist to strengthen a body part following surgery. A patient can also visit a physical therapist to get assistance on how to walk again after a stroke or to learn how to move with a prosthetic limb.

Another difference between the two health professionals is that chiropractors typically require specialized settings and equipment to carry out adjustments and manipulations. Physical therapists, on the other hand, can work in almost any healthcare environment, even at a patient’s home.

Treatment modalities are another factor that differentiates a chiropractor from a physical therapist. While spinal manipulation is the primary treatment modality chiropractors use, stretching and exercise programs are the primary treatment method physical therapists use.

Conclusion

Understanding the similarities and differences between a physical therapist and a chiropractor will, indeed, help you know the perfect healthcare professional to book a session with. For those living in Salt Lake City seeking the services of a licensed and experienced chiropractor, you can contact Canada Chiropractic.