There are many comparisons most people try and make between a chiropractor and a physiotherapist. There are some aspects of these two career choices that are quite similar, while other aspects of the jobs that are significantly different. If you are interested in finding out what makes these two jobs the same and different, or if you are trying to figure out which professional to seek help from in the Denton, Texas area, then you have come to the right place. Here is a side by side comparison of a chiropractor and a physiotherapist.
The Basic Job of a Chiropractor
A chiropractor works to help relieve pain by manipulation. They move around the body to achieve relief from pain and limited movements. When a sign of limitation is found by the chiropractor, they then manipulate the spine and surrounding limbs to increase range of motion and bring about relief. They use gentle techniques to move around the bones, muscles, and attached ligaments to bring about a more normal range of motion. After a few trips to see your chiropractor, you should be able to achieve a full, normal range of movement, even if you were suffering from neck-related headaches, dizziness, and vertigo, chronic pain anywhere in your back, or joint conditions in your extremities.
The Basic Job of a Physiotherapist
Seeing a physiotherapist, or physio, gives you more options in terms of care than a chiropractor. However, that does not make their treatments more effective. Physios use manipulation to some degree, but they also use massage. They also have options like electric therapy and specific exercises at their disposal to try and help you regain range of motion. Physios commonly treat problems like repetitive injuries, sports injuries, joint swelling, tendon and ligament damage, and neck and back pain.
How a Chiropractor and a Physio Are Similar
Both of these professions focus on healing to help reduce pain, and relieving tension to allow the body to better heal itself. The goal of them is to help you recover from either a single point of pain, or to recover fully after some type of an injury. Both a chiropractor and a physio will manually manipulate your body to help reduce your tension and allow for better healing, no matter what type of issues you went to see them for. They also have to go to school to be qualified to work in these fields. However, that is basically where their similarities end.
The Differences Between a Chiropractor and a Physio
To start, a chiropractor needs to go through at least four years of schooling to be able to get into the chiropractic field. A physio only needs to have two years to be able to start working. The physio uses many different techniques to manipulate the different parts of the body that are experiencing pain, and they typically work with patients that are trying to recover from some type of an injury, disability, or illness.
The chiropractor uses manual manipulation to move around the musculoskeletal system to improve the blood flow and the body’s ability to begin to heal itself. Tension stops the body from being able to recover after an injury or an ailment that causes pain, and tension naturally comes from being in pain. The chiropractor uses their hands to put things back into alignment, allowing the tension to work its way out of the body, and allowing the body to heal more effectively on its own.
When You Should See Your Chiropractor or Your Physio
By calling your chiropractor or your physio, they can often tell you if they believe their treatment will be effective in helping you feel better. If you notice pain in your back or limbs that stems from moving the bones, typically your chiropractor is better able to help you find relief. If the pain stems from your soft tissues, such as a pulled muscle, then you can turn to either a chiropractor or a physio, although this is the area that most physios specialize in, since they do not deal directly with the bony structure of the body.
Call On a Professional When Your Body Hurts
No matter if you decide that you would prefer going to a chiropractor or a physio, you want to seek out a professional. You want someone that is going to be able to provide you relief, not add to your pain. Seek out someone within the Denton, Texas area that knows what they are doing and has a large number of positive reviews or a well-known reputation for helping before you make a decision. Call around and find someone that you are comfortable with, then schedule your first appointment.
