Your neck hurts when checking traffic while driving. Your lower back twinges after you sit for a while. Neck and back pain are very common issues. In fact, these types of pain affect millions of people as they go about their normal daily tasks.
Medical studies show that up to 79.5% of Americans develop neck pain annually. Other studies report that approximately 31 million Americans have lower back pain at any given time. Both types of pain can be treated by both chiropractors and physical therapists. However, there are differences between these two types of medical professionals. Understanding these differences can help you make a better informed decision about getting care for neck pain or back pain.
Three differences between chiropractors and physical therapists
Chiropractors and physical therapists often work together to help people address spinal pain. However, there are some differences you should know about these two types of care.
Three of these differences are:
- Focus of care — Chiropractors tend to focus on reducing specific symptoms you’re having. Physical therapists can also help reduce your symptoms. But they’ll also evaluate you to determine if you have underlying issues that are contributing to your symptoms.
- Ability to address underlying issues — Chiropractic professionals may be able to reveal underlying issues, but they often don’t have the skills required to address them. Physiotherapists are typically trained to treat a much wider range of musculoskeletal disorders. For instance, a physical therapist can identify scar tissue that’s causing muscle tension that is leading to spinal misalignment. They can then create a therapy plan to address the scar tissue.
- Range of treatment options — Spinal manipulation is the primary treatment method used in chiropractic sessions. Physiotherapy sessions can include this treatment technique. In addition, they can also include treatment methods like:
- Soft tissue mobilization
- Aquatic therapy
- Spine care tips
- Dry needling
- Blood flow moderation training
- Virtual therapy
- At-home care
Find physical therapy that can reduce your pain at Border Therapy Services
At Border Therapy Services, our physical therapists often work with chiropractors to help reduce neck and back pain. We can start by evaluating your neck or back to determine the root cause of your pain. In addition, our physical therapists are adept at building personalized therapy plans designed to reduce your pain and prevent it from returning.
Contact our team today for more information about the therapy services we offer or to schedule an initial appointment.