Chiropractic vs. Physical Therapy
Chiropractic Treatment
Often patients are confused when they have back pain about if they should see a chiropractor or a physical therapist? So below is a quick blog about both.
Chiropractic adjustments are designed to restore the brain and bodies communication system. This allows your body to self-regulate its adaptation to stress in your life. Pain is a signal that the body is approaching a threshold like a warning signal. When you have constant pain, your body has broken and needs help. A chiropractor’s role is in evaluating the spine and nerve function that are connected to the pain areas and restoring the communication so the body can heal itself. If done correctly most patients experience quick relief and can go back to their daily routine. Often the areas of pain are not where the problem lies so at Discover Life Chiropractic in Tacoma we look at the whole spine to not miss other things that can cause your pain e.g. tech neck causing lower back pain.
Physical Therapy
Alternatively, physical therapy (PT) rehabilitates the affected injury or surgery after it occurs and emphasizes enhancing the flexibility and performance of bones, muscles, and joints. They often work on core strengthening and soft tissue mobilization and treat the areas of pain. They will perform a specific treatment plan and then release the patient with home care. They are limited in treating only what the prescribing doctor recommends and are not primary care physicians.
Chiropractic Advantages
While the two practices seem similar, there is a distinct function of chiropractic that physical therapy cannot address adjusting the nerve system. They may offer joint manipulation that seems similar, but the results are different. For example, when you have suffered an injury to the spine there will be ligamentous damage. As a result, the nerve loop can be disconnected from the joint to the spinal cord so the body can’t protect this area anymore. By analyzing the nerve distortion, the adjustment that a chiropractor gives resets this nerve loop and allows normal communication getting the body back online to protect that area. This is why chiropractors adjust the spine and not mobilize a joint. Being specific in the areas to adjust and leave the rest alone is what has set Discover Life Chiropractic apart from physical therapy for the last 34 years. Not getting results with your problems try us. Discover Life Chiropractic-Chronic Pain
