Have you been referred to a physiotherapist or chiropractor but aren’t sure which one is better suited to treat your condition? Then this is the guide for you! Below, we’ll cover the differences between the two treatment methods and explain who they’re best suited for.
Chiropractic Care
When you decide to see a chiropractor, they’ll focus on the musculoskeletal system in order to realign your body while relieving pain and tension. It can be used on its own or in collaboration with traditional forms of medicine. You should only trust this treatment method from licensed chiropractors, as seeking treatment from someone without the proper training can leave you with permanent injuries.
Chiropractic Benefits
As a non-invasive treatment option, chiropractic care has been proven to improve overall wellness in relation to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. This helps patients who experience chronic pain from injuries, arthritis and other age-related joint or muscle pain, asthma, carpal tunnel, pregnancy issues, high blood pressure and more. Not only does chiropractic care lead to experiencing less pain, but it also reduces your need for prescription medication and surgery.
Physiotherapy
The practice of physical therapy focuses on treating, healing and preventing further injury or disability using various techniques that exercise and stretch the injured area. A custom activity plan is created by a trained physiotherapist in order to help their patients manage their pain. Physiotherapy can be done is many ways, including passively, actively, through manual therapy, posture improvement, massage therapy and more. Ultimately, all physical therapy can fall under passive and active methods. Passive therapy requires little to no movement on the patient’s part, utilizing ice therapy, heat therapy or massage therapy. Active therapy, on the other hand, requires exercising through stretching, strength training or aerobics.
Physical Therapy Benefits
Another non-invasive pain relief treatment, physiotherapy requires some level of exercise in order for the injured area to heal and regain function. However, active physical therapy can also improve the joint and muscles around the injured or pained area, reducing the stress placed on those painful spots. This practice is particularly effective after surgery on the hips, knees, shoulders or other frequently used joints. Physiotherapy also improves balance, helps in managing diabetes, heart and lung disease, and age-related issues like arthritis.
At Oshawa Chiropractic & Physiotherapy, we provide acupuncture treatments, massage therapy, laser treatment, pregnancy care, physiotherapy and shockwave therapy services for our patients. If you’re experiencing chronic or acute pain, or have just had surgery, give us a call or visit our website to book an appointment.