Chiropractor or Physical Therapist?

Car Accident Chiropractor Orlando. Deciding if you should go to a chiropractor or a physical therapist after a car accident may be a hard decision to make without the proper information. There are several differences in their education, the scope of work, and treatments that will define which one is the best option for you.

What is the difference between a physical therapist and a chiropractor?

A chiropractor is a specialist who diagnoses and treats injuries and illnesses on bones and muscles that causes issues with the mechanics of your body. They are trained to manipulate the body and can adjust bones and joints aligning your body.

Chiropractors use a hands-on approach that includes examination, diagnosis, and treatment. The techniques chiropractors and physical therapists use are different, but both use their expertise to relieve pain and rehabilitate injured patients.

The main difference is that the chiropractor uses manipulation while the physical therapist (also known as physiotherapist) will use mobilization techniques.

Are chiropractors and physical therapists’ doctors?

A chiropractor (or DC, Doctor of Chiropractic) are not medical doctors, however, for insurance purposes, they are considered health care providers by some states. They are not able to prescribe medication except for in the state of New Mexico where they can prescribe some limited drugs.

DPT means Doctor of Physical Therapy but physical therapists are not medical doctors either and cannot prescribe medication. Therefore physiotherapists focus on natural remedies.

Can a chiropractor diagnose?

Chiropractors diagnose and treat different spinal disorders that cause musculoskeletal or nerve pain. Like other types of doctors, a chiropractor performs a physical and neurological examination. This may include X-rays and MRIs. The examinations allow the chiropractor to an accurate diagnosis.

Can a chiropractic treatment relieve my pain faster than physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy treats symptoms over a longer period than chiropractic treatment does. Physiotherapists employ various holistic techniques in treating the whole body, which takes time.  

Chiropractic adjustments to the spine trigger the quick release of tense muscles, alleviating much of a patient’s discomfort. 

Can a chiropractor offer physical therapy?

Chiropractors may provide some of the same treatment modalities as physical therapists, but they should portray their services as chiropractic since that is their legal title and education.

Do I need a chiropractor or a physical therapist?

You understand that when dealing with chronic pain or an injury you need to seek the help of a specialist. However, there are so many options out there that it’s hard to decide which one is the best for you.

If your illness or injury affects any part of the musculoskeletal system (bones, cartilage, joints, muscles and tendons), which gives you mobility and protects your internal organs, a chiropractor may be your best choice.

He or she will be able to manipulate your body to provide relief and improve mobility. Aside from realigning your joints and spine, they can work of deep tissue, muscles and tendons. Chiropractic care is not a replacement of conventional medicine. It is a form of therapy that works in cooperation with other medical professionals. Chances are that depending on your situation and condition, your chiropractor may work hand in hand with your medical doctor.

Is Chiropractic better than Physiotherapy?

Chiropractic therapy is based on the idea that the proper alignment of your musculoskeletal structure allows you to heal naturally. Physiotherapy focuses on your movement and aims to prevent or treat injury. Instead of focusing on your spine, it tries to maintain your mobility.

Chiropractic also cares for your mobility but in a more curative way than physiotherapy. It is a one-on-one treatment with your specialist.

Another reason why it may be better for you is because of more immediate results short term, especially when bones are involved. Physiotherapy tends to be more focused on soft tissue than bone.

When it comes to neck pain, chiropractic care may be more suited to treat it as the neck is part of the spine which is the focus of chiropractic care. In fact, for most problems related to back trauma, chiropractic techniques may be more efficient.

What conditions does a chiropractor treat?

Chiropractors can treat many different injuries and health-related issues. Some of the most popular are subluxation, back pain, car accident injuries, chronic pain, herniated disc, migraine headaches, neck pain, and sciatica. However, there are plenty of more conditions that can be treated. Contact our team for a consultation and to see if we can help you with your pain or condition.

Chiropractic treatment is better for neck pain.

Studies published in “The Annals of Internal Medicine” show that chiropractic care is better than ibuprofen, aspirin, and narcotic medications for treating neck pain. This type of injury is one of the most likely types of pain to prompt a person to seek treatment after a car accident. With chiropractic treatment, patients experienced "75% pain reduction." Patients using prescribed medications only showed 38% pain reduction.

Even a year after the studies were conducted, the beneficial effects of chiropractic spinal adjustment over the effects of physiotherapy could still be observed.

What are the most defining types of chiropractic therapy?

The process has various benefits such as reducing inflammation as well as helping with arthritis among other things when used correctly.

Chiropractors use many types of therapies aside from spinal manipulation which is the most recognized treatment. After performing a thorough physical and neurological evaluation of the patient, they diagnose the cause of the pain.

Some of the treatments they may recommend include therapeutic exercise, stretching, tissue therapy, spinal traction, electric nerve stimulation, ultrasound, ice and heat, diet and many others.

However, what they are most known for are chiropractic adjustments and there are different types. These go from hands-on manipulation to instruments-assisted adjusting and drop-table techniques.

The most well-known chiropractic adjustments are the following:

Gonstead technique: Adjusts the low back or pelvis as the patient lies on the side. Realigns joints, reduces pain and increases mobility.

Activator technique: Delivers a gentle impulse into the vertebral segments of the spine or extremities. Helps with low back pain and headaches.

Flexion distraction or Cox Technique: Is decompression manipulation for herniated discs, joint pain and scoliosis.

Thompson or drop table technique: It’s done on a table with padded platforms that drops a fraction of an inch when the chiropractor makes the adjustment. It is used on spine and extremities.

Diversified technique: Used to adjust spine and extremities is the most widely used technique and it involves precise hands-on movements and thrusts to restore movement and alignment of the spine.

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The Spine and Rehab Centers team thanks you for taking your time in sending us these questions. We want to make sure we continue to provide you with thoughtful and valuable information. So, please continue to send them our way and we will do our best to continue to respond.

If you have any additional questions about our services, you may contact us by clicking here. Our phone number is 407-802-4476 and our offices are in Lake Mary and Lee Vista. You may find directions on how to get there here. And for more information on our services, please don’t hesitate to visit our website.

Car Accident Chiropractor Orlando.