Chiropractic Care and Physical Therapy: How They Work Together

If you have dealt with back pain, a stiff neck, or an injury that is slow to improve, you may have wondered whether to see a chiropractor or a physical therapist. The two are different disciplines, and some patients receive care from both as part of a broader plan.

This article gives general information about what each approach involves. Whether either is appropriate for you depends on your own evaluation.

What Chiropractic Care Involves

Chiropractic care generally focuses on the spine and joints. Chiropractors commonly use hands-on techniques, including spinal manipulation (often called an adjustment), with the aim of improving joint motion and reducing pain.

Some people with certain types of back or neck pain report improvement with chiropractic care, although responses vary and it is not appropriate for every condition.

What Physical Therapy Involves

Physical therapy generally focuses on exercise and movement. A physical therapist may use guided exercises, stretching, and a gradual increase in activity aimed at improving strength, flexibility, and how the body moves.

Physical therapy is commonly used after injuries and surgery, and for many musculoskeletal conditions. As with any treatment, results vary from person to person.

Why Some Plans Include Both

Because the two approaches emphasize different things, some care plans include elements of both. For example, a plan might combine hands-on treatment with an exercise program.

Whether one, both, or neither is appropriate depends on the diagnosis and the individual. Some people may benefit more from one approach, and some conditions call for other types of care.

The Role of a Medical Evaluation

At Complete Care in the Bronx, services include neurology evaluation and treatment, pain management, rehabilitation medicine, and orthopedic injury evaluation and treatment. When indicated, electrodiagnostic testing and imaging review can provide additional information about what may be causing symptoms.

A medical evaluation can help determine whether symptoms may involve a nerve or another condition that should be addressed before, or instead of, hands-on treatment or exercise.

General information like this cannot replace a personal evaluation. If you have questions about your own symptoms, please call our office.

Questions about your own care? The team at Complete Care is happy to help — call us at 212-239-2112 or request an appointment.

This content is for general information only and isn't medical advice. Talk with a qualified provider about your own situation. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.