What’s the Difference Between Physiotherapy and Chiropractic Treatment?
Physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment can both help with pain from an injury or chronic health condition. But which one is better for what you need?
This is a VERY common question that’s asked by people looking for pain relief and treatment. Although physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment are two separate disciplines, there’s a lot of overlap in the types of conditions that they treat and the treatment methods they use.
First, let’s look at the similarities between physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment.
- Both use manual hands-on treatment to relieve pain and increase mobility in the body.
- Both are trained in treating similar problems such as lower back pain, sciatica, neck pain, knee and shoulder pain, muscle pain, joint pain, range of motion issues and more.
- Both promote therapeutic exercises to help strengthen and stabilize the body.
- Both collect your health history and conduct a thorough assessment to find the root cause to your pain.
- Both are licensed and specialized healthcare professionals with many years of university education and training.
As you can see, there’s a lot of overlap between what a physiotherapist does and what a chiropractor does….especially if you see a chiropractor who is trained in how to treat sports injuries and works in a sports medicine clinic!
Even though there’s a large overlap in what these two professions can do for you, there are IMPORTANT and DISTINCT differences as well.
1. Goals of Treatment
- Physiotherapy aims to relieve your pain so that you can move better.
- Chiropractic treatment aims to provide you with pain relief and improve the way your spine works.
2. Types of Injuries Treated
- Physiotherapy has specialized branches like pelvic health, vestibular therapy, post-surgical therapy, neurological therapy, and sports therapy, to help people recover from conditions like a pelvic floor issue, concussion, hip or knee replacement, stroke, brain injury, and ACL tear or surgery. However, most physiotherapists can effectively treat issues that impact your body and cause you discomfort.
- Chiropractic treatment typically involves patients who have neck, back, or other joint pain. Some chiropractors also treat sports injuries (using the same kinds of treatment that a physiotherapist would!)
- People who see chiropractors usually expect chiropractors to perform adjustments to give them relief from body aches, joint pain, and sudden or chronic injuries.
3. Treatment Types
- Physiotherapy focuses on first relieving your pain, then giving you the tools to take control of your pain. They’ll share some education about your condition, teach you stretches and exercise to improve how your body moves, and use hands-on techniques and machines to relieve your pain or stiffness.
- Chiropractic treatment uses a variety of hands-on techniques like adjustments and manipulations, but some chiropractors also incorporate soft tissue release to release muscle tightness. They might also use different tools like acupuncture, TENS or laser therapy or to relieve pain and speed up the healing time of your injury. They’ll usually incorporate exercises. Depending on the specific training of the chiropractor, their treatment can actually be very similar to a physiotherapist!
4. Where do they work?
- Physiotherapists practice in a wide range of settings. Most commonly, you’ll find physiotherapists that are ready to help you in clinics but physiotherapists also practice in hospitals, schools, long-term treatment programs, in-home, and telehealth settings.
- Chiropractors typically practice in clinics, but you might also find them in hospitals, telehealth, or as an in-home service.
5. Cost of Services
- Physiotherapy is covered under OHIP in some cases. You could be eligible for government-funded physiotherapy services if you have an OHIP card, have been referred to physiotherapy by a doctor or nurse practitioner, and have met any one of the following criteria:
- You’re 19 years or younger
- You’re 65 or older
- You’ve had an overnight hospital stay within the last 12 months for any condition that requires physiotherapy OR
- You’re a recipient of the Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program
Most extended insurance providers cover physiotherapy services. There is the option to pay out of pocket for physiotherapy services if you don’t have insurance.
- Chiropractic treatment is unfortunately not covered by OHIP, but like physiotherapy, it is covered under most health insurance benefits plans. If you have a benefits plan you can contact your provider to confirm how much chiropractic treatment your plan covers.
I want to know more about the right treatment for me!
If you’re still not sure whether you should see a chiropractor or a physiotherapist for your specific injury, the best way to find out is to talk to a physiotherapist or chiropractor first.
This is so you can tell them about your injury and they can give you more details about how they would help you.
Claim your FREE 20-MINUTE PHONE CALL with a healthcare provider near you to discuss your issue and receive advice about your chiropractic or physiotherapy treatment options.
It’s time to put yourself first in order to get the help you need to live your best, pain-free life.
This blog was written by Anna Zheng, a Physiotherapy student at the University of Toronto
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I go to a physiotherapist or chiropractor first?
The best choice you can make is seeing one of these healthcare professionals sooner rather than later.
Physiotherapists and chiropractors are both skilled to effectively assess and manage many different types of injuries, and get you started on a treatment program right away.
Some people choose to see one or the other. In other cases, some people get a bigger benefit in incorporating these two specialties in their personal treatment plan.
No matter which you choose, it’s important that you get a practitioner that makes you feel safe, heard, and comfortable. You’ll want to find a reputable clinic that has an experienced team to help fully heal your injuries and get you back to your regular activities without pain.
What does a physiotherapist do?
A physiotherapist is a healthcare professional that’s trained to help heal and prevent injuries.
Their primary goals are to eliminate your pain and improve the way you move in your daily life.
Physiotherapists can help ELIMINATE pain and discomfort associated with a wide range of different injuries and conditions.
They’re able to help relieve low back pain, whiplash injuries, sciatica, vertigo and dizziness, concussion symptoms, headaches, shoulder pain, pelvic health issues, arthritis, sports injuries, and just about any other condition that you can think of!