Why Chiropractic Care is Better than Physiotherapy
Chiropractic care and physiotherapy are both natural methods of treatment and are focused on alleviating tension, restoring mobility, function and good health to the body. They do not use medications nor surgery. It is not clear in many people’s mind which therapy is more effective and will give the greater benefit for their long-term health and wellbeing.
A chiropractor is a healthcare professional who provides services in the diagnosis and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorders and in their prevention. A physiotherapist is a medical professional engaged in providing treatment and assistance in restoring function and mobility in case of injury or disease caused by aging.
Physiotherapy
The primary concern of physiotherapy is addressing muscular pain and joint pain through the use of rehabilitative exercise, massage and stretching techniques. These may be employed in combination with other treatment methods such as ultrasound, heat therapy or hydrotherapy. The services of a physiotherapist is often called to help patients regain their mobility normally after an injury or accident and to help manage their pain. Physiotherapists are inclined to focus and specialize in problems of the soft tissues. The physiotherapist is likely to focus particularly on the connective tissues and muscles on and around the affected area, in trying to reduce tension and pain.
Chiropractic Treatment
Essential and central to chiropractic care is the philosophy that good health and general wellbeing emanates from a healthy relationship between the spine and nervous system with the bones, joints, organs, muscles and tissues of the body. The focus of chiropractic treatment for an injured or ill patient is the realignment of the spine to remove irritation and to restore normal functioning of the nervous system of the body. This process is known as chiropractic alignment or adjustment. It consists of gentle, directed force manually applied and directed to a joint or vertebra with restricted movement. The action is intended to allow the affected part to regain normal motion gradually.
Chiropractic care focuses on full-body health and the intimate relationship of your spine to the rest of your body as opposed to paying attention only on a single point where the injury or dysfunction is. The chiropractic approach to treating a health condition is holistic. Aside from this broader focus on your body, it makes sure that similar issues are prevented in the future. Lifestyle changes, nutrition, supplementation, strengthening and stretching exercises, posture and ergonomics are incorporated in the treatment plan, as the chiropractor sees them necessary. A reevaluation of some of the aspects of your lifestyle is important because in many cases, poor lifestyle habits cause the health condition to exacerbate and get in the way of a quick recovery.
The chiropractic treatment provided is unique to the health issues and condition of the individual seeking health care. It is highly personalized, which means there are no set standard limits in terms of treatment frequency and duration. One patient may require very few sessions to fully heal while others may need more visits or even undertake ongoing treatment.
While both physiotherapy and chiropractic care are beneficial in providing relief to symptoms associated with pain, injury and illness, people who have had the opportunity to experience or have known these two forms of therapy favor chiropractic care. It has a broader scope in terms of the issues it can help in and it is more holistic and preventive in nature.