What is the difference between a Chiropractor and a Physical Therapist?

Having pain can have a negative effect on your daily life. Taking medication alone to treat painful conditions can become costly and comes along with adverse side effects that could be more damaging in the long run. If you have taken the traditional route of seeing your primary care physician for help, the most common treatment method given are pain killers and muscle relaxers. In the short term these treatments do aid in taking the “edge off” your symptoms, but do not effectively eliminate the problem.

To get out of this pain cycle it is best to find an alternative health care provider who can relieve your pain naturally without the lingering effects of drugs and without the extensive period of recovery time from a surgery. The true definition of a “healthy person” is someone who takes the necessary steps to balance their mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health. This balance is essential to living a healthy active lifestyle.

As a chiropractor, I receive numerous questions regarding the difference between a chiropractor and a physical therapist and how do you choose between the two. What I tell people is that these two professions are vastly different with the same underling focus on patient care and pain relief.

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on your general health. Chiropractic has been proven to alleviate most neuro-musculoskeletal complaints including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, numbness and tingling in the feet or arms, headaches and migraines as well as aid in the recovery after a car accident or personal injury.

How chiropractic works is through a detailed evaluation of the spinal structure, the treatment and diagnosis is targeted toward eliminating pain at the SOURCE of the problem which in most cases is a result of a weak spinal structure and foundation leading to pain and dysfunction. Once all the necessary tests are performed an adjustment is given to correct the spinal structure.

Now the next question people ask me is chiropractic safe and are adjustments painful? My answer is absolutely Chiropractic care is safe!  Chiropractic care is known as one of the safest non-invasive and drug free procedures that treats musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. Chiropractic care has an outstanding history of positive patient outcomes. Chiropractic patients range from people of all ages with various lifestyles. This includes infants, toddlers, athletes and the elderly. Chiropractic adjustments usually do not cause pain. Discomfort is usually, but not often, felt due to the severity of the symptoms and weakness of the spinal structure the patient has while dealing with a condition.

Physical therapy is a health care profession that focuses on helping patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility without surgery and reducing the need for long-term use of prescription medication and their side effects. In this their plan is individualized to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function and prevent disability.  Treatment is done in a variety of settings from hospitals, private practices, to outpatient clinics. The primary focus of PT is to strengthen and restore the muscle, ligament and joint structure.

Think of your body as a “House”. To have a strong stable home you need to have a good foundation. With a strong foundation anything you build on top of that will last and be secure. The foundation of your body is your Spine! If you have a weak foundation (spine) then whatever you place on top of it will be weak (your health). To have a pain free life style means to have a strong spine and stable muscle and ligament balance to ensure your body is functioning at its highest level of performance.

In conclusion, there are a number or differences and similarities between chiropractic care and physical therapy, in part the two greatly complement each other. Both are a drug and surgery free alternative to health care and focuses on building a strong foundation for a healthy and active pain free lifestyle. In choosing between the two take in to account that both are needed to alleviate your pain.

In looking for a chiropractor I recommended googling your State’s Chiropractic Association to find a person close to you. Or chiropractor with your zip code. Do your research!  Know that each chiropractic office is not one in the same, like there are 21 different ice cream flavors there are different chiropractic styles to meet your needs.

Increase your energy and focus naturally

We all are in need of more energy and focus. Most of us can agree that we feel that there is not enough hours in the day to accomplish all the tasks and daily activities that demand our attention none the less have enough energy and focus to do so. Now-a-days we are on a time crunch  quick, easy,and conveninet foods and drinks are what we lean towards to give us the energy we need. The popular grab and goes, the large coffee, the donuts, and the extra strength energy drink all get you started with your day but by the afternoon you are more fatigued and drained by mid day then when you woke up in the morning.

The problem with these methods is that they are full of sugar and empty carbs. These commonly used methods for a much needed “pick me up” only give a false sense of increase in energy and focus. It is sugar that causes inflammation and inflammation that is the catalyst to other chronic conditions that interfere with daily life.

A great alternative to sugar is to receive your energy from essential B vitamins, energy sustaining herbs a good one is Rhodiola Rosea and green tea extract.

1. Green Tea Extract is loaded with antioxidants and nuttrients. It is known to improve brain function, aids in fat loss, and lower your risk to various types of cancer.
2. Rhodiola Rosea strengthen the nervous system fight depression, enhance immunity enhance memory and improve energy levels.
3. B Vitamins help the body produce energy and form Red Blood Cells

Look for products that use these three essential vitamins and herbs as the source of energy boosting power. Two of my favorite go-to energy boosting supplements and products are the  XS Energy and Focus dietary supplement and the XS Energy drinks.

XS Energy and Focus dietary supplement

• Improves mental focus
• Improves exercise performance(when taken 30 minutes before a work out)
• Contains Rhodiola Rosea an herb commonly used in Chinese medicine to improve your bodies stress response system
• 75 mg of natural caffeine derived from green tea extract.

XS Energy Drinks

• Zero sugar
• No artificial colors or dyes
• 12-15 Calories
• B Vitamins and Herbs
• 80 mg of caffeine

Consider these replacements to your daily routine for more energy and focus to get you through a busy day. These natural alternative will give you the long lasting susstainable energy and clarity that you desire. For more information about these products visit our Howard Chiro Wellness Shop and enter the name of product in the search bar.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Howard to discuss a more detailed plan of action to regain more energy and focus visit our Contact Page.

Chiropractic Care 101

Many people consider chiropractic care to be a simple cracking of the neck and back that can be done at home. However, chiropractic is a legitimate form of health care that is based on medical science and must be done by a trained professional.

Chiropractic care focuses on healing the body by correcting misalignments in the spine. These misalignments cause the body not to function properly, which can lead to pain and discomfort. Chiropractic care does not use any form of drugs or surgery. This is what makes chiropractic care so unique: A chiropractor’s primary treatment methods are centered around the musculoskeletal system. When the vertebrae of the spine are manipulated, the nervous system and its interactions with each part of the body are affected to eliminate various health conditions.

For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.