At Prime Sports Med we offer a variety of treatment options to patients including chiropractic, physical therapy, and massage therapy. One question we get asked frequently is whether or not a patient can see the chiropractor and the physical therapist at the same time. The short answer, yes! In fact, many times our doctors recommend patients see both or will refer if they believe a different treatment plan would work better. Our doctors often work together to help patients recover from injuries or pain much more quickly.
In the past there has been a stigma that chiropractors and physical therapists cannot work together cohesively. At Prime Sports Med we have thrown out the status quo and have a team of professionals who not only work together but learn and grow together to the benefit of their patients. Chiropractors and physical therapists both dedicate their lives to helping people reduce pain, move well, and live better. With unique but complementary specialties and treatment options, integrating can lead to incredible benefits for patients of all ages.
Chiropractors view the body as an interconnected partnership between the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Their treatment method relies on analyzing and treating muscular and spinal misalignments that may be causing pressure within the central nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments can provide immediate pain relief, making it a great option for people who need acute relief (injury or pain lasting less than two weeks).
Physical therapists use a multi-faceted set of approaches to diagnose physical abnormalities in patients and help them improve balance and gain strength, range of motion, and mobility. Whether through therapeutic exercise, therapeutic activity, or many other tools and treatments, they care for musculoskeletal conditions that hinder the body’s movement and/or cause chronic pain (injury or pain lasting longer than two weeks).
Whether the treatment is meant to optimize movement, rehabilitate an injury, or prevent injury, the combination of chiropractic and physical therapy will help reach the goal more holistically. Utilizing chiropractor’s expertise in adjustments with physical therapist’s know-how in strengthening, lengthening and helping the body move better, patients will benefit by allowing each professional to play off of each other’s strengths and fill in each other’s gaps.
Both chiropractors and physical therapists use conservative methods of treating musculoskeletal pain and/or dysfunction. Instead of using invasive tactics like surgery or pushing pills like medical physicians, chiropractors and physical therapists both understand the benefits of treating the root cause of the issue before moving to drastic, invasive, or potentially addictive measures. Patients will feel confident utilizing both chiropractic and physical therapy to make better-informed decisions for themselves and their families.
References
Bass, Haley. “Who Should I Visit for My Back Pain?” Concentra, 17 Mar. 2017, www.concentra.com.
Moore, Rebecca. “Physical Therapy or Chiropractic: Why Not Both?” Performance Health Academy, 2019, www.performancehealthacademy.com.
Relax The Back. “Chiropractic vs. Physical Therapist: What’s Right for Me?” Relax The Back, 25 Sept. 2018, www.relaxtheback.com.