What Is The Difference Between A Chiropractor, A Physical Therapist and A Physician?
A Chiropractor is a health care professional that diagnoses, treats and assists in the prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine, as theoretically these disorders affect a patient’s general health via the nervous system. A chiropractor’s purpose is to restore function and stability to your spine. This is done by realigning the vertebrae in a patient’s spine using spinal manipulation. Releasing tension in the spine allows for muscles to be relaxed and relieving pain associated with the misalignment such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches, to name a few. A chiropractor also affects the patient’s nervous system. The nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is at the very top of the nervous system. The spinal cord runs through the spine and branches off in pairs at each vertebral level. The nervous system controls every muscle, organ and cell of your body. With correct alignment of the spine, it allows the brain to talk to every part of your body which promotes better movement, balance, and nerve function.
A Physical Therapist is a health-care professional that evaluates, diagnoses and provides treatment to individuals to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and function throughout life. This includes providing treatment in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by aging, injury, disease or environmental factors. Components of movement and function that are evaluated by a physical therapist include strength, range of motion, flexibility, balance, posture, body mechanics, coordination, endurance and general mobility such as walking, stair climbing, and getting in and out of a chair or bed. A physical therapist evaluates the components of movement and develops an individualized program to decrease deficits and restore function. Physical therapists help people with orthopedic conditions such as low back pain or osteoporosis; joint and soft tissue injuries such as fractures and dislocations to “Physical therapists help people with orthopedic conditions including low back pain, sciatica, neck pain and radiculopathy to name a few. Physical Therapists can also help with joint and soft tissue injuries such muscle strains, ligaments sprains, dislocations, subluxations and joint pain. In general, if a physical condition is preventing you from doing what you want to do, most likely a Physical Therapist can help.
A physician—also known as doctor of medicine, medical doctor, or simply doctor—practices maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease or injury. One goes to their physician when they feel sick, get injured, experience any unknown symptoms, or for annual checkups. A physician applies prior medical knowledge to accurately diagnose a patient’s ailment. A physician may prescribe medications for the ailment or may provide healthier lifestyle recommendations. There are many different types of physicians who each have a specific scope of practice. It is common for a physician to refer one patient to another physician who specializes in another area. Examples of different physicians include pediatricians, internists, and surgeons, just to name a few. Just as physicians refer patients among themselves, physicians also refer to other medical experts such as chiropractors and physical therapists, dependant on the diagnosis and needed care.
