Back Pain Treatment: Physical Therapy or Chiropractic?

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Back pain treatment can take many forms ranging from pain management with medications to alternative management such as acupuncture. Two treatment approaches that are considered “mainstream”, include physical therapy and chiropractic. But what exactly do these back pain treatment options offer?

Here’s what you need to know about both chiropractic and physical therapy in the management of back pain.

Physical Therapy Management
The evaluation and treatment of back pain by an orthopedic physical therapist is largely based upon mechanical principles. The primary objective is to identify abnormal motion behavior. The underlying cause of back pain can often be determined by finding out how the spine moves. For example, excessive motion of a spinal segment or region may cause ligamentous irritation and mechanical instability. Motion restrictions, on the other hand, can lead to tissue shortening and tightness. Back pain relief is often obtained when spinal movement is restored.

The orthopedic physical therapist will be able to identify soft tissue involvement (such as a muscle strain or ligament sprain), nerve irritation or pressure, mechanical problems (such as a restricted or excessive joint mobility), muscular flexibility issues, specific muscular strength and endurance capabilities, and whether a disc injury is suspected. Back pain treatment strategies and goals are then developed to treat the specific findings. Treatment will include therapeutic exercise prescription, pain management strategies, manual therapy, and patient education strategies.

Chiropractic Management
In a nutshell, chiropractic care reduces spinal subluxations or misalignment, which allows the body to achieve a state of optimal health. Chiropractic is a “natural” remedy that uses neither drugs nor surgery to restore the body to its natural state. Chiropractors believe that spinal misalignments muddy up the communication between the brain, the nervous system, and the rest of the body, leading to poor health. Chiropractic uses manipulation (adjustments) of the spine to correct these misalignments. Once proper spinal alignment is achieved, nervous system communication is restored and the patient is returned to a state of optimal health.

No matter which way you decide to go to obtain back pain relief, the important thing to remember is to first identify the underlying cause of the problem and second to treat the problem. Back pain treatment from the majority of physical therapists and chiropractors DO NOT address the underlying cause of most back pain.

The Erase Your Back Pain program identifies the underlying cause of the problem and specifically addresses each issue. Check out what this program is all about here ⇒ No More Back Pain!

I welcome your questions and comments. Let me hear from you by filling out the form below.

Dedicated To Erasing Your Back Pain,

Malton A. Schexneider, PT, MMSc
Clinical Specialist
Orthopaedic Physical Therapy