Services & Techniques

Since 2008, most every conference I have been to has referenced the success in using noninvasive healthcare for uncomplicated (and sometimes complicated) low back pain. Noninvasive usually refers to physical therapy and of course chiropractic.  That doesn’t mean massage therapy and acupuncture doesn’t/shouldn’t count – but that’s for another time.  When it comes to the insurance game – often times a series of physical therapy visits has to be completed before injections and/or MRI’s can be authorized.  Plenty of research exists to support that.  It’s a great tool when it comes to musculoskeletal conditions – and probably a few other conditions too.

In 2020, I had an interesting visit with a work compensation nurse – a clinical supervisor, who informed me that physical therapist and chiropractors were the same thing.  I argued until I was blue in the face that chiropractic and physical therapy were vastly different.  However, even someone as educated as a nurse who passionately argued this clearly was misinformed at best.  I am sure many patients are a bit confused and not entirely sure of the difference either.

In a nut shell, physical therapy is to strengthen those areas that need to be strengthened, and stretch those areas that lack the flexibility.  Any PT reading this can contact me if that is incorrect.

Chiropractors assess the spine (and other areas) to see where and if there is any areas not moving correctly.  After an initial exam, 90% of the time, the chiropractor will perform a chiropractic adjustment.  What does that do?  Almost every single spinal segment has a minimum of 6 joints per segment (2 discs and 4 facets). The spine houses the nervous system – which controls every aspect of your body’s functions – including those tight and/or weak muscles.  If any of those joints are not moving correctly – even just a little bit, it can cause dysfunction.  Sometimes that dysfunction is pain. Sometimes it is muscle weakness.  Sometimes it is affecting the nerves that go to your organs.  

Who should you choose?  I can show references that when a patient chooses a chiropractor as their first doctor to treat their condition, health care costs drop dramatically, pharmaceutical prescription drops dramatically, as does the likely hood of surgery.  I bet the right physical therapist could find similar research for their profession, although I would challenge any PT cost to that of chiropractic.  If you ask your medical doctor, 90% of the time they will refer you to physical therapy.  This too is another story – but frankly they are trained to do this.  Usually it involves and anti-inflammatory and a referral.  The old friction from MD’s and DC still exists and breaking down those walls on communication still needs a lot of work.

Of note, other than certain military patients, you do NOT need a referral to see a chiropractor.

My answer?  Do your homework.  Ask around.  How quickly can they get you in?  Are they in your network?  If not – what are the costs? Was the receptionist friendly?  Ask friends and family.  Check out their website, social media pages etc.  What do the reviews say?

Lastly, one of my biggest pet peeves is working any provider is when a referral is sent out, and that provider tells the patient to stop chiropractic.  I’ve heard “We need to know which one is working.”  That is simply not true.  Many of my patients have seen a physical therapist and chiropractor at the same time.  Regardless of the provider, if they insists they are the only one they can help you, change providers.