Conventional Medicine, Physical Therapy, and Massage Therapy: How Does Chiropractic Care Compare?

When dealing with certain problems, the solution is clear, but in many others life situations, you have several options to choose from. For instance, with musculoskeletal problems like back pain, a shoulder injury, or neck pain, the right treatment may not seem obvious, and you may not know where to turn. Should you visit a chiropractor, a medical doctor, a physical therapist, or a massage therapist? How does chiropractic care compare to these other common solutions? Which single treatment is right? Here is some information to consider.

Conventional Medicine

If you visit a typical physician, they often turn to medication or more intensive forms of treatment like surgery. Although muscle relaxants, pain relievers, and anti-inflammatory medicines may help mask the discomfort, they don’t address the cause of the problem and come with unpleasant side effects. Plus, in the case of some pain medication, patients can become dependent. On the other hand, surgery is invasive and entails a long recovery period, risk of infection, and other potential hazards. While necessary in severe cases, it is not always the best solution.

While these conventional treatments have their place and usefulness, chiropractic care doesn’t involve any of these pitfalls or risks. It is completely drug free, non-invasive, and natural because it eases your spine and joints to be naturally aligned back to where they are supposed to be.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy aims to improve function, strengthen the body, and improve range of motion, particularly following surgery or an injury. This treatment involves specially selected and instructed exercises, heat and cold therapy, and other techniques that help the body build back up to normal use. However, physical therapy may not address misalignment that could complicate healing, impinge on nerves, and make these exercises too painful or uncomfortable.

Many chiropractors will integrate mild physical therapy into their treatment. When paired with chiropractic care, physical therapy can be extremely effective—once the spine is properly aligned, the patient can rebuild muscle strength and function.

Massage Therapy

A therapeutic massage offers more than simply an opportunity to relax; it can release muscle tension that could be causing or exacerbating your pain, limitations in mobility, and other problems. It also helps improve circulation, which can help with healing. Unfortunately, massage therapy only focuses on soft tissues, meaning that joint or spinal misalignment and pain may continue afterward.

Several techniques used by chiropractors resemble those used by a massage therapist. In fact, don’t be surprised if you feel much more relaxed after your chiropractic visits.

In the end, the real solution may surprise you. While chiropractic care should be the first option you try because it is the most natural and least invasive, it may not be the only one that works best. In many cases, you as the patient stand to benefit the most by a combined approach and taking advantage of multiple treatment methods to help you overcome your injury and pain.

About the Author

Known to his patients as Dr. Z, Dr. Zinovy Chukhman attended Parker College of Chiropractic, one of the nation’s most prestigious institutions. He is also board certified by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and uses various techniques at his practice AlignRight Injury & Rehab, such as the Graston, flexion-distraction, Thompson, and Gonstead. If you are interested in learning more about how Dr. Z treats patients, contact our Dallas office online or call 972-907-2800 for an appointment.