What’s the Difference Between a Physio and a Chiropractor?

If you've got back pain, neck pain, a sore shoulder or another musculoskeletal problem, you might find yourself wondering:
Should I see a physio or a chiropractor?
It's a common question, and it's understandable that the choice can be confusing. There is some overlap between the two professions, and both physiotherapists and chiropractors work with people experiencing pain and movement problems.
However, there are also differences in the way they typically approach assessment and treatment.
So, what actually is the difference?

What does a physiotherapist do?
Physiotherapists are trained to assess and manage problems affecting movement, function and the musculoskeletal system.
That includes things such as:

• Back and neck pain
• Sports injuries
• Joint pain
• Muscle and tendon problems
• Sprains and strains
• Rehabilitation after injury or surgery
• Running and exercise-related problems
• Ongoing or recurring pain
• Strength and movement difficulties

A physiotherapy assessment isn't simply about finding the one muscle or joint that is "out."
A physio will generally look at your symptoms and how they are affecting you, your movement, strength, activities, training and other factors that may be relevant to your particular problem.
Treatment can then be tailored to what you need.
This might include exercise and strengthening, advice about activity and load, education about your symptoms, hands-on treatment, movement retraining or a combination of different approaches.

What does a chiropractor do?
Chiropractors also work with people experiencing musculoskeletal problems, particularly problems involving the spine and joints.
One of the things chiropractic care is particularly known for is spinal and joint manipulation.
Depending on the chiropractor and your individual situation, treatment may also involve other hands-on techniques, exercise, advice and rehabilitation.
There is therefore some overlap between chiropractic and physiotherapy. Both professions can assess musculoskeletal problems, provide hands-on treatment and give advice about managing symptoms.
The biggest difference isn't necessarily that one profession treats one part of the body and the other treats something completely different.
It's often more about the overall approach and treatment philosophy of the individual practitioner.

Is physiotherapy just exercises?
This is a common misconception.
Exercise is an important part of modern physiotherapy, but seeing a physio doesn't mean you'll simply be handed a list of exercises and sent home.
Depending on your problem, a physiotherapist may use a combination of:
Exercise and strengthening
To help you build capacity and improve your ability to do the activities that matter to you.
Education
Understanding what may be contributing to your symptoms and what you can safely do can be an important part of recovery.
Load management
Sometimes the answer isn't stopping an activity completely. It may be about adjusting how much, how often or how quickly you're doing it while your body adapts.
Hands-on treatment
Massage, mobilisation and other manual techniques may be used when appropriate.
Movement and activity advice
Your physio can help you work out how to keep moving while gradually returning to the things you enjoy.
The approach should be based on your individual problem rather than simply applying the same treatment to everyone.

Do physios and chiropractors treat the same things?
There is definitely some overlap.
For example, someone with lower back pain could potentially see either a physiotherapist or a chiropractor.
The same can be true for some types of neck pain, headaches or other musculoskeletal problems.
However, the assessment and treatment you receive can be quite different depending on the practitioner you see.
Two people with exactly the same diagnosis might also receive different treatment plans — and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
There isn't always one single treatment that works for everyone.
Your symptoms, goals, preferences, previous experiences and what you need to get back to all matter.

What about spinal adjustments?
Spinal manipulation or "adjustments" are one of the treatments most commonly associated with chiropractic care.
Some physiotherapists also use spinal or joint mobilisation and manipulation as part of their treatment.
But hands-on treatment is only one part of physiotherapy.
At Better Bodies Physiotherapy, we generally think of manual therapy as a tool rather than the entire solution.
It may help settle symptoms or make movement feel easier in the short term, but we also want to help you understand your problem and build your ability to manage it yourself.
That might mean gradually strengthening an area, changing how you approach a particular activity or simply becoming more confident with movement.

So which one should you choose?
There's no universal answer.
If you have a musculoskeletal problem and you're trying to decide who to see, it's worth considering what you're actually looking for.
You might prefer physiotherapy if you want an approach that places a strong emphasis on:

• Exercise and strengthening
• Rehabilitation and returning to activity
• Understanding your symptoms
• Building physical capacity
• Managing training and activity levels
• Developing strategies you can continue using yourself

You might prefer chiropractic care if you're specifically looking for a practitioner whose approach centres more heavily around spinal or joint manipulation.
And remember, individual practitioners within either profession can have quite different approaches.

What if I'm not sure what's wrong?
You don't need to diagnose yourself before booking an appointment.
That's one of the reasons assessment is important.
For example, if you've developed back pain, it isn't necessarily useful to decide beforehand that you have a "disc problem," a "locked joint" or a "weak core."
A good assessment starts with understanding your symptoms, your history and what you're trying to get back to.
From there, your practitioner can help determine what is most appropriate — including whether physiotherapy is actually the right option for you.
There are also situations where your symptoms need assessment by another healthcare professional rather than simply being treated as a musculoskeletal problem.

The most important thing is getting the right help
Physiotherapists and chiropractors are different professions, but there is more overlap between them than you might realise.
Rather than thinking of it as physio versus chiropractor, it can be more helpful to think about what you want from your care and which approach best suits you.
If you're dealing with pain or a movement problem, you don't need to know exactly what's wrong before seeking help.
A physiotherapist can assess the problem, explain what they find and work with you to develop a plan that fits your goals.

Thinking about seeing a physio?
At Better Bodies Physiotherapy in Palmerston North, we work with a wide range of musculoskeletal problems, from everyday aches and pains through to sports injuries and rehabilitation.
If you're not sure whether physiotherapy is right for your particular problem, get in touch with our team. We can assess what's going on and help you work out the next step.
And you don't have to wait until you have a significant injury before seeing a physio, you can read more about when physiotherapy may be useful even without an injury here.