Neck and back pain are common complaints among people of all ages and can significantly impact their daily lives. While chiropractic care can be an effective treatment option for neck and back pain, combining it with physical rehabilitation leads to even better outcomes.

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Chiropractic Care vs. Physical Therapy

Chiropractic care involves the use of manual manipulation, also known as adjustments, to restore mobility and improve muscle and joint function. While it can be helpful for back and neck pain, adjustments are limited in the ability to address the underlying cause of the pain. Physical rehabilitation, on the other hand, involves exercises and movements designed to strengthen the muscles and improve mobility in the affected area. When combined with chiropractic care, these treatments can work together to provide comprehensive care for low back and neck pain. Think of it this way – the adjustment helps you feel better in the short term, and physical rehabilitation helps to correct the issue that caused the pain in the first place.

You may be wondering, if physical therapy helps to fix the underlying cause of my pain, why not just use physical therapy alone? The real magic happens when chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy are used together. Often, neck and low back pain can be severe, so severe that it prevents people from performing the necessary exercises to address the underlying issue. This is where the adjustment comes into play. An adjustment can kickstart the healing process by creating an opportunity to capitalize on the benefits of physical therapy by temporarily decreasing pain and improving mobility in the affected area.

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5 benefits of combining chiropractic adjustments and physical rehabilitation

1. Improved joint function: The adjustments and exercises used in these treatments can help to improve joint function, reducing pain and increasing range of motion. (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2018)
2. Long-term recovery: By addressing the underlying cause of the pain, chiropractic care and physical therapy can help to prevent future injury and promote long-term recovery. (Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 2016)
3. Reduced need for medication: These treatments can reduce the need for pain medication, avoiding the potential side effects and risks associated with long-term use of drugs. (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2018)
4. Improved quality of life: By reducing pain and improving joint function, these treatments can help patients to live a more active and fulfilling life. (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2018)
5. Incorporating periodic “booster” adjustments, especially after resolution of a neck or low back pain episode, has been shown to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence and improve quality of life. (Eklund et al., 2018)

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Combined Care at Morrison Chiropractic

At Morrison Chiropractic, each one of our skilled clinicians earned licenses with Physical Therapy privileges. This means they received additional training and are Board Certified to provide physical rehabilitation services for our patients. Many of our clinicians have gone a step further by attending seminars and learning cutting edge rehabilitative techniques from world renown leaders in both the chiropractic and physical therapy professions. This sets us apart from traditional chiropractics clinic that depends on the adjustment alone.

Using a thorough exam and movement evaluation, our clinicians determine what exactly needs to be targeted to ensure efficient and personalized care for our patients. Because both chiropractic adjustments and physical rehabilitation are performed in house, you can be assured that everyone is on the same page regarding your care, and that all the treatments you receive are synergistic and support one another.

In conclusion, chiropractic care and physical therapy are better together than chiropractic care alone for treating low back and neck pain. By combining these treatments, patients can experience improved joint function, long-term recovery, and a better quality of life. If you are suffering from low back or neck pain, it may be worth considering these treatments as part of your overall pain management plan.

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References

Journal of Physical Therapy Science. (2016). The Benefits of Physical Rehabilitation for

Low Back Pain.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2018).

Eklund A, Jensen I, Lohela-Karlsson M, Hagberg J, Leboeuf-Yde C, Kongsted A, Bodin L, Axén I. The Nordic Maintenance Care program: Effectiveness of chiropractic maintenance care versus symptom-guided treatment for recurrent and persistent low back pain-A pragmatic randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2018 Sep 12;13(9): e0203029. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203029. PMID: 30208070; PMCID: PMC6135505.