"SHOULD I SEE A CHIROPRACTOR OR A PHYSIOTHERAPIST?"
We hear this question a lot, and in truth it's a difficult one to answer. At our clinic we take collaboration and team work across professions very seriously, which makes differentiating between the two even more difficult. In traditional terms, a Chiropractor specializes in the spine and nervous system using manipulations, where a Physiotherapist will specialize in exercises and rehabilitation after an injury.  Typing out these vague definitions pains me because each profession does so much more and there is so much overlap. Our Physiotherapist could write pages and pages on all the conditions he treats and the techniques used. Similarly, our Chiropractors could do the same and you'd be amazed at how many items appear on both lists. Of course each profession has their specialties, but our Chiropractors do great rehab for injuries, just as our Physiotherapist can assess and manipulate the spine. We work very hard to break the stigma that physiotherapists and chiropractors compete with each other in a negative way. Our team communicates and is on the same page, which only benefits you, the patient. A few examples of treatment techniques both our Chiropractors and Physiotherapist are trained to use:
Joint mobilizations
Interferential current
Soft tissue release
Shockwave therapy
Spinal manipulations
Acupuncture
Ultrasound
Exercise prescription
We like to tell patients to see whoever they are most comfortable with. Perhaps you've had great experience with physiotherapy in the past, or your doctor may have referred you to a chiropractor, or maybe you're just looking to try a new service to enhance your healthcare approach. At The Centre for Fitness, Health and Performance, any of our therapists can accurately and effectively diagnose and treat, so there is no wrong direction. If your assessing therapist feels you could benefit from another therapist's expertise we don't hesitate to refer, we're all about best outcomes for the patient. To make a long story short, the line between chiropractic and physiotherapy is becoming more and more blurred as our treatments and specialties overlap. Whether you see one of our Chiropractors or our Physiotherapist, you can trust you're in good hands. Taking the initial step to see a healthcare professional is the most important part, leave the rest to us!