This article is the second in a series of articles looking at the similarities and differences between Sports Therapy and other health and well-being professions. This article looks at the crossover with Chiropractic care and aims to help you understand who might be best to book in with to suit your specific needs.
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractors are practitioners that use manual techniques to help relieve issues in the neuromusculoskeletal system (nerves, muscles, bones, joints!). It is largely based around the principle that an optimal functioning, well aligned spine can lead to better health and reduced pain. Like many other therapists, Chiropractors will assess your symptoms on your first appointment to determine if the treatment will be suitable and what will be likely to help. The treatment methods may include a combination of spinal manipulation, joint mobilisations and assisted stretching. Chiropractic treatment is considered a complementary therapy therefore is not widely available through the NHS.
Similarities to Sports Therapy
Similarities between Sports Therapy and Chiropractic include:
Shared Goal
Both professions share the aims of improving movement, reducing pain and
restoring normal function.
Treatment style
Both apply hands-on treatments, although sometimes this is not necessary in
Sports Therapy depending on the case.
Postural and Movement Assessment
Both practitioners can assess posture, range of motion and biomechanical
factors that may be contributing to pain.
How Do They Differ?
There are a few key differences between the professions:
Rehabilitation
Chiropractors often create rehabilitation plans centered around manual therapy
techniques and adjustments whereas Sports Therapists create patient-specific
exercise rehabilitation plans as well as providing hands-on treatment where
needed.
Approach
Chiropractors often work on the basis that proper alignment of the spine and
joints allow for the nervous system to function at its best, hence why spinal and
joint adjustments make up a large part of the treatment. Sports Therapists tend
to focus on rehabilitation through movement and function-based exercises and
techniques.
Techniques Used
Chiropractors commonly use:
– Spinal and Joint Adjustments (high velocity, low-amplitude thrusts)
– Manual Joint Manipulations
– Postural Corrections
– Basic soft tissue techniques/rehab advice
Sports Therapists commonly use:
– Soft tissue massage, Trigger point therapy, Soft tissue release
– Assisted stretching (PNF, MET)
– Joint Mobilisations
– Movement training and exercise rehabilitation
To summarise…
Chiropractors and Sports Therapists both treat musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction
using hands-on techniques. Though their treatment approaches and philosophies
differ, both professions aim to reduce pain, restore function and support long-term
musculoskeletal health and often compliment each other in multidisciplinary teams.
When choosing the right therapist for you, it may come down to:
Do you have persistent back/neck pain linked to spinal alignment, prefer
manipulations/adjustments as a main form of ongoing ‘maintenance’ care for
joint health? -Chiropractic
Do you have an exercise or movement related pain, would like an exercise-led
rehab plan alongside hands-on treatment to return to your activity or sport? –
Sports Therapy