We wanted to write about this topic because there are a lot of preconceived notions about each profession and the skill they provide. Each profession is very unique and can work well individually or in conjunction with one another depending on the injury. The ultimate goal of either of these professions is to assist you in achieving your goals!
As mentioned in previous blog posts, physical therapists (PT) treat many different injuries that may occur to the human body. During our clinical exam, we test strength, range of motion, flexibility, joint mobility, balance and functional capacity, with an attempt to put all this information together to come up with a treatment plan that best serves your needs. In order to determine the cause of the problem, we look at the patients’ whole body rather than the particular area where pain is present. For example, let’s say you were to come to our clinic complaining of knee pain after walking for 30 minutes. We would want to not only assess your knee, but look at the joints above and below to see how they may be contributing to your knee pain. Therefore, we assess your ankle and hip joint, compare that to your side that does not have pain, picking up on any differences that might be occurring in these joints and then go from there. Our goal is to get you better and provide answers! It is our main focus to find out why particular pain is occurring and to prevent it from ever returning. During your treatment sessions, we will incorporate a mix of therapeutic exercise, modalities and manual treatments. Manual treatment consists of stretching, joint mobilizations (in some cases manipulation) and soft tissue work. We will also provide the education you need, about your condition, so you are able to improve your overall quality of life.
Occupational therapists (OT) often work in a similar capacity to physical therapists. Contrary to popular belief, OT is not a profession that only treats the upper body or hand. As described by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) website, “occupational therapists help people across the lifespan participate in things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations).” Occupational therapists might make recommendations on adaptive equipment to improve a patient’s quality of life. Similar to the physical therapist philosophy of looking at the person as a whole, occupational therapists take a “holistic” approach, often making changes to the home environment to better accommodate the person. An occupational therapist will with you to gain independence or provide you with the necessary tools to make a task easier. This is accomplished by assisting to improve physical ability and/or support and treat mental health and learning disabilities.
Chiropractic care is a profession that dates back to the 1890’s. Lower back pain, neck pain, lumbar disc herniation, headaches and some joint conditions of the extremities are among the treated diagnoses. The treatment of choice for most conditions is manual therapy with manipulation – taking a joint to its end range followed by a quick thrust bringing that joint past its end range – that can often provide you with significant relief of pain. In addition, many chiropractors provide their patients with a list of exercises and modalities (such as heat and electrical stimulation) to assist with the healing process.
Physical therapy and chiropractic care can work very well in conjunction with one another, although most insurance companies will not pay for both at the same time. Some patients may be treated by chiropractors for months or even years involving a maintenance program. As physical therapists, we may see you for several months, however we must consistently see functional progress in order to continue seeing you. If for some reason your progress plateaus, it is possible that you have reached your maximum potential with physical therapy. You may need to continue independently with a home exercise program and/or have a discussion with your physician. This may require another look into your situation to see if further testing is needed or if attempts at another avenue of treatment may prove beneficial.
If you are currently struggling with an injury and you are not sure what direction you should go, feel free to contact our office and speak with a PT who can assist you with this decision.
Created by:
Jeff Fear, PT, MPT
Sports Physical Therapy of NY, PC
1 West Ave, Suite 150
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 583-7537