After walking away from a traffic accident, it’s important to get a medical checkup to ensure there are no major issues. Depending on the physician’s findings or the obvious severity of your injuries, an accident victim may be referred to a chiropractor or physical therapist. For many people, the difference between these two practices is indistinguishable, as there’s quite a bit of overlap. And those people may be closer to the truth than you think.
Rather than thinking of these practices as competitors, you might consider chiropractic and physical therapy to be two sides of the same coin. They complement each other in every way, from focus to approach to treatment and recovery. Accident victims might just benefit from the care of both services. Let us show you how!
First, while both practices target the musculoskeletal system, chiropractic focuses more on its relationship with the nervous system. In other words, chiropractic spinal adjustments and exercise therapies are simply tools to an end. Physical therapists can help restore mobility after an injury, and chiropractic addresses spinal subluxations to support healing and minimize pain.
Physical therapy is very much focused on the bones and muscles themselves, opting to prescribe stretches and exercises to help patients regain strength and flexibility. While chiropractors employ some of these techniques as well, their focus lies elsewhere. Your spinal cord is the center of your nervous system, and chiropractic care centers its treatment approach around the spine. Individual vertebrae can be adjusted and realigned to prevent pinched nerves, which lead to suboptimal performance, pain, and discomfort.
In this way, it’s very easy to see the fundamental delineation between chiropractic and physical therapy. Chiropractic is a holistic practice that offers preventative care, as well as prescriptive treatment. A physical therapist works to restore the mobility that was lost in an accident, and a chiropractor can support that process while also working to build resilience and prevent injury down the road.
When it comes to car accident victims, both practices come with significant benefits. In fact, a collaborative approach is often the best way to invest in your health and recovery. A physical therapist can help you work toward rehabilitation, and a chiropractor will work to address the root of any ongoing symptoms.
Chiropractic is all about maintaining the structural integrity and alignment of your spine. In fact, many patients continue to receive regular tune-ups long after their accident treatment is complete. Have you suffered injuries after a traffic accident? Schedule an appointment with our team here at Wirth Chiropractic today, and get back to being you!
