Chiropractor or Physical Therapist: Which One Do I Need in Loveland?
Both are good at what they do. Here is an honest way to tell which one fits what you are dealing with.
If your main problem is how your spine is moving, like back pain, neck pain or headaches that start in your neck, a chiropractor is a good place to start. If you are rebuilding strength after surgery, a torn ligament or a long stretch off your feet, a physical therapist is usually the better fit, and plenty of people do well seeing both.
That’s the short answer to “chiropractor or physical therapist?” The longer answer depends on what is actually going on, so here’s how I’d sort it out if you were sitting across the desk from me.
What a Chiropractor Focuses On
Chiropractors focus on the spine and how it moves. Your spine protects your nerves, and your nerves control everything in your body. When a segment of the spine isn’t moving or lined up the way it should, it can irritate the nerves around it, and the muscles nearby tighten up to guard and protect it. A lot of what people call “a knot” or “a tight back” is that guarding.
My job is to find the segments that aren’t moving right and realign them, so the nerve interference comes off and those muscles can calm down instead of guarding. An adjustment is specific. I examine first, find the joint that isn’t moving, and move that one. You can read how that works on our chiropractic adjustments page.
What a Physical Therapist Focuses On
Physical therapists are movement and rehab specialists. They are very good at rebuilding strength, range of motion and balance, mostly through guided exercise, stretching and hands-on work. They see a lot of people after surgery, like a knee or hip replacement or a shoulder repair, and after injuries like a torn ACL or a bad ankle sprain. They also help older adults with balance and people relearning how to move after a stroke or a long illness.
I’ll be honest. If you just had your knee replaced, you don’t need me first. You need someone walking you through the exercises that get that knee bending again, and cheering when it does.
Where Chiropractors and Physical Therapists Overlap
Here’s the deal. Both see a lot of back and neck pain, and both care about how you move. The difference is mostly where each one starts. A chiropractor starts with the alignment and motion of the spine and the nerves it protects. A physical therapist starts with the muscles and movement patterns around the problem and builds you back up with exercise.
Neither one is the right answer for everybody. Some people do best with both: get the spine moving and the nerve interference off, then build strength around it.
Chiropractor or Physical Therapist: A Simple Way to Decide
Real quick, here’s how I’d sort it.
A chiropractor is a good first stop when your back or neck feels stuck, you get headaches that start at the base of your skull, the pain came on from sleeping wrong, lifting something or a car accident, or you have pain or tingling into an arm or leg that might be coming from your spine.
A physical therapist is a good first stop when you are recovering from surgery, you have a joint injury in a knee, ankle or shoulder that needs strengthening, or your main goal is rebuilding strength and balance after a long time off your feet.
Not sure? That’s most people, and it’s fine. Say you rolled your ankle on the Loveland Recreation Trail last month, and now your low back aches too because you’ve been limping around on it. The ankle might need rehab, and the back might need its own look. An exam sorts out which is which.
Do I Need a Referral?
Not for a chiropractor. You can call and book with us directly, no referral from a medical doctor needed, and that includes Medicare. Colorado law also lets you see a physical therapist without a referral, but some insurance plans want one before they pay for physical therapy, and Medicare asks a medical provider to sign off on the physical therapist’s plan of care. If physical therapy is your first stop, a quick call to your plan is worth it.
When It’s Neither One, at Least Not First
Some symptoms belong with a medical doctor or the ER first. Go to the emergency room or call 911 for back or neck pain after a hard fall or crash, numbness or weakness that is spreading, trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, back pain with a fever, or a sudden, severe headache unlike any you’ve had. Those come first, every time.
And if an exam here shows something that needs a medical doctor or a physical therapist, I’ll tell you straight. Nobody wins when you’re in the wrong office.
You Don’t Have to Be in Pain to Get Checked
People tend to think of both chiropractors and physical therapists as places you go once something hurts. That’s one reason to come in, not the only one. An exam looks at how your spine is moving and functioning, not only at pain. Plenty of people get checked to stay at their best: athletes, active adults, and busy parents who don’t have time to be laid up. It’s like brushing your teeth. You don’t wait for it to rot.
If you’re wondering how long care takes once you start, our phases of care page explains how we decide, with re-exams instead of guesses.
A Simple Next Step
If you’re stuck between the two, start with an exam and let the findings decide. Our New Patient Special includes a consultation with the doctor, an orthopedic and neurological exam, and a report of findings. You’ll leave knowing what’s going on and what I recommend, in plain words, even if that recommendation is a physical therapist. Questions first? Call us at (970) 800-3486.
Related Care at Aligned and Well
- Chiropractic Adjustments in Loveland, CO
- Lower Back Pain Relief in Loveland, CO
- Neck Pain Chiropractor in Loveland, CO
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Common Questions
Questions Patients Ask Us
Should I see a chiropractor or a physical therapist for back pain?
Either can help with back pain. A chiropractor starts with how the spine is moving and the nerves it protects, and a physical therapist starts with strength and movement through guided exercise. If you are not sure, an exam is how to find out, and some people do well with both.
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor or a physical therapist in Colorado?
Not for a chiropractor. In Colorado you can book with a chiropractor directly, including with Medicare. Colorado law also allows direct access to a physical therapist, but some insurance plans require a referral for physical therapy, and Medicare asks a medical provider to sign off on the therapy plan of care.
Have a different question? Read the full list of patient questions or call us at (970) 800-3486.
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You have put this off long enough. One thorough exam tells you what is actually going on and what it will take to fix it. Call us or send a request — we will get you in.