• 5500 Merrick Road, Massapequa, New York 11758
  • 111 Grand Avenue, Massapequa, New York 11758
Physical Therapy in Massapequa

The Difference Between Physical Therapy and Chiropractic

Park Physical Therapy, located in Massapequa on Long Island, provides high quality, compassionate care to its patients. In business since 1993, they work to restore normal strength, balance, and overall function to help you complete your day-to-day activities. They work closely with a number of different specialists, ranging from orthopedists, neurologists, sports medicine doctors, dentists, physiatrists, osteopaths, and primary care physicians.

To those people who are suffering from some form of pain, neck pain, back pain, a work-related injury, an injury from an automobile accident, or for others who have some sort of musculoskeletal disorder that disables from day-to-day functions, the question arises of what kind of specialist do you seek? For some the answer is obvious, if you are having a musculoskeletal or nervous system disorder, you see a chiropractor, and if you are suffering from pain related to some sort of accident, you see a physical therapist, such as the physical therapists at Park Physical Therapy. The bigger question here is: what is the difference between the two?

The American Chiropractic Association defines the chiropractic as “a healthcare profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.” Chiropractic is mainly used to treat neuromusculoskeletal complications that can stem from back pain, neck pain, joint pain, and even headaches. Chiropractors use a drug-free, hands-on approach to healthcare with a patient examination, diagnosis and treatment, and dietary and lifestyle counseling.

Physical therapy is defined by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as “maintaining, restoring, improving movement, activity, and health, enrolling individuals of all ages to have optimal functioning and better quality of life”. Physical therapists believe in promoting health, wellness, and fitness through risk factor identification and the implementation of different treatment techniques to reduce the risk of further injury. They work to slow the progression of or prevent functional decline or disability and enhance participation in daily life tasks and situations. The APTA traces the roots of physical therapy back to World War I when in 1917 America declared war on Germany. The Army recognized that they needed a way to rehabilitate soldiers who were wounded in battle and the practice of physical therapy developed from this necessity.

Chiropractic and physical therapy were founded from two different roots. The differences lie in the fact that chiropractors provide a more rehabilitative service that is meant to stimulate exercise and different kinds of treatment that are provided. Physical therapists provide therapeutic exercise and activity modification which stand as the basis for physical therapy treatment. They also provide what is called (according to the APTA)  “manual” therapy, which is a form of hands-on therapy that works directly with the patient. Although the two practices hold different backgrounds, there lie similarities that can be seen between the two in that they both provide for the complete and total care of a patient. Doctors that practice both physical therapy and chiropractic work diligently with their patients to improve their overall quality of life.

Park Physical Therapy in Massapequa can help provide you with the care that you need to get you on the road to recovery. Offering treatment for different injuries, such as orthopedic and work-related injuries, automobile accidents, total joint replacement rehabilitation, post-surgery rehabilitation, neck and back injuries, sports injuries, balance training, neurological rehabilitation, vestibular disorders, gait training, arthritis, TMJ, and fibromyalgia. Park Physical Therapy in Massapequa can be contacted at (516) 798-3789 or stop by their office at 5500 Merrick Road, Massapequa, NY 11758.

Did you know that you have Direct Access to Physical Therapy? No referral is needed. We offer the best Physical Therapy on Long Island where you can get help from our trusted and expert Physical Therapists. To start your Physical Therapy evaluation, call Park Physical Therapy at (516) 798-3789 today!