Because Chiropractors and Physiotherapists both work with patients to improve the patient's ability to move and function many people get the two professionals confused. The truth is that the two fields are not the same at all. The skill set a Chiropractor must develop is not the same skill set that a Physiotherapist must have though there are a few similarities. Here are some of the differences between Chiropractors and Physiotherapists.
Educational Requirements
Physiotherapists are required to complete at least four years of undergraduate school as well as a two year masters program. Physiotherapists must also be trained in quite a few different types of physical therapy in order to obtain a license and practice professionally. A Physiotherapists license is required to be renewed regularly for as long as they want to continue practicing. This renewal requirement ensures that Physiotherapists keep their techniques and research up to date.
Chiropractors are required to complete at least four years of school though schooling usually involves five to seven years of class and field work in the United Kingdom before a professional license can be obtained. Chiropractors, like Physiologists are also required to keep their licenses current in order legally practice chiropractics without supervision.
Relieving Pain
Chiropractors work to relieve their patients' pain by using a number of pain relief therapies. These techniques can either be taught to the patient to do at home or therapies that will require the patient to continue visiting the Chiropractor in order to maintain his alignment and stay pain free.
A Physiotherapist offers his patients through a variety of methods. These methods aim to increase the patient's range of motion. Treatment offered by a Physiotherapist can involve teaching the patient how to do a variety of exercises and stretches so that the patient can continue his or her treatment at home. As the patient's pain subsides and his or her range of motion improves, the visits required become fewer and farther between until the patient is pronounced healthy enough to no longer need physiotherapy.
System of Beliefs
A Chiropractor believes that everything can be related to the spine. Problems with the respitory system or endocrine system, in a Chiropractor's mind, are problems that can be corrected with proper alignment of the spine.
Physiologists do not centre their beliefs on a single part of the body though they do spend quite a bit of time focusing on the spine. Physiologists devote their time to treating a specific injury and helping a patient heal while doing their best to reduce the patient's pain.
The truth is that there are quite a few similarities between the two. Both work with the spine. The differences lie in how an illness is addressed. Physiotherapy ends at some point. Chiropractic care is ongoing.
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