physical therapy in decatur

1. Decatur chiropractor and physical therapy……..what’s the difference? Chiropractors and physical therapists are different in several ways, but they overlap a good amount also. And the similarities and differences vary among practitioners. Both use some similar treatments that we call physical medicine treatments. But each profession has its own specialties as well. And there are also considerable differences among chiropractors and physical therapists within their own professions. In the course of their education and clinical careers individual practitioners in both professions follow their own interests and exercise their own judgments about which treatments are more and less effective. So each provider develops professional biases about what works best. They may also be constrained by their employers in how and what they practice. As examples, they may all use electrical stimulation, ultrasound, heat and ice, manual therapy with their hands, exercises to include stretching and strengthening, and patient education to include ergonomics, biomechanics advice and home exercises. Generally, chiropractors are going to do more manual, hand-related treatments, and physical therapists are going to do more exercise instruction. Chiropractors usually have more professional autonomy and physical therapists are trying to become independent providers by improving their professional education to gain greater competency in diagnosing pathology. That would permit them to treat patients without a physician’s prescription.

2. There are strengths and weaknesses in all the professions, and I think patients are best served by providers that know what each other offers, and works with the other professions. When I graduated in 1987, I decided to learn more about orthopedics and physical medicine and physical therapy, so I spent 18 years in those fields. I then spent 5 years in a neurosurgical practice to learn more about surgical spinal treatment. All of these experiences made me a better doctor with patients. I was impressed with the commitment and excellence of them all. So today after 35 years of practice, seeing more than 40,000 patients, I have my own clinically-informed biases about what treatments work better and worse for most patients. And I feel extremely grateful to have gained an excellent working knowledge of non-surgical AND SURGICAL treatments, and when they are indicated. Unfortunately, most providers are in their own niche their whole careers and never feel competency in the other specialties. That is what is great about interdisciplinary settings where such providers can work together and teach each other about patients’ pathologies and responses to various treatments. If you are seeking chiropractic or physical therapy in Decatur, Ga I’m Dr. Castanet. My number is 404-558-4015. My website is backstrong.net and I have a YouTube channel where you can learn more at Dr. Castanet