If your back has been hurting for three weeks and you have finally decided to do something about it, you have probably run into this question. Both options are a few minutes from you here in Matthews. Both promise relief without surgery or medication. Nobody explains which one you actually need.
We are a chiropractic practice, so you would expect us to say chiropractic. We are not going to do that, because it is not always true. Here is the honest version.
The short answer
Chiropractic tends to be the better starting point when the problem is joint movement: something feels stuck, misaligned or restricted, and it came on relatively recently. Physical therapy tends to be the better starting point when the problem is strength, endurance or recovery: you are rebuilding after surgery or an injury, or the same problem keeps returning because the muscles around it are not holding up.
Plenty of people benefit from both, and they are not in competition. More on that below.
What a chiropractor does
A chiropractor works on the alignment and movement of your spine and joints. When a joint is not moving as it should, the surrounding muscles compensate, the nerves running through that area can be irritated, and pain often shows up somewhere you would not expect. An adjustment restores the movement so the rest can settle.
In this practice we use the Pierce Results method, which relies on imaging and motion analysis to identify exactly which segment is not moving before anything is adjusted. That matters more than it sounds: it is the difference between treating a specific joint and treating an area.
What a physical therapist does
A physical therapist works primarily on strength, mobility and function, usually through prescribed exercise, stretching and progressive loading. The goal is to rebuild capacity: getting a shoulder back to full range after surgery, retraining a knee after a tear, or strengthening the muscles supporting a lower back so it stops giving way.
It is generally a longer course of care than chiropractic, with more of the work happening between appointments rather than during them.
When physical therapy is the better choice
We would point you toward a physical therapist first if:
- You are recovering from surgery, particularly a joint replacement or a repair.
- You have a diagnosed muscle or ligament tear that needs progressive loading to heal properly.
- Your main problem is weakness, instability or loss of function rather than pain.
- You need to rebuild endurance and range of motion after a long period of immobility.
- A surgeon or physician has already prescribed a specific rehabilitation program.
If you describe any of the above to us, we will tell you so and point you in the right direction. Sending someone somewhere else costs us an appointment and earns us something more useful, which is being worth asking.
When chiropractic is the better choice
Chiropractic is usually the better first stop if:
- The pain came on suddenly, or after a specific movement, and has not settled by itself.
- Something feels stuck, locked or out of place rather than weak.
- You have headaches, neck pain or back pain that keeps coming back in the same place.
- You have nerve symptoms such as sciatica, tingling or numbness running down a limb.
- You want to know what is actually happening structurally before committing to a course of exercise.
Can you see both at the same time?
Yes, and for some people it is the best of both. The two approaches address different things, so there is no conflict in principle: chiropractic restores the movement, physical therapy builds the strength to hold it. What matters is that both providers know about each other, so your care is coordinated rather than accidental.
If you are already working with a physical therapist in Matthews, tell us. We will work around their program rather than across it.
Do you need a referral in North Carolina?
For chiropractic, no. North Carolina allows you to see a chiropractor directly, without a physician’s referral, and you can book with us today.
For physical therapy, North Carolina has direct access as well, though there are limits on how long you can be treated before a physician needs to be involved, and your insurance may still require a referral for coverage even where the law does not. Check with your insurer before assuming either way.
Fair questions people ask
Why do some doctors discourage chiropractic?
Some do, and it is worth answering rather than avoiding. The usual reasons are historical friction between the professions, concern about practices that sell long pre-paid treatment plans regardless of progress, and genuine caution about specific techniques for specific patients. Those concerns are not all unfounded. What you should look for is a chiropractor who examines before treating, explains what they find, gives you a realistic timeframe, and is willing to say when chiropractic is not the answer.
What are the red flags with any provider?
The same ones apply to chiropractors and physical therapists alike:
- A long pre-paid package pushed before anyone has examined you.
- Treatment that never changes, no matter how you respond to it.
- No clear explanation of what is wrong or how long it should take.
- Claims to treat conditions well outside the musculoskeletal system.
- Unwillingness to refer you elsewhere under any circumstances.
How long before I know if it is working?
You should have a sense within a few visits. Not necessarily fixed, but a noticeable direction of travel. If nothing has changed at all after a reasonable trial, that is information too, and it should prompt a different approach rather than more of the same.
How we handle this at Matthews Family Chiropractic
Dr John and Dr Mechelle Hanna have practiced in Matthews since 1990. The first appointment is an examination, not a treatment: we work out what is actually happening before deciding whether we are the right people to help.
If chiropractic is the right approach, we will tell you what we found and roughly how long it should take. If physical therapy would serve you better, we will say that instead. Either way you leave knowing more than you arrived with.
Not sure which you need? Get in touch or call us on (704) 845-0699 and describe what is going on. If it sounds like a physical therapy problem, we will tell you, and we will not charge you for the conversation.
