By Taylor Ptacek, DC | Homegrown Chiropractic | Fargo, North Dakota
You’ve been dealing with back pain for a few weeks. Maybe your shoulder hurts when you lift weights, your neck feels stiff after work, or an old sports injury keeps bothering you.
You know you should probably get it checked out, but you’re not sure where to start.
Should you see a chiropractor or a physical therapist?
It’s a common question, and the answer may surprise you: the two professions have more in common than many people realize.
Both chiropractors and physical therapists help people manage pain, improve movement, and return to their normal activities. While their training and traditional approaches differ, many of the treatments they provide overlap.
The short answer: Chiropractors commonly use spinal manipulation, joint mobilization, exercise, and other conservative treatments to manage musculoskeletal conditions. Physical therapists commonly use exercise, movement retraining, manual therapy, and education to improve function and support recovery.
The best choice often depends less on the provider’s title and more on their clinical approach, experience with your condition, and ability to help you reach your goals.
What Does a Chiropractor Actually Do?
When most people think of chiropractic care, they picture someone getting their back adjusted.
While adjustments are a common part of chiropractic treatment, they’re not the only thing a chiropractor can do.
Chiropractors are trained to evaluate and manage many musculoskeletal conditions, particularly those involving the spine, joints, muscles, and related movement problems.
Depending on their training and practice approach, chiropractic care may include:
- Spinal and extremity adjustments
- Joint mobilization
- Soft tissue treatment
- Movement and functional assessments
- Rehabilitation exercises
- Activity modification
- Patient education
For example, if someone comes in with lower back pain after lifting weights, an examination may look beyond the painful area.
The chiropractor might evaluate hip mobility, strength, movement tolerance, training history, and how symptoms respond to different activities.
Treatment could involve an adjustment, but it might also focus on exercise, movement modifications, or gradually returning to lifting.
At Homegrown Chiropractic, our chiropractic care focuses on the whole person rather than simply adjusting the area that hurts.
What Does a Physical Therapist Do?
Physical therapists are licensed healthcare professionals who specialize in evaluating movement, restoring function, and helping people recover from injury, illness, or surgery.
Physical therapy often emphasizes progressive exercise and functional rehabilitation.
A physical therapist may help someone:
- Recover after orthopedic surgery
- Improve walking, balance, or mobility
- Rebuild strength after an injury
- Manage persistent joint or muscle pain
- Return to sports or recreational activities
- Improve movement following neurological conditions
Treatment may include strengthening exercises, balance training, mobility work, manual therapy, and education.
For example, someone recovering from ACL reconstruction may work with a physical therapist to restore knee motion, rebuild strength, improve jumping and landing mechanics, and gradually return to sport.
Physical therapists can also perform certain hands-on treatments, including joint mobilization and, when appropriately trained and permitted, spinal manipulation.
Physical therapy isn’t simply exercise, just as chiropractic care isn’t simply adjustments.
Chiropractic vs. Physical Therapy: A Side-by-Side Comparison
Although the professions have different educational pathways and practice traditions, there is substantial overlap in musculoskeletal care.
| Feature | Chiropractic Care | Physical Therapy |
| Primary emphasis | Musculoskeletal assessment and conservative treatment | Movement, function, and rehabilitation |
| Joint manipulation | Commonly used | Used by some appropriately trained PTs |
| Therapeutic exercise | Offered by many chiropractors | Core component of practice |
| Soft tissue therapy | May be included | May be included |
| Sports injury care | Offered by sports-focused chiropractors | Offered by sports-focused PTs |
| Post-surgical rehabilitation | Depends on training and scope | Common area of practice |
| Patient education | Yes | Yes |
| Treatment approach | Varies by provider | Varies by provider |
The important takeaway is that the individual provider’s approach matters.
Some chiropractors focus primarily on adjustments, while others incorporate rehabilitation and exercise into nearly every treatment plan.
Likewise, some physical therapists emphasize exercise-based rehabilitation, while others incorporate substantial hands-on treatment.
Neither profession should be defined by a single technique.
Which Is Better for Back Pain?
For many common forms of lower back pain, both chiropractic care and physical therapy may be reasonable options.
Research supports several conservative treatments for certain types of lower back pain, including exercise, education, and spinal manipulation.
Spinal manipulation may provide modest improvements in pain and function for some people. Exercise-based rehabilitation is also supported for managing persistent lower back pain.
Neither approach is guaranteed to work for everyone.
Consider two different patients.
Patient A: Someone develops lower back pain after spending the weekend moving furniture. They have no concerning neurological symptoms, but bending and walking feel uncomfortable.
Their care might initially focus on symptom management, maintaining comfortable movement, and gradually returning to normal activities.
Patient B: Someone experiences recurring lower back pain every time they increase their deadlift weight.
They may benefit from evaluating training volume, movement tolerance, strength, and how they progress their lifting program.
Both patients may benefit from manual treatment, exercise, education, or a combination.
If you’re experiencing back pain, our Lower Back Pain page explains how Homegrown Chiropractic evaluates and manages these symptoms.
What About Sports Injuries?
This is where choosing a provider based on their experience and treatment philosophy becomes especially important.
Athletes and active adults often need more than temporary symptom relief.
They need to regain strength, tolerate training, and return to their activities with confidence.
For example, someone dealing with shoulder pain during overhead lifting may benefit from:
- Identifying which movements aggravate symptoms.
- Modifying training volume or intensity temporarily.
- Evaluating shoulder mobility and strength.
- Building tolerance through progressive exercise.
- Gradually returning to normal training demands.
A sports-focused chiropractor or physical therapist may be able to help with these steps, depending on their training and scope of practice.
At Homegrown Chiropractic, our rehabilitation services are designed to complement hands-on care when appropriate, helping patients work toward functional goals rather than focusing exclusively on pain relief.
Do You Need Adjustments or Exercises?
Sometimes patients ask whether they should get adjusted or do rehabilitation exercises.
But these approaches aren’t necessarily competing options.
Hands-on treatment may help some patients manage symptoms or move more comfortably in the short term.
Exercise can help develop strength, physical capacity, and confidence in activities that previously caused discomfort.
For example, someone with neck discomfort may find manual treatment helpful for temporary symptom relief while also benefiting from exercises and changes to activity habits.
The key is matching treatment to the individual rather than assuming everyone needs the same approach.
An adjustment isn’t automatically necessary, and exercise doesn’t have to be the only treatment.
At Homegrown Chiropractic, we may also incorporate dry needling for selected muscle-related complaints when appropriate. Like other supportive treatments, dry needling is not necessary for everyone and should not replace an individualized rehabilitation plan.
5 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Chiropractor or Physical Therapist
Rather than choosing solely based on the letters after someone’s name, consider asking these five questions.
1. Do You Treat My Specific Condition?
A provider who regularly works with runners, weightlifters, or athletes may have experience relevant to your sports injury.
Someone recovering from a complex surgery or neurological condition may benefit from a physical therapist specializing in that area.
2. What Will My Examination Include?
A good examination should consider your symptoms, medical history, functional limitations, and goals.
Depending on your condition, it may include movement testing, strength testing, neurological screening, and other appropriate assessments.
3. Will I Receive Exercises or Strategies to Use at Home?
Not every condition requires a formal exercise program, but patient education and self-management are valuable parts of many treatment plans.
You should understand what you can do outside appointments to support your recovery.
4. How Will We Know Whether Treatment Is Working?
Progress should involve more than simply asking whether you feel better immediately after treatment.
Your provider should consider meaningful improvements such as walking farther, returning to workouts, sleeping better, or tolerating daily activities.
5. What Happens If I’m Not Improving?
A responsible provider should reassess your progress and consider changing the treatment plan or recommending further medical evaluation when necessary.
You shouldn’t feel obligated to continue the same treatment indefinitely without meaningful progress.
Can You See Both a Chiropractor and a Physical Therapist?
Yes. Chiropractic care and physical therapy can complement each other when treatment is coordinated appropriately.
For example, someone might receive chiropractic treatment for a musculoskeletal complaint while working with a physical therapist on a specialized post-surgical rehabilitation program.
However, seeing both providers isn’t automatically better or necessary.
The goal should be coordinated, individualized care rather than duplicating treatments or appointments.
If multiple providers are involved, communication and clear treatment goals can help keep everyone working toward the same outcome.
How Homegrown Chiropractic Approaches Treatment Differently
At Homegrown Chiropractic in Fargo, we believe that treatment should be based on what you need, not on a predetermined number of adjustments.
Our approach combines musculoskeletal examination, individualized treatment planning, and appropriate conservative therapies.
Depending on your condition, your plan may include:
- Chiropractic adjustments or joint mobilization
- Soft tissue treatment
- Dry needling when appropriate
- Strengthening and rehabilitation exercises
- Movement and mobility work
- Education and activity modification
Our goal isn’t to keep you coming back forever. Most people just choose to!
We want to help you understand what’s contributing to your symptoms, develop a plan that fits your goals, and give you the tools to stay active and manage your health long term.
You can explore our full range of chiropractic and rehabilitation services to learn more about our approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chiropractic care the same as physical therapy?
No. Chiropractic and physical therapy are separate licensed healthcare professions with different educational pathways and scopes of practice. However, both may provide exercise, manual therapy, movement assessment, and patient education for musculoskeletal conditions.
Can a chiropractor prescribe rehabilitation exercises?
Yes. Many chiropractors incorporate therapeutic exercises and rehabilitation into their treatment plans within their professional scope. The extent of exercise-based care varies by provider.
Can a physical therapist perform chiropractic adjustments?
Some appropriately trained physical therapists can perform spinal manipulation, depending on state law and professional scope. Although techniques may overlap, this does not make physical therapists chiropractors.
Should I see a chiropractor or physical therapist for a sports injury?
Either may be appropriate for certain sports injuries. Consider the nature of your injury, the provider’s experience, and whether their treatment plan addresses your goals. Some injuries, especially those requiring specialized post-surgical rehabilitation, may be better suited to a physical therapist with relevant expertise.
Which is better for lower back pain?
Neither profession is universally better for lower back pain. Appropriate assessment, evidence-informed treatment, exercise when indicated, and regular evaluation of progress are more important than the provider’s title alone.
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor or physical therapist?
Referral requirements depend on state regulations, your condition, and your insurance plan. Many patients can access chiropractic or physical therapy services directly, but insurance coverage may have separate requirements.
Does chiropractic care include physical therapy?
Chiropractic care can include rehabilitation exercises and certain therapies also used by physical therapists. However, chiropractic treatment is not automatically equivalent to licensed physical therapy services, and insurance billing and professional scope differ.
Looking for Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Care in Fargo, ND?
If you’re dealing with back pain, neck discomfort, a sports injury, or another musculoskeletal problem, the first step is finding a provider who takes the time to understand your symptoms and goals.
At Homegrown Chiropractic, we combine evidence-informed chiropractic treatment, movement assessment, and rehabilitation to help active adults, athletes, and families move better and recover from injury.
We believe good care should help you understand your body, build confidence in movement, and work toward long-term independence.
Ready to get started?
Homegrown Chiropractic
4501 15th Ave S, Suite 104
Fargo, ND 58103
(701) 532-0541
References
- American Physical Therapy Association. Becoming a Physical Therapist. https://www.apta.org/your-career/careers-in-physical-therapy/becoming-a-pt
- American Physical Therapy Association, ChoosePT. About Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants. https://www.choosept.com/why-physical-therapy/about-physical-therapists-and-physical-therapist-assistants
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Low-Back Pain and Complementary Health Approaches: What You Need To Know. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/low-back-pain-and-complementary-health-approaches-what-you-need-to-know
- World Health Organization. WHO Guideline for Non-Surgical Management of Chronic Primary Low Back Pain in Adults in Primary and Community Care Settings. 2023. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240081789
This article is intended for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.