What’s the Difference Between a Chiropractor and a Physiotherapist?

We all know this moment. Our back starts acting weird... or our neck feels like we slept on a rock. And next thing we know, we are on Google typing “Selah chiropractor vs physiotherapist”. And then we sit there thinking, great... what now? These two jobs sound the same, but they are not. Let us talk through it slowly... just like a normal chat, no big fancy talk.

What Do Chiropractors Do?

Chiropractors mostly deal with the spine and joints. They look at how our spine lines up and how that affects the rest of the body. If you ever heard that little pop during an adjustment... yep, that is their thing. They use their hands a lot.
They adjust, they press, they move things around so our spine sits the way it should. A lot of people go when they have back pain, neck pain, headaches, or that weird, tight feeling around the shoulders.

Chiropractors believe that when the spine is not lined up well, the nervous system gets stressed. And when that happens, the body just does not work right.

There are studies that talk about how adjustments can help release tension, improve posture, and support better nervous system function. Some even mention better day-to-day function... things like how we feel socially and mentally when the spine is moving better.

So when we walk into a Selah chiropractic clinic, their goal is simple... find what is stuck, adjust it, and help us move again without that annoying pain.

What Do Physiotherapists Do?

Physiotherapists... or physios... are more about helping the body recover from injuries. Maybe we twisted something. Maybe we had surgery. Maybe we just pushed too hard one day. They help us get our movement back. Slowly. Step by step.

Physios use exercises, basic stretches, strength work, and sometimes tools like ultrasound or electrical stimulation. Their sessions are usually longer. More talking, more movement, more “try this again”. They focus on building strength and improving how our body moves so we do not get hurt again. It is not quick. But it works.

Where Do They Differ?

Both help with pain and movement. Both improve the quality of life. That is why people mix them up so easily. But the difference shows up in how they think. Chiropractors look at the structure... mainly the spine. They want to fit the x alignment so the body works better.

Physiotherapists work more on training the muscles, joints, and movement patterns. They help us build strength and flexibility after an injury. Sometimes people even use both. Like... get a chiropractic adjustment, then use physio exercises to keep the movement stable. Kind of like tag-team health care.

What About Their Education?

Chiropractors study for around 4 to 5 years in chiropractic colleges. They learn spinal health, nervous system function, and lots of hands-on adjusting techniques.

Physios study physiotherapy at university. They learn anatomy, rehab work, strength training, and different treatment tools. Both have studied for years. Both know what they are doing. They just see the body in different ways.

So, Who Should We See?

Honestly, it depends on what our body needs.

• Sudden back pain? A stiff neck? Something feels “out”? A chiropractor might be the better choice.
  
  

• Injured something? Recovering from surgery or long-term pain? A physio is usually the one to see.

Sometimes we need both. Sometimes just one. Our body usually tells us if we pay attention. And now, when someone asks, “So what is the difference between a chiropractor and a physiotherapist?” We can finally answer without staring into space.