Chiropractic vs. Physical Therapy: What the Research Says

Both chiropractic and physical therapy offer benefits for musculoskeletal pain, but research suggests physical therapy often provides superior long-term outcomes. Studies show that active rehabilitation, as emphasized in PT, leads to better pain reduction and functional improvement compared to spinal manipulation alone (Rubinstein et al., 2019).

Chiropractic care can still offer short-term relief through joint mobilization and adjustments, but PT’s combination of exercise, education, and evidence-based interventions like dry needling addresses the root cause of dysfunction. Both fields are evolving — moving away from outdated, passive-only treatments toward active, patient-centered care.

Patients should be cautious of any practitioner who discourages movement, overuses imaging, or relies on prolonged passive modalities without measurable progress. At Top Performance PT, we embrace modern, research-driven practices designed for lasting results. Choosing the right provider means prioritizing evidence-based care that restores your health for the long term.

References
Rubinstein, S. M., Terwee, C. B., Assendelft, W. J. J., de Boer, M. R., & van Tulder, M. W. (2019). Spinal manipulative therapy for acute low-back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(9). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008880.pub2