If you have back pain, neck pain, or sports injuries, you might benefit from a combination of physical therapy and chiropractic care. At Inspire Chiropractic in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, Ariana Coletti, DC, a board-certified chiropractor, often includes physical therapy in treatment plans to complement chiropractic adjustments and other treatments. Call Inspire Chiropractic or schedule a consultation online today for integrative care to relieve pain and restore your health and wellness.

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What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy is a health care specialty area that improves functional mobility. It includes manual therapies, exercises, stretches, and other treatments. The goal of physical therapy is to restore and improve your:

  • Strength
  • Flexibility
  • Range of motion
  • Balance
  • Athletic performance

Most patients have a series of physical therapy appointments to address their health issues. Physical therapists also teach you exercises and stretches to practice between your appointments.

After your treatment is complete, your therapist might also provide a stretching and exercise routine to help you maintain your results and reduce your risk of future injury.

What conditions improve with physical therapy?

At Inspire Chiropractic, Dr. Coletti often incorporates physical therapy into treatment plans for:

  • Neck pain
  • Back pain
  • Sciatica
  • Sports injuries

A personalized physical therapy treatment plan can not only reduce pain and improve your mobility — it can help you avoid surgery or other invasive treatments and reduce your risk of a recurring or future injury.

For example, by improving your core strength and balance, you can reduce your risk of falling and injuring yourself. Physical therapy can also correct imbalanced strength and muscle function problems. If you train for a particular physical activity exclusively, you could neglect other muscles, which can increase your risk of injury.

What should I expect from physical therapy?

Your physical therapist begins with a thorough evaluation of your condition, reviewing your symptoms and medical history, and examining your body. They create a treatment plan that might include a variety of exercises, stretches, and treatments like dry needling to help you recover. You also usually have stretches and exercises to practice at home between your appointments to maintain your progress.

How does physical therapy fit in with chiropractic care?

Chiropractors like Dr. Coletti, usually take a holistic and integrative view of health and wellness. Chiropractic care focuses on your spine and restoring alignment and function for long-lasting relief. Physical therapy helps you regain muscle strength and function, which also provides long-term relief.

When combined, chiropractic and physical therapy provide restorative treatments for your entire musculoskeletal system. This holistic and multidisciplinary approach addresses your pain from a variety of angles in a treatment plan that not only reduces your pain but heals the condition causing it.

If you’re living with a painful injury or another issue, call Inspire Chiropractic or make an appointment online today for personalized physical therapy.