Most people confuse corrective exercises with physical therapy. They do have similarities, as both help individuals increase their flexibility and strength as well as improve physical health and help with recovery from injury.

The two can help address various structural imbalances and shifts in your body. Most of them result from different factors, such as injury or poor posture. Exercises, modalities, and manual therapy can address the imbalances. These improve your stability and body function. They also help reduce the risk of injuries. While all these are so, corrective exercises and physical therapy have significant differences.

Purpose

The corrective exercises implemented in our Structural Corrective Chiropractic programs have the primary purpose of supporting the positive changes your structure is making as you progress through your personalized care plan. These exercises help restore proper function and structural integrity faster. The exercises target specific body areas like the lower back, hips, or shoulders.

On the other hand, physical therapy helps you recover from illnesses or injuries. It does this by improving general physical function. It includes various treatments like manual therapy, modalities, and exercises. These are tailored to your goals and needs.

Focus

Corrective exercises focus on your specific needs to optimize your own innate healing ability to attain long-term results, not just temporary relief. Physical therapy involves different modalities like electrotherapy and manual therapy.

Practitioner

Individuals may go about exercise with the help of a chiropractor, physical therapist, or personal trainer. The practitioners provide the individual with a program of exercises to follow. They may guide them on how to do the workouts correctly. A Structural Correction Chiropractor may assign you specific exercises to accomplish the goals of your established care plan.

On the other hand, a licensed physical therapist must administer physical therapy. They should have suitable training to examine and diagnose if a patient has movement disorders. They must create a treatment plan and provide efficient manual therapy, exercises, and modalities.

Recovery Period

You can perform corrective exercises regularly. Individuals doing so do not need a significant period to recover. It proves convenient for those looking to reduce their risk of injuries and improve their physical health.

On the other hand, physical therapy may involve more time for the patient to recover. However, the period depends on the treatment plan for the individual. For example, you may require a specific amount of rest due to manual therapy and modalities. Doing so is necessary before continuing with the treatment plan your physical therapist designed. Additionally, physical therapy can be more intense than corrective exercises. Hence, the frequency and time of commitment are generally longer.

Insurance Cost

Corrective exercises can happen in the office or at home. As such, they are cost-effective for most individuals. These further reduce the investment of getting yourself well again.

Physical therapy is often more expensive than corrective exercises. Its insurance coverage varies with your specific treatment and the insurance plan you use. Ideally, check with your insurance provider to know what coverage you get under your plan.

For more about the difference between corrective exercises and physical therapy, contact Premier Chiropractic of Tyler in Tyler, Texas. Call (903) 602-1600 to book an appointment today.