Can Chiropractors Do Physical Therapy In Sacramento CA

Sacramento CA Chiropractor Helps Patients With Therapeutic Exercises

It’s a great day at Barham Chiropractic!

This is a common question that we get from patients and there seems to be confusion around this topic.

Our intention with this article is to explain how physical therapy is different than therapeutic exercises and to help patients understand the value of physical therapy.

Here is the TL DR: (Too long didn’t read)

Physical Therapy is a medically prescribed plan, created by a physical therapist often to rehabilitate a part of the body.

Chiropractors in Sacramento CA can not do this because they are not physical therapists.

Therapeutic Exercise is a movement that can restore muscular and skeletal function and/or maintain a state of well-being.

Chiropractors can recommend these exercises to help the spine stay in alignment.

We hope this article explains this topic further and helps you understand the differences between physical therapists and chiropractors.

Do chiropractors claim to provide physical therapy and is that legal?

Chiropractors should not claim to provide physical therapy unless it is by referring patients to get care from a physical therapist. Claiming that they provide physical therapy may be illegal because Chiropractors are prohibited (by section 2630 of the California administrative code from the California board of chiropractic) from practicing physical therapy as such and physical therapist is prohibited by section 15 of the Chiropractic Act from practicing chiropractic.

In California physical therapy legally means “Physical therapy means the art and science of physical or corrective rehabilitation or of physical or corrective treatment of any bodily or mental condition of any person by the use of the physical, chemical, and other properties of heat, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, and active, passive, and resistive exercise, and shall include physical therapy evaluation, treatment planning, instruction and consultative services. The practice of physical therapy includes the promotion and maintenance of physical fitness to enhance the bodily movement related health and wellness of individuals through the use of physical therapy interventions. The use of roentgen rays and radioactive materials, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, and the use of electricity for surgical purposes, including cauterization, are not authorized under the term "physical therapy" as used in this chapter, and a license issued pursuant to this chapter does not authorize the diagnosis of disease“.

Due to the differences in what the care is, Chiropractors and Physical Therapists simply do not have the expertise (or legal authority) to conduct each other’s healthcare. They both have different and important roles in helping patients achieve optimal health.

Chiropractic Care vs Physical Therapy

Chiropractic care (as you may know) helps align joints and the spine so that the body can heal.

Physical therapy helps muscles or different body parts function better by rehabilitating the body part through treatment.

Hope That Helped!

We tried very hard to make this easy to read while also including hard facts. If you have any questions about this topic, please give us a call during office hours we would love to help!