What You Need to Know About Orthopedic Specialists vs. Chiropractors
Ligaments and Tendons and Bones
What is an Orthopedist? Per Verywell Health:
”An orthopedist also referred to as an orthopedic doctor, orthopedic physician, or orthopedic surgeon is a member of the healthcare team whose specialty is treating and preventing deformities of the skeletal and muscular system including muscles, joints, bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.”
What is a Chiropractor?
A chiropractor specializes in treating patients’ neuromusculoskeletal conditions, helping patients find relief from pain and increased mobility. A chiropractor practices chiropractic.
Both chiropractors and orthopedists are experts in alleviating discomfort caused by musculoskeletal issues. Essentially chiropractors and orthopedists focus on ligaments, tendons, joints, bones, nerves, and muscles. Both treat people with:
- Joint pain
- Back and neck pain
- Leg pain
- Foot and ankle pain
- Sports injuries
- Injuries from vehicle accidents
- Carpal tunnel
- Pinched nerves
While not as common as chiropractors, orthopedists may also recommend physical therapy, exercise, and weight-loss strategies as treatments for their patients. Both chiropractors and orthopedists can agree that the number one priority is to bring back the patient’s mobility and help the patient to feel better.
Orthopedist’s Specialties
One of the main differences is that orthopedists perform surgery and prescribe medicine while chiropractors do not. Orthopedists must have four years of undergraduate school completed, followed by four years of medical school and four more years of residency.
Orthopedists are experts on the human body's anatomy but typically pick a specialty to hone their practice. The most common sub-specialties include
- Hand Surgery
- Foot and Ankle (Podiatry)
- Sports Medicine
- Spine Surgery
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Joint Replacement
- Trauma Surgery
Orthopedists perform physical examinations, X-rays, CT, and MRI scans and recommend surgeries, implants, injections, and prescribing medications that can be potentially addictive. After corrective surgery, long periods of recovery, up to twelve weeks, are standard. Most of us do not have time for our chronic pain, so we definitely do not have the time for a long recovery from surgery.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is considered alternative medicine, while orthopedic care falls under traditional medicine. Chiropractors focus on allowing the body to heal itself by correcting the misalignment of the spine. Chiropractors are experts in spinal health and how the spine negatively affects the nervous system, which causes chronic back and neck pain and a myriad of other health problems.
Chiropractors are required to complete extensive schooling and training, just like orthopedists. To achieve a chiropractic license, four years of undergraduate school, four years of a chiropractic program, a clinical internship, and passing the national and state exams are required.
Common treatments recommended by chiropractors include acupuncture, manual joint adjustment, physical therapy, and corrective exercises. Chiropractors work with the belief that all bodily functions are connected; therefore, healing involves the whole body.
Spinal adjustments increase nerve function in joints and muscles and work with your body to get you back to 100%. Unlike orthopedists, chiropractors can treat and alleviate headaches, allergies, asthma, and muscle tightness.
So, Which One Is Right for You?
If you have broken a bone or torn a muscle, an orthopedist would be the correct option for you. A typical visit to an orthopedist includes an examination and an interview to learn about your medical history in order to better treat the issue at hand.
Take into account your philosophy on your personal health and the degree of your injuries when choosing the right doctor for you. An open-minded approach to your health is always a good idea. Even if the treatment doesn’t sound familiar, don’t just eliminate it without talking to your doctor first.
That treatment could be the one thing that works wonders for your problem area. What matters the most is that you are comfortable with the treatment and that treatment works best for you. If you are injured or suffering from a condition, please reach out for medical attention.
Chiropractic Care in Asheville, NC
Monitto Chiropractic has been helping patients feel better and move more freely for 40 years. It is our desire to help everyone we encounter get healthier through holistic means, avoiding dependency on drugs that become less effective as you develop a dependency on them.
If you are in the Asheville area, we would love to help you. Contact our team for more information about chiropractic care and how you can benefit from a visit to our office.