Tom’s Thoughts On Chiropractors

From time to time patients ask me a very simple question:
“What do you think about chiropractors?”
It’s a fair question and the honest answer is that, like most health professions, there are good practitioners and not-so-good practitioners.
Chiropractors and Physiotherapists Often Do Similar Things
In many cases, chiropractors and physiotherapists can use very similar treatment approaches, including:

For some patients, chiropractic care can provide short-term pain relief, particularly for spinal pain.
But where the professions often differ is in how the problem is explained and managed long term.
Where I Think Physiotherapy Has an Advantage
At Next-Gen Physio, our focus is usually on helping people build stronger, more resilient bodies rather than relying purely on passive treatments.
That typically means combining hands-on treatment with:

Manual therapy can help reduce pain, but the long-term goal is to help patients become less dependent on treatment over time.
The Importance of Critical Thinking in Healthcare
One thing I always encourage patients to do, regardless of the practitioner they see, is to ask questions and think critically about the care they’re receiving.
Good healthcare should:

If a treatment plan relies on endless ongoing adjustments or visits with no clear long-term plan, it’s reasonable to ask why.
The Bottom Line
Chiropractors and physiotherapists both work in the musculoskeletal space, and many patients see benefits from both approaches.
The most important thing is finding a practitioner who:

At the end of the day, the goal isn’t just pain relief,  it’s helping you move better and stay active long term.