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My Dog Has Back Pain! Who Should I See?

04 Jul 2018

 

The phone rings a lot at the front desk!  (Not a complaint, it’s a good thing!)  One question we hear asked frequently is, “Do you do chiropractic”?  The simple answer is ‘no’.  The long answer is that all of our therapists have a degree in physical therapy, not chiropractic.  So, we don’t call what we do ‘chiropractic’, but we treat the spine and joints as well as the muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, etc.

 

“What’s the difference?”, you ask.  Well, chiropractic typically refers to ‘manipulation’, but they can do non-thrust (i.e. mobilization techniques as well).  Physical therapists do ‘manual therapy’, which typically refers to mobilizations (gentle rhythmical oscillations to the joint), some osteopathic techniques (such as craniosacral therapy), muscle techniques (myofascial release, massage, trigger point therapy) and sometimes manipulation as well.  Which is better?

Well, that is what I wanted to share!

 

I read a lovely little journal article not that long ago.  The article was in regards to thrust manipulation versus nonthrust manipulation (i.e. mobilizations) for the treatment of mechanical neck pain (i.e. neck pain caused by the spinal joints as compared to a herniated disc).

 

Pragmatically Applied Cervical and Thoracic Nonthrust Manipulation Versus Thrust Manipulation for Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.  David Griswold, PT, PhD1, Ken Learman, Morey J. Kolber, Bryan O’Halloran, Joshua A. Cleland.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2018 48:3, 137-145.

 

Now, let me preface, this has been a controversial subject for quite some time in the ‘human field’.  It may have started from the long-standing ‘physiotherapy versus chiropractic’ argument, and a bit of a chest pounding to say that one was better than the other.  However, many physios with advanced training in manual therapy also do manipulations, and chiropractic recognizes non-thrust techniques as well… so the question now is simply about manipulation versus mobilization.  

 

The study was a randomized clinical trial, and the outcome measures were numerous (The Neck Disability Index, The Patient-Specific Functional Scale, the Numeric Pain-Rating Scale, deep cervical flexion endurance, Global Rating of Change, number of visits and duration of care.)  These would take a paragraph each to fully explain… so let’s just say, ‘lots of tests to evaluate pain and function.’

 

Patients (103 of them) were randomly assigned to receive one or the other of the two treatments directed at the neck and thoracic spine (manipulation or mobilization).  Techniques and dosages were selected by the practitioners as they deemed most appropriate and directed at the most symptomatic level.

 

What did they find?  NO DIFFERENCE!  The outcomes were equivalent for both patient groups with mechanical neck pain.

 

So, Why Do You Care?

Well, what’s important to note here, is that both physio and chiropractic can address your / your dog’s back or neck pain (or rib or pelvis).  GREAT!  You have options.  Where I view the main difference, is that with physiotherapy / rehabilitation, you also receive therapy for the tight adjacent muscles or fascia, often times exercises to ‘keep things in place’, and frequently modalities such as laser to help reduce inflammation and pain, or enhance blood flow in the region as well.  These latter things are huge in maintaining the positive effects of the mobilization or manipulation, and can yield better long term results.

 

With that said, why not give us a call?  We’re here to help!

403-204-0823

 

 

Cheers!  Laurie