Physical therapy tries to make a painful situation better and give you more range of motion and mobility. Along with physical therapy, you might want to try chiropractic care. In fact, a lot of doctors recommend chiropractic care for backs before attempting physical therapy, since the chiropractic adjustments help relieve pain and pressure on the nerves so that you can move better during physical therapy. There are a few other reasons for doing chiropractic care prior to starting physical therapy. 

Chiropractic Care Loosens You up Before Therapy Appointments

A lot of people who experience back problems have tension in their muscles. The tension tends to make moving more painful. When a chiropractor does some adjustments, the patient is less tense, and the muscles are loosened up and ready. Doing it this way allows you to have greater range of motion when you are working through your therapy exercises, which is key to healing and getting better. 

Chiropractic Care Releases Oxytocin 

Oxytocin is a "happy chemical" released by the brain whenever people touch each other. The connection of skin to skin is proven to be rewarding.  A lack of touch is so negative that studies conducted on abandoned infants in foreign orphanages reflects what happens when babies (and children and adults) are not touched often enough. Sometimes it does not even have to be skin to skin, proving that touch from another human being is enough to make the brain produce the oxytocin. Increased levels of oxytocin after chiropractic adjustments make people feel particularly good about doing other things (including physical therapy) that would otherwise be painful, uncomfortable, awkward, or unpleasant. 

Chiropractic Care Maximizes Therapy Benefits

If you had the choice between just building muscle or making the muscle well-toned and well-defined, which would you choose? Most patients would say the latter, since it would also improve their appearance and sense of self. That is essentially what chiropractic care before physical therapy does. Chiropractic care helps maximize the results of therapy, improving strength, reducing pain and muscle fatigue, increasing freedom of movement, and encouraging an ongoing and balanced lifestyle. 

Looking at Therapy Sessions in Your Future? Ask about Chiropractic Sessions Beforehand

If you already know that you will be going to PT sessions, ask your doctor about a referral to a chiropractor. Then schedule your chiropractic sessions on the same day as your therapy sessions. You will be glad you did.