Physiotherapy or Physical Therapy:

Physiotherapy versus Physical Therapy: :

The words are synonymous. Physiotherapy is the more widely accepted international term. Physical therapy as defined in the dictionary is, “The treatment of physical dysfunction or injury by the use of therapeutic exercise and the application of modalities, intended to restore or facilitate normal function or development and relief pain. Also called physiotherapy.”

The term “physical therapy” is protected by the physical therapy board.
In Arizona physical therapists are unable to bill health insurance for services unless a medical doctor has written a script for treatment and acts as the primary managing doctor. Chiropractors with a secondary license and education in physiotherapy can perform physiotherapy services and bill health insurance for those services without a medical script.

My experience and understanding is that traditional physical therapy is the application of modalities (ultrasound/electrical muscle stimulation) and exercises to get people better, with a secondary approach of manual massage and even joint adjustments. Traditional chiropractic is the application of high velocity adjustments to get people better, with a secondary approach of modalities, manual massage and exercises. Both are said to leave the patient with home care instructions. In many cases these traditional approaches help. However, in many cases patients have been hurt by treatment or their progress reaches a plateau and they are released from care. Having worked on chronic and complicated pain and motion disorders for 12 years, I routinely review treatments that have either failed to progress conditions or have even made them worse.


 

Arizona Pain and Posture Center
7320 E. Deer Valley Rd., Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85267
Phone: 480-585-0252

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