What’s the Difference? ART and Chiropractic.
What is ART?
ART treatment is a non-invasive system that treats soft-tissue and nerve dysfunction at the source. This hands-on treatment uses a combination of provider touch, depth, and tension with patient movement to pinpoint and treat the origin of the affected area.
What causes soft-tissue damage?
Soft-tissue damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons can be caused by everyday movements, sports injuries, blunt forces, and overused muscles. Common signs of soft-tissue damage include:
- Sprains
- Bruises
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Stress injuries
- Strains
What is chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care is administered by a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) through adjustments to the body to address musculoskeletal pain. A DC will apply pressure with their hands or an instrument to create force that manipulates the joint.
Common tools used by DCs are activator adjusting tools, TENS machines, and cold lasers.
Although rare, there are risk factors to consider:
- Herniated disk
- Nerve compression
- Stroke after neck manipulation
Why see a chiropractor?
Chiropractic care can alleviate back, neck, arm joint, and leg joint pain as well as headaches. The most common adjustment is called spinal manipulation, though specific movements, massages, and exercises may also be used to treat the pain.
The most common conditions treated by DCs include pain in the lower back, neck, muscles, and headaches. Chiropractic care isn’t guaranteed to work for everyone but can be a good pain management option.
The benefits
Who benefits from ART treatment?
Anyone with soft tissue can benefit from ART treatment. When muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves are overused or do not function properly, ART treatment can be considered. ART treatment does not require a prescription from a physician.
After treatment, patients can expect to feel increased muscle mobility and less pain through:
- Decreased stiffness
- Improved range of motion
- Relieved joint pain
- Decreased inflammation
Who benefits from chiropractic care?
People experiencing any type of body pain (muscle, joint, headaches, etc.), including poor posture should consider seeing a chiropractor. We know that chiropractic care aids in pain relief, it also claims to:
- Promote quality sleep
- Manage stress
- Improve digestion
- Improve athletic performance
- Even help in pregnancy
ART and chiropractic
Although ART treatment can be provided by certified chiropractors, they are not interchangeable. Chiropractic care is a healthcare profession and ART is a technique that can be learned and practiced by health care professionals. However, ART is a valuable skill for DCs to learn to enhance their practice and provided care.
Both treatments are effective in providing relief for everyday pain, sports injuries, and other conditions. The main difference between the treatment methods is the way ART and chiropractic care treats the body.
ART treatment focuses on breaking down scar tissue, adhesions, and contractures that create pain and discomfort. Chiropractic care focuses on relieving pain by using pressure to manipulate and realign joints.