Why is chiropractic considered alternative medicine but physical therapy isn't?

Chiropractic care and physical therapy are both medical practices that seek to improve health, mobility, and quality of life. However, there is a distinct difference between the two when it comes to the approach each takes.

Physical therapy focuses mainly on rehabilitating injured areas of the body and improving strength through exercise and movement. It emphasizes manual manipulation techniques such as stretching, massage techniques, joint mobilization exercises, strengthening exercises, heat/cold therapies etc. Physical therapists work closely with patients to guide them through their rehabilitation program in order to return them back to normal activities while avoiding re-injury or further disability.

On the other hand, chiropractic has been traditionally defined as a form of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) which focuses on addressing mechanical dysfunction of joints by spinal adjustments or manipulations with an emphasis on restoring proper nervous system function or communication from brain to body in order to bring about homeostasis within the body. Chiropractors assess patient’s posture for compensatory patterns that may be contributing factors for pain syndromes then use specialized manual therapies including manipulative procedures along with exercise recommendations in order address those dysfunctions causing symptoms throughout the entire musculoskeletal system .  In addition some chiropractors are trained in various CBP principles which allow them assess more than just individual vertebral segments but instead look at how all structure affect one another- thus aiding in creating healthier overall postural balance within a person’s frame allowing normal healthy functioning of nerve pathways involving muscles and organs within their daily lives.

In conclusion this highlights why chiropractic care is often considered more "alternative" compared physical therapy because while they both strive towards improved quality of life healthcare goals their methods used differ greatly due largely its holistic approach looking biomechanical imbalances then implementing manual treatments aiming at correcting those issues before progressing onto other forms rehabilitation if deemed necessary afterwards .