Chiropractor or physiotherapist — which should I see?

The short answer

Both are regulated professionals who can help with musculoskeletal pain, and there's real overlap between the two. There isn't a strict rule that sends every problem to one or the other. Which suits you better often comes down to what kind of treatment you find helpful and who you feel comfortable working with, more than the letters after their name.

Where the two professions differ, broadly

Chiropractic care tends to lean more on hands-on joint and spinal treatment, combined with advice and exercise. My own approach is exactly that: hands-on work paired with a plan for getting back to normal activity, not treatment in isolation.

Physiotherapy tends to lean more on structured, progressive exercise-based rehabilitation, and physios often work within hospitals, sports teams and post-surgical recovery. In practice, plenty of physios use hands-on techniques too, and plenty of chiropractors build exercise into every plan — the professions overlap more than the stereotypes suggest.

How I actually decide

I don't start from "which profession is this." I start by assessing what's going on, then treat it the way I think will help most, combining hands-on work with movement and exercise advice.

If at any point I think you'd be better served by a physio, a GP, or another professional — because of what I find on assessment, or because things aren't progressing the way I'd expect — I'll tell you and help point you in the right direction. That's not a failure of either profession, it's just getting you to the right person.

Practical differences that might matter to you

• Continuity: With me, you see the same chiropractor every time. In some physiotherapy settings, especially larger clinics or the NHS, you may see different practitioners across a course of treatment.
• Access: Chiropractic treatment is private in the UK. NHS physiotherapy exists but often has a waiting list; private physiotherapy is available too, at a similar cost range to private chiropractic.
• Style: If you specifically want more hands-on joint work, chiropractic care tends to offer more of that. If you specifically want a structured, exercise-led rehab programme, physiotherapy tends to lean that way.

When it's worth just booking either one

If you're stuck choosing and the pain is getting in the way of daily life, the practical answer is: book whichever is easier to access quickly. A good practitioner in either profession will tell you honestly if you'd be better off somewhere else, mine included. Waiting for the "perfect" choice usually costs more time than it saves.