One of the most common questions we get at Advanced Health Preston is: “Should I see a chiropractor or a physiotherapist?” It’s a good question — and the honest answer depends on your specific complaint, your goals, and what kind of treatment approach you respond best to. This page explains the real differences, when each is the right choice, and when both together is the best answer.
Andrew Cunningham at Advanced Health is a chiropractor. This page is written from a position of clinical honesty — there are conditions where physiotherapy is clearly the better starting point, and Andrew will tell you that directly rather than treating you when you should be elsewhere.
What chiropractors do — and don’t do
Chiropractors specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, with a primary focus on the spine and the joints that connect to it. Core chiropractic treatment involves spinal manipulation (the “adjustment”) — a controlled force applied to a restricted joint to restore its range of motion. Chiropractors also use soft tissue therapy, dry needling, joint mobilisation, and exercise prescription.
What distinguishes chiropractic from physiotherapy is the emphasis on joint manipulation as a primary treatment tool, and the diagnostic approach to identifying which spinal segments are contributing to your complaint. Chiropractors do not prescribe medication, order or perform surgery, or manage systemic health conditions.
What physiotherapists do — and don’t do
Physiotherapists have a broader scope of practice than chiropractors. They use exercise prescription, joint mobilisation, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, dry needling, and — at the more specialised end — spinal manipulation. Physiotherapy training covers a wider range of conditions: post-surgical rehabilitation, respiratory physiotherapy, neurological rehabilitation, and paediatric conditions beyond the scope of chiropractic. Most musculoskeletal physiotherapy, however, focuses on the same conditions chiropractic treats: back pain, neck pain, sports injuries, and joint dysfunction.
Physiotherapists are generally better suited to post-surgical rehabilitation, complex neurological presentations, and conditions requiring extended exercise-based rehabilitation programmes. They have access to a wider range of outcome measures and standardised rehabilitation pathways for post-surgical cases in particular.
The practical differences in treatment
- Spinal manipulation: Chiropractic specialises in this technique. Many physiotherapists do not perform high-velocity manipulation — they use mobilisation (lower force, oscillatory movement) instead. If you respond well to adjustment, chiropractic is the more direct route.
- Dry needling: Both chiropractors and physiotherapists can be trained in dry needling. Andrew uses it as a standard part of treatment where indicated.
- Exercise prescription: Physiotherapists generally spend more time on exercise rehabilitation. Andrew uses exercise prescription within treatment and works alongside our clinical Pilates team for patients who need extended rehab.
- Soft tissue: Both treat soft tissue. Advanced Health also offers remedial massage and myotherapy alongside chiropractic — an integration most physiotherapy clinics don’t offer in-house.
When to see a chiropractor (and when to come to us)
- Acute or chronic back pain — particularly where joint restriction is a primary driver. Chiropractic adjustment produces faster results for acute back pain than passive physiotherapy in most studies.
- Neck pain and cervicogenic headaches — restricted cervical joints and associated muscle guarding respond very well to chiropractic manipulation.
- Sciatica from disc herniation — conservative chiropractic management avoids surgical intervention in the majority of cases.
- Vertigo (BPPV) — Andrew uses the Epley and Semont repositioning manoeuvres for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. This is a chiropractic specialty, not generally physio territory.
- Sports injuries — Andrew’s integrated approach (adjustment + soft tissue + dry needling) in one appointment suits most sports musculoskeletal presentations.
- Maintenance and ongoing care — many patients see Andrew for monthly maintenance adjustment to prevent recurrence rather than waiting for pain to return.
When to see a physiotherapist instead
- Post-surgical rehabilitation — hip replacement, knee reconstruction, spinal fusion — physiotherapy protocols are specifically designed for these pathways and most surgeons refer directly to physio.
- Significant neurological deficit — progressive weakness, significant sensory loss, or signs of cord compression require physiotherapy assessment and likely medical escalation.
- Chronic pain requiring extended exercise rehab — conditions where 12+ weeks of structured exercise is the primary treatment benefit most from physiotherapy’s exercise programming depth.
- Paediatric neurological or developmental conditions — outside Andrew’s scope of practice.
- Pre-approval requirements — some GP Management Plans and WorkCover treatment plans specify physiotherapy. In these cases, follow the specified referral pathway.
When to see both
For complex musculoskeletal conditions — particularly post-surgical patients returning to sport, chronic pain conditions with both structural and exercise-deficit components, or conditions where both joint restriction and significant muscle deconditioning are present — chiropractic and physiotherapy work best in combination. Many of Andrew’s patients see a physiotherapist for exercise rehabilitation while also seeing Andrew for spinal manipulation and soft tissue work, with the two practitioners in communication about shared patients.
A note on physiotherapy in Preston
Advanced Health does not offer physiotherapy — we offer chiropractic, remedial massage, myotherapy, clinical Pilates, and personal training. If Andrew assesses your condition and concludes that physiotherapy is the better starting point for you, he’ll tell you directly and recommend you see a physiotherapist. He will not treat a condition that doesn’t warrant chiropractic care. If you’re unsure which you need, book an initial chiropractic consultation — Andrew will assess and advise honestly, including a referral to physio if that’s what’s indicated.
FAQs — chiropractor vs physiotherapist in Preston
Is chiropractic or physiotherapy covered by private health insurance?
Both are covered by most private health fund extras policies — separately. Chiropractic and physiotherapy are typically listed as distinct extras items with separate annual limits. Check your policy for both.
Do I need a GP referral for either?
No referral is needed to see Andrew or a physiotherapist privately. A GP referral is required for Medicare-funded physiotherapy under a Chronic Disease Management plan (up to 5 allied health visits per year). Chiropractic is not currently on the Medicare allied health list.
I’ve been Googling “physiotherapist Preston” — should I come to you instead?
Possibly. If you have a musculoskeletal complaint — back pain, neck pain, headaches, sports injury, joint pain — chiropractic is a very appropriate starting point and may produce faster results than physiotherapy for some of these conditions. If you have a post-surgical rehabilitation need or a significant neurological deficit, physiotherapy is better suited. If you’re genuinely unsure, an initial chiropractic assessment with Andrew will either resolve your complaint or clarify that physiotherapy is a better fit — and you’ll have clear guidance either way.
Where is Advanced Health in Preston?
4/107 Plenty Road, Preston 3072 — free on-site parking. Open Monday–Friday 8am–7pm, Saturday 8am–1pm.
Book your chiropractic assessment in Preston
Call (03) 9484 9185 or book online. Andrew will assess your condition and give you an honest recommendation — whether that means chiropractic care, physiotherapy, or both. We’re at 4/107 Plenty Road, Preston 3072.
