Either one. Physiotherapists and chiropractors are both regulated health professionals in Ontario who assess and treat low back pain and sciatica, and you can book with either without a referral. For most people, the best choice is the one whose approach you prefer and can get in to see soon.
First, check the emergency signs below. They are uncommon, but they need a hospital, not a clinic.
Go to emergency if you have back pain with
- New trouble passing urine, or loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness around the groin, genitals or inner thighs
- Weakness in a leg that is getting worse, or weakness in both legs
- Pain after a major fall or accident
- Fever, unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer
How the two approaches tend to differ
- Physiotherapy usually centres on exercise, movement retraining and education, with hands-on treatment as needed. Some of our physiotherapists also use dry needling.
- Chiropractic at our clinic is sports-injury focused: joint adjustments or mobilization where appropriate, soft tissue treatment, and functional rehabilitation.
There is a lot of overlap. Both will examine you, explain what they find, give you exercises and advise you on staying active.
What about sciatica?
Sciatica is pain that travels down the leg, often with tingling or numbness, from an irritated nerve in the low back. Both professions assess it the same way, checking strength, sensation and reflexes, and both will refer you to a doctor if the findings call for it.
What generally helps
- Staying gently active instead of resting in bed
- Changing positions often
- Exercises matched to your symptoms
- Time: most episodes of low back pain improve within a few weeks
If you are still unsure
Call us and describe your symptoms. Because both services are under one roof, you can be redirected if the other would suit you better. See also physiotherapist, chiropractor or massage therapist: which do I need?
Read more on our physiotherapy and chiropractic pages.
Back pain that is not settling?