If you are in pain from a recent injury or chronic condition, how do you decide which healthcare professional will get you the best results and help you manage your symptoms independently. Below are vision and mission statements of both the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Both professions tout: collaborating with other health care practitioners; promoting change in public policy and legislature, giving the most value per health dollars spent on care; and access equity for the consumer.
The APTA Vision Statement however distinguishes itself by establishing what will be the primary guiding system used to achieve results (The Movement System) and focusing on Consumer-centricity (Patient/client/consumer values and goals will be central to all efforts in which the physical therapy profession will engage). The ACA’s mission statement as read below would seem to be more concerned with protecting the chiropractic profession, changing legislature and promoting the growth of chiropractic care. There is little mention of what type of system will be used to achieve optimal outcomes or mention of how a patient’s specific goals will be incorporated into an individualized plan of care.
ACA’s Mission: The ACA is a professional organization representing Doctors of Chiropractic. Its mission is to preserve, protect, improve and promote the chiropractic profession and the services of Doctors of Chiropractic for the benefit of patients they serve. The purpose of the ACA is to provide leadership in health care and a positive vision for the chiropractic profession and its natural approach to health and wellness. On behalf of the chiropractic profession, we accomplish our mission and purpose by affecting public policy and legislation, by promoting high standards in professional ethics and quality of treatment and by carrying out a dynamic strategic plan to help ensure the professional growth and success of Doctors of Chiropractic. (please go to www.acatoday.org for a complete statement).
Vision Statement for the Physical Therapy Profession: Transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience. Guiding Principles to Achieve the Vision: the following principles are condensed (please go to www.apta.org/Vision/ for a complete statement).
Identity. The physical therapy profession will define and promote the movement system as the foundation for optimizing movement to improve the health of society. Quality. Collaboration. Value. Innovation. Consumer-centricity (as stated above). Access/Equity. Advocacy.
Lastly, in my over fourteen year experience as a physical therapist I believe the defining difference in ‘Chiro’ and ‘PT’ is that physical therapist from day one of treatment give our patients self-management tools to assist in treating their own symptoms/pain to include extensive home exercise programs. Our primary goal as physical therapist is to assist a patient in restoring, maintaining and enhancing their own health.
For more information or education on physical therapy and rehabilitation please contact:
Greg Sterner, Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist in Physical Therapy, Owner
San Diego Sports Physical Therapy
2750 Dewey Rd. Ste 101
San Diego, CA 92106
