Chiropractor vs. Physical Therapist in Connecticut: What’s the Difference — and Why It Matters for Your Care

Dr. David Bray
May 29
4 min read

Updated: Jun 19

Blog thumbnail image comparing chiropractors and physical therapists in Connecticut. The design features bold text reading “Connecticut Chiropractor vs. Physical Therapist – What’s the Difference and Why It Matters for Your Care” on a beige background with modern, legible typography.

When you're dealing with pain, dysfunction, or movement limitations — whether it's back pain, incontinence, or postural instability — you’re often told to “go to physical therapy.” But in Connecticut, chiropractors actually have a broader legal scope of practice than physical therapists in many key areas.

If you’re looking for efficient, root-cause care with fewer restrictions, this comparison will help you understand why Bray Chiropractic & Wellness may be the better first stop for your health needs. Let’s start with what the law actually says.

📜 Legal Definitions: Chiropractor vs. Physical Therapist in Connecticut

✅ Chiropractor Definition — CT General Statutes § 20-24

“The practice of chiropractic means the practice of that branch of the healing arts consisting of the science of adjustment, manipulation and treatment of the human body... in which vertebral subluxations and other malpositioned articulations and structures that may interfere with the normal generation, transmission and expression of nerve impulse… are adjusted, manipulated or treated.”

Chiropractors are considered physician-level providers within their scope, capable of diagnosing and treating a wide range of musculoskeletal and functional disorders.

⚠️ Physical Therapist Definition — CT General Statutes § 20-66(2)

“Physical therapy means the evaluation and treatment… through the use of therapeutic exercise, massage, mobilization of joints and soft tissue, electrotherapy, and other procedures… but does not include the use of diagnostic X-rays or radium, or the use of electricity for cauterization or surgery.”

PTs are movement specialists, but their legal authority does not include diagnosis or imaging, and they often require referral or physician coordination for care.

⚖️ Scope of Practice Comparison Chart

Clinical Function	Chiropractor (DC)	Physical Therapist (DPT)
Legal Definition	“Physician” in the healing arts (CGS § 20-24)	Movement specialist (CGS § 20-66)
Diagnose medical conditions	✅ Yes — full diagnostic authority	❌ No — may evaluate, but not diagnose
Order diagnostic imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)	✅ Yes — allowed directly	❌ No — cannot order or interpret
Order lab tests (blood, stool, hormone panels)	✅ Yes — within functional or nutritional scope	❌ No — outside scope
Direct access (no referral needed)	✅ Yes — full portal of entry	⚠️ Yes for most insurances; Medicare has restrictions
Grade 5 spinal/extremity manipulation (“adjustments”)	✅ Yes — core to chiropractic scope	⚠️ Only with additional certification and registration in CT
Perform soft tissue therapies	✅ Yes — including as a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)	✅ Yes — within manual therapy protocols
Rehabilitation/therapeutic exercise	✅ Yes — certified as an Exercise Physiologist	✅ Yes — fundamental to PT
Nutritional counseling/supplementation	✅ Yes — legally allowed with appropriate training (CGS § 20-24)	❌ No — not included in PT scope
Internal pelvic floor therapy	✅ Yes — allowed with training (no legal restriction)	✅ Yes — allowed with training
Treat without a physician's referral	✅ Yes — full portal of entry	⚠️ Yes, but limited in Medicare and some insurance contexts
Refer to medical specialists	✅ Yes — as part of physician-level status	⚠️ Limited — often must refer through PCP

💡 What This Means for You as a Patient

Most people assume physical therapy and chiropractic are similar. But in Connecticut, chiropractors actually have more authority to:

Diagnose your condition
Order the appropriate imaging or lab work
Begin treatment immediately without referral
Treat the whole body, not just the site of pain

At Bray Chiropractic & Wellness, I combine:

Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) training
Licensure as an Orthopedic Massage Therapist (LMT)
Certification as an ACSM Exercise Physiologist
Additional training in internal pelvic floor therapy and functional medicine

This means you’re not bouncing between multiple providers. You get:

✅ One provider

✅ One diagnosis

✅ One integrated plan

🔬 Why Imaging and Labs Matter

If you have pelvic, back, or nerve pain, you may need imaging to rule out structural issues — or labs to identify inflammation, hormonal imbalances, or nutritional deficiencies. Chiropractors in CT can order and interpret both, which speeds up your care.

Physical therapists cannot order these tests and must send you back to a PCP or specialist — delaying care and fragmenting communication.

🧘 Pelvic Floor Dysfunction? You Have Options.

While PTs often require referral, internal pelvic floor therapy falls within chiropractic scope in Connecticut as long as the practitioner is trained. I’ve completed pelvic health and internal therapy coursework that allows me to directly evaluate and treat:

Postpartum issues
Incontinence
Chronic pelvic tension
Sexual dysfunction
Hip, SI joint, and core instability related to pelvic dysfunction

You don’t need to wait for another specialist. You can come directly to someone trained, licensed, and ready to treat.

🧠 Whole-Body, Root-Cause Care

Whether you're seeking:

Better posture
Core stability
Relief from pelvic pain
Nutritional strategies for inflammation
A second opinion on unresolved low back pain

… you don’t need to navigate a referral maze or settle for single-modality care.

At Bray Chiropractic & Wellness, I bring clinical integration, not fragmentation.

If you’re comparing a chiropractor vs physical therapist in Connecticut and want faster, more integrated care, Bray Chiropractic & Wellness offers a broader scope and direct access — no referral needed.