I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss chiropractors. PTs, MTs, MDs, DCs, DOs, I know them all and each is good for maladies in their own field.
Physical therapy - untouched in rehab, these are the only guys who can do it.
Massage therapy - there are some good ones, but because of the educational requirements, most are not expert in injuries, better for back rubs.
Chiropractors - Again due to low education standards, there are a lot of quacks around, and I mean a lot of them. But untouched in certain types of problems. Sometimes manipulation or mobilization IS needed for pain relief and you better believe it. I have low back pain which is relieved by manipulation, and I wouldn’t trust PTs, MTs, or MDs to do it. It’s just that DCs do this everyday, they get good at it. Just make sure it’s a problem that manipulation will help first.
DOs (Osteopaths). Same as MDs in the US, but not in other countries (e.g. UK, Australia). Depends on what they want to specialize in. There are DOs who are OBs or pediatricians. Some specialize in back pain. But dirty secret is that some hospitals or schools will not take DOs as staff.
MDs: Internal meds or family practice, pretty much clueless as regards LBP, NP, etc.
MDs: (specifically orthopedists). Don’t get them mixed up, these guys are not trained in manipulation, they look at things from a surgical point of view. Mainly good for severe stuff, not for your run of the mill LBP. And you better believe fusions are done when they shouldn’t have been. I don’t believe orthos are much good for things like LBP.
As in anything, there are incompetents and morons in each field (what is the person graduating last in med school called? Ans: Doctor).
And stay away from chiros who say they can cure cancer etc., actually report them to the state medical or chiropractic board.