An article reported HERE asks the question "what's the difference in a PT and a DC?"  I thought this a good question and will use excerpts from their article and from Texas Law to attempt to explain the difference even more accurately for Texas.

First, lets look at the law.  In Texas, "Chiropractic" is the use of "objective or subjective means to analyze, examine, or evaluate the biomechanical condition of the spine and musculoskeletal system of the human body;" the performance of "nonsurgical, nonincisive procedures, including adjustment and manipulation, to improve the subluxation complex or the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system;" or representing "to the public that the person is a chiropractor; or uses the term "chiropractor," "chiropractic," "doctor of chiropractic," "D.C.," or any derivative of those terms or initials in connection with the person's name." 

"The practice of chiropractic does not include: incisive or surgical procedures; the prescription of controlled substances, dangerous drugs, or any other drug that requires a prescription; or the use of x-ray therapy or therapy that exposes the body to radioactive materials."

The practice of "physical therapy", on the other hand, is "a form of health care that prevents, identifies, corrects, or alleviates acute or prolonged movement dysfunction or pain of anatomic or physiologic origin." 

"In practicing physical therapy, a person may not use: roentgen rays or radium for a diagnostic or therapeutic purpose; or electricity for a surgical purpose, including cauterization."

"Referring practitioner" means a qualified licensed health care professional who, within the scope of professional licensure, may refer a person for health care services. The term includes... a physician licensed to practice medicine...a dentist...a chiropractor...and...a podiatrist...."
 
The author of the article reported HERE notes "First and foremost, each individual practitioner in each profession treats in his own unique way."

"Chiropractors diagnose, treat and prevent mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, [particularly] the spine. Their belief is that these disorders affect the nervous system and therefore one’s general health."

"Physical therapy aims to maintain restore, maximize and develop one’s functional ability throughout life....a holistic approach to treatment that focuses not only on the physical, but the psychological, social and emotional well being of the individual through diagnosis, treatment and intervention."

"Chiropractic treatment is [primarily] concerned with vertebral subluxations of the spine. Treatment mainly involves spinal manipulation but can also include soft tissue therapy, electrotherapeutic modalities, exercises and health and lifestyle advice"; and, in Texas, anything that is not " incisive or surgical procedures; the prescription of controlled substances, dangerous drugs, or any other drug that requires a prescription; or the use of x-ray therapy or therapy that exposes the body to radioactive materials."

"Physical therapy treatment involves mobilization of joints, soft tissue massage, stretching, neuromuscular re-education, electrotherapeutic modalities and a large focus on rehabilitative exercises and a home exercise program" for the purpose of, in Texas, correcting or alleviating "movement dysfunction or pain."

In Texas, "The physical therapist must confer with the referring practitioner before the physical therapist may continue treatment that exceeds treatment authorized..." otherwise "a physical therapist may provide emergency medical care to a person to the best of the therapist's ability without a referral from a referring practitioner. [or] physical assessments or instructions to an asymptomatic person without a referral from a referring practitioner."

"Physical therapists...practice in numerous different settings such as outpatient clinics, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, extended care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, hospices, education and research centers, schools, occupational environments, fitness centers and private homes. Physical therapy has many specialties, the most common of which include orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, neurologic, geriatrics and pediatrics."

"Chiropractors practice autonomously and their service combines aspects from both alternative and mainstream medicine. It [is perceived, to be] competitive with mainstream medicine and is therefore considered more of a complementary or alternative medicine."

So to summarize via paraphrase: Physical Therapy is for the purpose of improving "movement dysfunction or pain."  For all but emergency or "asymptomatic patients", it must have a referral from a medical or chiropractic physician, dentist, or podiatrist.  It may not take x-rays for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, or electricity for a surgical purpose.

Chiropractic practice is for the purpose of determining the condition of body mechanics relating to the spine, the muscles, and the skeleton of the human body, it includes non-surgical, non-incisive procedures designed to improve subluxation complex (typically defined to include a neurological component), or the body mechanics of the muscles and bony systems.  It does NOT include the use of surgery, controlled medicines, or radiation therapy.

This makes the major difference between chiropractic and physical therapy one of diagnosis and autonomous treatment of dysfunction rather than one limited to improvement of function and pain and limited by a referral from a physician. 

This is but another reason why the TMA v TBCE lawsuit seeking to remove "diagnosis" from doctors of chiropractic is of vital importance.  Without diagnosis relating to muscles, bones and nerves the chiropractic profession is severely impaired, and in fact could become just another, although a doctorate level version, of physical therapy.