Osteopathy, Physiotherapy, Chiropractic - A Comparison
If you are suffering from a sports injury or a congenital physical defect or find that you are in pain following an accident or due to an illness, you may be referred by your doctor to an osteopath, physiotherapist or chiropractor. Although all these professions aim to reduce pain levels and to promote recovery, they are not all the same. But what's the difference? Read on for a helpful comparison.
- Osteopathy is generally viewed as a complementary primary healthcare system that is used in conjunction with other medical treatments and drug therapy. All osteopathy practitioners must be registered with a relevant governing body. They must be insured to practice and are expected to complete ongoing training throughout their career. Osteopaths first seek to diagnose the patient's problem and then work on the musculo-skeletal system, in particular the joints and muscles. The idea is to facilitate the body's own ability to heal itself and regulate its own movement in order to reduce pain and return the patient to full function. This often involves working on bones and joints in order to free-up nerves, which may be the source of the patient's pain. Osteopathy involves the use of gentle manual techniques and soft-tissue massage. Manipulation of the joints is also carried out, together with articulation. Self-help exercises are taught to patients, enabling them to continue with their therapy at home.
- Physiotherapy is largely concerned with teaching the patient exercises to facilitate their own care and rehabilitation. Much of the consultation time is therefore spent on teaching and advising the patient on this.
- Chiropractors also treat disorders of the musculo-skeletal system, although their focus is more on the mechanical aspect of the patient's problems, rather than any neurological issues. They use their hands to work on muscles, joints and bones with the emphasis on using manipulation of the joints of the spine.
All three fields of therapy often include alternative therapies in their repertoire, including:
- massage
- acupuncture
- kinesiology taping
- dry needling
As you can see, osteopaths, physiotherapists and chiropractors all work in conjunction with each other and with other medical practitioners to treat conditions relating to the musculo-skeletal system. Your doctor may refer you to attend treatment with practitioners in several different fields for different reasons. If you have any questions about your treatment or would like more advice about what your osteopath could do to help your pain, ask for more information at your local clinic.
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