Hey it’s Nathan from Melbourne Osteopathic clinic here. A common question that we get asked in clinic is ‘What is the difference between osteopathy, physiotherapy and chiropractic?’ In light of that, hopefully the following information will give you a better idea of what separates the three prior to your next appointment.
Osteopathy
– Osteopaths view the body as a whole (holistic approach) rather than focusing on the injured area, it looks at possible changes within mechanics and compensations as a result.
– Typical osteopathic treatment can consist of massage, gentle mobilisation of joint, manipulation of joints, stretching and exercise prescription
– Osteopathy can be beneficial in treatment of sports injuries, back pain, neck pain and headaches
Physiotherapy
– Physiotherapy is based around improving movement and function of the human body, this is typically following surgery or an injury
– Physiotherapy treatments tend to include massage, mobilisation of joints and exercise prescription
– Physiotherapy is thought to be more helpful with conditions in regards to recovery from surgery, neurological disorders and occupational safety issues
Chiropractics
– Chiropractics focuses on treating and preventing musculoskeletal problems throughout the whole body using manual adjustments or via a device
– Chiropractics is commonly supported by the use of X-rays or scans to have full assessments of posture and alignment of the spine.
– Conditions that chiropractors typically treatment include neck pain, back pain and headaches
Overall the differences come down to what you are expecting as the patient and what situation you are in. More hands-on universal treatment would lead you towards osteopathy or chiropractor, looking for more exercise rehabilitation progress towards physiotherapy or osteopathy and if you want specific skeletal treatment chiropractics may be the one for you.