How Are Osteopathy, Physiotherapy, And Chiropractic Care Different?

If you have ever suffered a sore back, neck, or knee, there are chances you have sought for treatment, mostly from a physiotherapist, chiropractor, or osteopath. The distinction between them is too confusing. Without the right knowledge, you might find these practitioners following the same techniques, i.e., non-invasive, drug-free, and manual, to improve physical health and wellbeing.

But the moment you scratch the surface, you find claims and counterclaims of which method fits your needs. Let us understand each of them thoroughly before you do a google search on a physiotherapist, chiropractor, or osteopathy near me.  

Physiotherapy

These practitioners specialise in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of movement disorders. The objective is to rehabilitate and improve mobility. Physios typically use their anatomy and physiology expertise to assess and treat people suffering from a range of health conditions.

While physios are specifically known for treating sports injuries and neck or back pain, they also work for premature babies, stroke recovery, brain or spinal cord damage, and people suffering from conditions such as Parkinson’s, arthritis, osteoporosis, and cystic fibrosis.

A standard physiotherapy session includes the following –

• Assessing and understanding the condition and needs
• Working alongside the patient to set goals and attain them
• Develop a treatment or prevention plan which includes lifestyle, activities, and general health
• Prescribing exercises and physical aid

Chiropractic care

Their core focus is on diagnosing and preventing musculoskeletal disorders such as spine, pelvis, muscles, ligaments, and joints. Chiropractic care is associated with spinal and neck manipulations mostly. At the same time, it involves a combination of hands-on care, physical therapy, and exercise.

Despite the rising popularity of chiropractic care, the benefits are limited. The only strong evidence and people head to a chiropractor is for lower back pain. Through spinal manipulation, the back pain gets better and more effective than the standard therapies like exercise.

Osteopathy

Osteopaths know that poor lifestyle, posture, and injury compromise the anatomical structure and weak health. As practitioners, they understand the relationship between body structure and the way it functions.

The osteopaths in Australia focus on how the skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves circulation, connective tissues, and internal organs function entirely. If you approach them for sore knees, they will check your ankle, pelvis, and back. If the pain is too severe and the root cause is your foot, then you need to search for chiropodists near me on Google.

Like physios and chiros, osteopaths treat injuries through non-invasive and manual techniques, orthopaedic and neurological testing, tissue manipulation, massage, stretching muscle groups, and spinal adjustments.