A Chiropractor and an Osteopath both work with a patient‚s whole body and it is because they are both considered holistic healers that people tend to get the two professionals confused. On their surfaces chiropractics and osteopathy look almost the same but in reality the two schools of thought are unique and their approach to patient care and therapy is very different. Keep reading to learn what the major differences are between Osteopaths and Chiropractors are.
A Chiropractor is a person who is interested in how a person‚s body works, but views the workings of a body primarily through the spinal and muscular systems. Usually a Chiropractor focuses on pain relief and injury recovery. He or she will use spine and joint adjustments, massage, electrical stimulation and rehabilitative exercise to help a patient heal as well as working with the patient in other areas of his life (primarily diet and exercise programs).
Osteopaths work with a patient‚s whole body, not just the spinal system and joints. An osteopath will conduct a thorough exam of a patient‚s entire body to diagnose the patient‚s problem. He is usually contacted in a patient‚s effort to reduce pain or heal from an injury, but he helps patients with a variety of other problems as well. His methods of treatment involve physical therapy, adjustments to the body and massage.
Both Chiropractors and Osteopaths use treatments that involve the moving of a person‚s body outside its usual range of motion. A Chiropractor will do this by swiftly moving a joint out of its usual range of motion and putting it back in its starting position. An Osteopath will usually employ a more gentle technique that stretches the muscles surrounding a joint in ways that they are not used to stretching.
Both Chiropractors and Osteopaths use physical movements to treat pain and injuries. A Chiropractor will move the patient during a visit, placing his or her limbs in precarious positions in an effort to decrease joint and muscle pain. An Osteopath will teach a variety of poses to a patient so that he or she can continue with the therapy at home.
Chiropractic therapy is actually derived from Osteopathy. Osteopathy was invented by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in 1872 and Chiropractic care was invented by Daniel David Palmer, a student of Dr. Still in 1895.
The major difference between an Osteopath and a Chiropractor is that while the Chiropractor is primarily focused on the spine and joints (and the muscles too"to a point), an Osteopath is also concerned with the rest of the body. He or she might treat patients with respitory problems, digestive problems or any other number of problems that might not seem related to the spine or joints.
The main point to remember is that, no matter which professional gets chosen, excellent care will be given.
The content of this page is informed by feedback from clinics in Surrey and also osteopaths in the Exeter area. Further input was received from osteopathic practitioners in Chiswick and a practitioner in Covent Garden. Finally a contribution was made by practices in Hove.