Differences Between Osteopath vs Chiropractor: The Osteo Performance Difference
If you're dealing with back pain, joint discomfort, or other musculoskeletal issues, you’ve probably come across two types of health professionals: osteopaths and chiropractors. Both of these practitioners are APHRA regulated services that offer hands-on treatments to help alleviate pain and improve mobility, but they do so in different ways. So, what’s the difference between an osteopath vs chiropractor, and which one should you see? Let’s break it down.
What is an Osteopath?
An osteopath is a healthcare professional who looks at the body as a whole, focusing on the relationship between the body’s structure (bones, muscles, joints) and its function. Osteopathy is all about holistic care, meaning osteopaths treat not just the area of pain, but often other parts of the body that could be affecting it. For example, if you go to an osteopath with a knee problem, they might also check your pelvis, ankle, or back to identify any underlying issues.
Osteopaths use a variety of techniques, including stretching, massage, dry needling, joint mobilization, and spinal manipulation. They also provide advice on exercise, movement, posture, and lifestyle changes to help you maintain long-term health and prevent future injuries.
Education and Training of Osteopaths
To become an osteopath, a person typically undergoes 4.5-5 years of training. This includes a Bachelor’s degree in health science, followed by specialized education in osteopathy. The focus of their training is on understanding how the body's different systems interact and how to address restrictions in movement.
What is a Chiropractor?
A chiropractor primarily focuses on the spine and its role in overall health. Chiropractors believe that misalignments in the spine, also known as subluxations, can interfere with nerve signals, leading to pain and other health problems. Their goal is to correct these misalignments through specific spinal adjustments to restore proper nerve function.
Chiropractors often use techniques like spinal manipulation (also known as adjustments), joint mobilization, and may even recommend exercises to help with posture and strength.
Education and Training of Chiropractors
Chiropractors also undergo extensive training—about 4.5-5 years of education—focusing on the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine. Their education emphasizes diagnosing and treating spinal misalignments and their impact on overall health.
Key Similarities Between Osteopaths and Chiropractors
While osteopaths and chiropractors have different approaches, they do share some key similarities. Here are a few things they have in common:
Hands-On Treatment: Both osteopaths and chiropractors use manual therapy to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal issues, often manipulating the spine and joints.
Holistic Approach: Both believe in the body’s ability to heal itself and focus on treating the body as a whole, not just isolated symptoms.
Conditions Treated: Both professionals can treat a variety of conditions such as back pain, neck pain, headaches, joint pain, and muscle spasms.
Exercise and Rehabilitation: Both may recommend exercise, posture improvements, and lifestyle changes to help you stay pain-free and healthy long-term.
Key Differences Between Osteopaths and Chiropractors
Even though there’s overlap in what osteopaths and chiropractors treat, the biggest differences lie in their approaches. Here’s how they differ:
1. Focus Area
Chiropractors focus primarily on the spine, believing that misalignments (or subluxations) in the spine affect the entire body’s health by interfering with nerve signals.
Osteopaths, on the other hand, treat the body as a whole and look at how muscles, bones, joints, and even organs work together. They may focus on areas like muscle function and joint movement in addition to spinal adjustments.
2. Techniques Used
Chiropractors are well-known for spinal adjustments and the “popping” sound that often accompanies it. Their treatments typically involve adjusting joints, especially in the spine, to improve nerve function.
Osteopaths use a broader range of techniques, including muscle stretching, deep tissue massage, and joint mobilization, alongside spinal manipulation. They aim to address restrictions in the body’s movement, which may not always be directly related to the spine.
The Osteo Performance Difference
Whether you choose an osteopath or a chiropractor, the most important thing is to find someone who understands your body and empowers you to manage your health. Both osteopathy and chiropractic care can be effective for treating musculoskeletal issues and improving overall well-being.
At Osteo Performance all initial consultations will include:
Thorough history and physical examination to not only diagnose you condition, but to pinpoint the causative factor/s of your pain
Onboarding you onto our complementary app, where we can record your progress, store your exercises and allow for seemless communication with visual and audio feedback
If indicated, we will provide hands on treatment incorporating some movements aiming to reduce your symptoms/pain and increase your movement
Clearly communicate your management plan which will include your diagnosis and expected prognosis so there are no guesses on your way to your recovery.
Book in online now or call 0426 586 255 to get on top of your niggles and allow us to provide long term solutions for a more active fulfilling life.