I'd be very interested in someone giving me a better idea of the difference between Chiropractors and Osteopaths. I've not had a particularly straight answer from either profession!
I work in a Phyio's and an Osteopath's as a sports masseur and I wasn't very impressed with the physio's attitude to Osteopathy. It was a shame because within the world of massage there seems to be lots of positive recognition for the different forms of treatment.
As I understand it Chiro's are spine specialists and experts at the neck manipulation and Osteo's see the body as a whole and some have learned the body manipulations and some have not or its not their focus of practice.
we have this pinned up on our notice board at work (I work at a Chiro's)as we are often asked this by prospective patients - I will copy it next time I am in and give you the definition!
It basically boils down to the fact that there is NOT alot of difference. Osteo appointments tend to be longer and gentler, Chiro sessions are shorter and can be firmer. Both treat the body as a whole, not just the neck and spine. At the end of the day it often comes down to personal preference.
]~What is the difference between Chiropractic and Osteopathy?
There is very little difference between these two professions; Both train for the same length of time, and have similar qualifications and are members of Councils which regulate the professions. However:
A Chiropractor may be slightly firmer
An Osteopath may do more soft tissue work
A treatment session with an Osteopath may take slightly longer.
These are just rules of thumb, as each practitioner may work in slighlty different ways and may use different techniques ie some practitioners use TRIGGER POINT THERAPY, some use ACUPUNCTURE, some do CRANIAL WORK, etc and some may use all of them!
This is just for our guidance if a patient asks, and not a diffinitive explanation!!
Chiropractic and Osteopathy are very similar disciplines. In some countries, such as Australia, there is only one combined regulatory body and students can graduate from University with an Osteopathic and Chiropractic qualification having studied both forms of diagnosis and treatment. There is therefore a huge overlap of both these disciplines with about 80% of their workload being indistinguishable.
Diagnosis
Chiropractors tend to use more diagnostic procedures, such as X-rays and MRI scans, blood and urine tests.
Osteopaths also use all of these procedures but to a lesser extent.
Around 85% of Chiropractors have their own X-ray facilities compared with approximately 10% of Osteopaths.
Taking the case history and orthopaedic examination are very similar for both professions and both use movement palpation (feeling the spine as it moves) to assist in diagnosing where there are abnormalities of movement.
Treatment
Around 50% of patients consulting an Osteopath receive manipulation whereas about 90% of patients receive a similar treatment called an “adjustment” if they consult a Chiropractor.
When a patient is manipulated or adjusted, the joint is moved just beyond its normal range of movement in an attempt to restore normal function. This obviously has to be done without spraining the joint and this is one of the many skills that Chiropractors and Osteopaths spend several years learning, mostly on each other when training!
Mobilisation, which consists of stretching the joint rhythmically within its normal range of movement, is used more by Osteopaths than Chiropractors.
"Can anyone comment onphysiatrists and/or acupuncturists... in comparison to either or both chiro or osteo?. "
I can only really comment on the first one, since that's the only one I can speak authoratively on.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. They have done 5 (or 6) years of medicine at a university. They then specialise, normally at a hospital, for another 3 years. They treat patients with mental illness e.g. depression, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorders, gender identification. That sort of thing. They can prescribe medication, and they counsel/support/advise as well.
So if we were asked to pick the odd-one-out of the four, then most of us, I think, would select the psychiatrist because they treat the mind only, whilst the others treat mind & body.
"My osteopath friend told me the only difference is about £60 per hour!"
For whom - the osteopath or the chiropractor? Looking at both chiropractor and osteopath websites they charge roughly the same (approx £40). Are there hidden costs? Does one of them charge another £60 for something else other than the consultation? If so, which one?
Thanks Ava, for the info!....but its phySIAtrist .....I was inquiring about. I haven't been to one or acupunturist, or osteo....just chiro...which I am through with as far as I know. I just wanted to know people experiences with each. In any case time and money will will tell which one or whoever I end up with.
Oh dear, I thought it was a misspelling of psychiatrist (which is a tricky one to spell!). I have to admit complete ignorance as to what a physiatrist is. [Ava skuttles away to her corner... and hope that no-one noticed that she completely goofed up]
Those two words (and many other with similar spellings) are what I call visual tongue twisters!.....someone goofed butit wasn't you....think of it that way!.... I appreciate the effort to answer my post all the same.
"Looking at both chiropractor and osteopath websites they charge roughly the same (approx £40). Are there hidden costs? Does one of them charge another £60 for something else other than the consultation"
Ava, the Chiro sessions are usually much shorter, about 15 minutes per treatment; the Osteopathic sessions are usually about 30 minutes. Hence, the extra revenue per hour for the Chiro!
When it comes down to it, the only difference between a Doctor of Chiropractic and a Doctor of Osteopath is DO's are able to prescribe medication and perform surgeries.
They both come from the same roots in a sense. Both believe in the human body as a whole. They break off in philosophy in two different directions in the idea of disease (nerve theory vs artery theory I believe).
It seems to me that there can be more difference between one kind of Chiropractor and another than between a Chiropractor and Osteopath.
Incidently a Physiatrist is an American MedicalSpecialty Better known as PM & R, (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation), that almost does not exist in the UK where it is known as Musculoskeletal Medicine, The British Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine website, ( [link=http://www.bimm.org.uk]www.bimm.org.uk[/link] ), may give you more info.
I am a registered chiropractor, I considered osteopathy, the reason I went to Chiropractic College was that the hours and location suited me better than the osteopath colleges I knew about. I have had both treatments and consider them to be very similar. A different regulatory body and title. If I was in a clinic and treated by ten osteopaths and ten chiropractors I could not tell you which was which. Chiropractors are generally qualified to take and read x rays, most do not have x ray in clinic. It may be that in future the regulatory system encompasses all forms of manual medicine.
I rate osteopathy very highly; my son is a trainee osteopath. So from my point of view, respect and similarity, good and bad in all walks of life.
The most important person is the patient, they are not fools, and busy clinics are busy because they are good. No other reason.
A Chiro is not a qualifieddoctor and he / she manipulates the bones. He may have access to all medical facilities. He / she may have a lower price but he / she is not as qualified.
An Osteopath is a qualified doctor and / or MD and has complete knowledge of bones and nerves problems. He / she has access to all medical facilities. His / her price may be more but he / she is more qualified.
An Acupuncturist uses special needles to num the nerves to different areas inhis / herpatients as to Acupressurist nums the nerves with special pressure applied to diffents areas in her / his patients.
A physiatrist is a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists treat a wide range of problems from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries. They see patients in all age groups and treat problems that touch upon all the major systems in the body. These specialists focus on restoring function to people. To become a physiatrist, individuals must successfully complete four years of graduate medical education and four additional years of postdoctoral residency training. Residency training includes one year spent developing fundamental clinical skills and three additional years of training in the full scope of the specialty.
Chiro vs Osteo
.....I was inquiring about. I haven't been to one or acupunturist, or osteo....just chiro...which I am through with as far as I know. I just wanted to know people experiences with each. In any case time and money will will tell which one or whoever I end up with.
. I appreciate the effort to answer my post all the same.
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