I’m constantly being asked the difference between an Osteopath, Physio and Chiropractor…in short it really does depend on the individual therapist but here are some of the main differences.
Training
Osteopaths spend 4-7 years at university and graduate with a masters degree. The training is very musculoskeletal, with an emphasis on treating the body as a whole.
Physios spend 3 years at uni and graduate with honours degree. Their training covers musculoskeletal conditions as well as respiratory and cardiac conditions. Some of their placements may be based on hospital wards.
Chiropractors typically spend 4 years at university. Their training is also predominantly musculoskeletal based.
Treatment
Osteopaths work very holistically, they’ll look at the body as a whole. Their treatment may involve manipulations or HVT’s (clicks), soft tissue massage, stretching or joint articulation. They will also probably give you exercises to do at home alongside treatment. Some osteopaths may use other modalities such as dry needling or taping alongside the osteopathy.
Physios tend to be very good at rehab. A lot of physios particularly NHS physios may concentrate solely on exercise rehabilitation rather than hands on treatment. This completely depends on the individual therapist as some may well be very hands on! Some physios may choose to specialise in different areas so its important you choose a physio that suits your needs.
Chiropractors concentrate predominantly on HVT’s (clicks) and work on the basis that things are ‘out of alignment or subluxed’. Generally speaking their treatments tend to be a lot shorter in length. Some chiropractors will still use x-rays within their consultations, this isn’t particularly helpful within a clinical scenario unless you’re concerned about a specific condition or injury!
As I said…this varies massively between practitioners depending on their background, training and personal experience.