Osteopath vs chiropractor: what is the difference?
A common goal
Pain? Who should you choose, a chiropractor or an osteopath? There is no doubt, both have a place. Also, they share the same goal. What is it? It is simple: to get you out of pain! But what is the difference between them? In this blog, I want to share with you what they do and what the differences are, and then you can decide who best suits your needs. Let ‘s take a look.
Chiropractor or Osteopath?
What does a chiropractor do?
First, let’s talk about what chiropractic is. In a few words, it is a complementary and unconventional medical treatment in which your chiropractor uses her/his hands to manipulate mainly your spine in order relieve pain.
A chiropractor believes that the function of the spine is pivotal to your health. In addition, if the spine is properly aligned, the body can start to heal itself. And clearly, because the spine houses the central nervous system, it makes sense that it should play a prominent role in your general well being.
In fact, the central nervous system is the channel through which signals are sent throughout the body. In essence, by keeping this channel clear the body can work optimally. And in turn, can restore itself to good health.
In addition, proper spinal alignment is essential for good posture. So a fully functional spine helps in two regards. It helps bolster both your neurological and your musculoskeletal system.
And the practice has a long history. It dates back to the late 19th Century. It’s continued use gives it a certain amount of credence. It is a licensed profession. However, Chiropractors are not medically trained.
What does an osteopath do?
An osteopath takes a more global view of the body. They believe that all body systems are interrelated and you can try this out for best results. Moreover, they assert that these different body systems are dependent on each other for good health. In essence, they take a more holistic approach to your wellbeing.
The stem of the word ‘osteo’ means ‘relating to the bones’. At the heart of the treatment is a belief that by manipulating the structure of the body (the bones), your osteopath can help to restore your body’s proper function.
Osteopathy also has a long history. It too dates back to the late 19th Century. For many years, the practice was considered to be very much out of the mainstream. However, recently it has achieved greater recognition. In fact, it gained formal recognition from parliament in 1993 through the Osteopaths Act.
The practice is now highly regulated too. Individual practitioners are well trained and are governed by the General Osteopathic Council within the UK.
In conclusion
- Both practices are considered to be manual therapies.
- They have an excellent reputation for helping to deal with issues of chronic pain.
- People use them to treat issues such as back, neck or other joint pains.
- Both remark the importance of the spine.
On the other hand, Osteopathy is broader in scope. That’s because it takes into account the body as an integrated unit. As such, it is able to tackle a wider range of conditions.
Both forms of treatment have value. And to a certain extent, it depends on individual tastes as to which you would prefer.
However, at Perea Clinic we lean towards a more integrated approach toward therapy. We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us 3 mins away from Angel station in Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!
References:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteopathy/what-happens/
