What's the difference between osteopathy, chiropractic and physiotherapy?
We get asked this question a lot. I mean, A LOT. Clare Richardson, from wellbeing.com.au, does a commendable job explaining the history behind each modality.
"So, from a philosophic point of view, most osteopaths will still stick to some of the broader principles of treatment – including looking at the whole person rather than just a symptom and taking into account vascular health, nerve health, musculoskeletal health and mental health in order to assist with a complaint.
Most chiropractors will assess and treat the spine, before they move on to other things.
Most physiotherapists will include some kind of rehab in their treatment plans (exercises)."
Often, we find ourselves doing a bit of everything, and then some. If you've hurt yourself, we'll look at the site of the pain, as well as what other factors could be maintaining that state of inflammation. If your problem is postural, we'll definitely give you exercises and stretches to prevent recurrence. Our technique choice is based on patient preference and what we think will help the most.
And, as Clare Richardson adds, the most important thing is to find a practitioner you can trust and relate to.
