Manual osteopathy, chiropractic, and physiotherapy share a common goal of treating musculoskeletal conditions and promoting overall physical health. However, these therapies employ distinct techniques and methods.
Manual osteopathy involves gentle manual techniques that target imbalances and restrictions in the musculoskeletal, nervous, and circulatory systems. With a whole-body approach, manual osteopaths assess and treat the underlying causes of pain and dysfunction to restore the body’s innate ability to heal. Joint mobilization, soft tissue techniques, and exercise prescription are common treatments.
Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Chiropractors utilize manual techniques to manipulate the spine and other joints to improve mobility, reduce pain, and restore function. They may also use therapeutic exercise, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound.
Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession that focuses on assessing, diagnosing, and treating physical impairments, disabilities, and pain.
Physiotherapists use manual techniques, exercise prescriptions, and other modalities such as heat, ice, and electrical stimulation to treat various conditions affecting the musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiorespiratory systems. Physiotherapy aims to restore function, reduce pain, and improve overall physical health.
While all three therapies use manual techniques, they differ in their approach, methods used, and areas of focus. As a result, finding a practitioner with the appropriate training and credentials in the type of therapy you require is essential.
| Manual Osteopathy | Chiropractic | Physiotherapy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Whole-body approach addressing musculoskeletal, nervous, and circulatory systems | Diagnosis and treatment of disorders of musculoskeletal and nervous systems | Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of physical impairments, disabilities, and pain |
| Techniques | Joint mobilization, soft tissue techniques, exercise prescription | Spinal manipulation, joint mobilization, exercise prescription, therapeutic modalities | Manual techniques, exercise prescription, therapeutic modalities |
| Philosophy | Emphasizes the body’s natural ability to heal itself | Emphasizes the relationship between the spine and nervous system | Emphasizes the use of evidence-based techniques and exercise prescription |
| Training/Credentials | Manual osteopaths | Chiropractors | Physiotherapists |
