If you have sustained an injury or suffered some pain at any point in your life, there’s a good chance your friends and family have recommended a physiotherapist, or perhaps a chiropractor or an osteopath, their well-meaning suggestions can create some confusion around choosing the professional that will suit you best.

Each of these professions aims to ease pain and help your body function well, using their own philosophies and techniques.

Comparing Physiotherapy, Chiropractic and Osteopathy

There are some similarities and some differences between these professionals and their treatments, so it helps to break down some of the main points.

Similarities

  • Australian Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and Chiropractors each need extensive training and need to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
  • These are primary contact practitioners which means you don’t need a referral to seek treatment from them.
  • Each of these occupations focus on treating your body to help eliminate pain and improve overall wellbeing.
  • Medicine and surgery for treatment is only considered if required.

Differences

  • The methods of treatment vary between these professions.
  • Target areas in the body differ.
  • They each have varying underlying principles of how the body should function.
  • The way they incorporate medical and scientific evidence differs.

How Each Profession Helps

Physiotherapy

The main goal of physiotherapy is to improve the mobility of the body using a vast range of treatments to the musculoskeletal system. Physios keep up to date on the latest evidence-based research to amend their practices as needed.

Physio treatment focuses on reducing damage, pain and stiffness while also assisting the overall function of the musculoskeletal system. This includes rehabilitation of injuries as well as movement disorders.

Common problems treated by physiotherapists are sports injuries, muscle pain, posture and rehab following surgery.

Some physiotherapists specialise in particular issues such as:

  • Diseases like multiple sclerosis, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.
  • Spinal cord injuries.
  • Neurological, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems to help improve mobility.
  • Stroke patients where their motor skills have been affected.
  • Asthma or heart disease.
  • Men who have or are recovering from prostate cancer.
  • Pregnancy, postpartum care or loss of bladder control.

Physios use several different methods as required such as massage, dry needling, stretching and therapeutic exercise. Their tools include needles, tape and ice but mostly they use their hands to ensure precise treatment to the areas that need it. As part of treatment a physio will recommend different exercises that patients can perform on their own at home, to ensure effective results and a recovery that is as speedy as possible.

Sports Physiotherapy is a specific branch of physio that focuses mainly on treating sports injuries. A higher stress level is placed on athletes’ bodies and therefore treatment needs special care compared to other physical injuries. The team of experienced physios at Melbourne Sports Physiotherapy St Kilda, Blackburn or Essendon, provide treatment for all musculoskeletal injuries.

Osteopath

Osteopaths view the body holistically and that is how they believe health issues should be treated. They focus on the entire body rather than only the injured part. Osteopathy is somewhat similar to chiropractic but with more focus on the soft tissues. They consider how the skeleton, joints, nerves, muscles, connective tissue and circulatory system function as a whole and what is causing a patient’s pain.

Osteopaths commonly treat back pain, headaches, sporting injuries and digestive problems. They work on the basis that posture, lifestyle or injury compromise structures that in turn leads to poor health. Osteopaths use stretching, massage and pressure points, not unlike a physiotherapist.

Chiropractor

Chiropractors believe that the body should be able to give the correct response stimuli for its environment. Treatment focuses on targeting and preventing problems throughout the musculoskeletal system, often by using manual adjustment of the spine and bodily extremities.

Back and neck pain is commonly treated by chiropractors along with headaches and arthritis. Treatment is based on traditional medicine and doesn’t have a lot of medical evidence to back up its effectiveness. A method called the Gentle Activator is a form of treatment that is used without the cracking of joints, and it is a popular treatment choice for many.

How to Choose a Professional

Who you choose to treat your complaint or injury really depends on your expectations and what type of treatment you prefer. Each of these three professionals offer a mix of hands-on treatment along with exercise rehabilitation.

Regardless of the therapist you decide on, your practitioner will take a detailed medical history and discuss your current lifestyle. Take along any reports or test results that are relevant to your issue to provide a more comprehensive overview. Wear loose, comfortable clothing to your consultation so the practitioner can easily conduct an examination of the affected area.

Melbourne Sports Physiotherapy has a qualified team on hand to get you moving pain free as soon as possible. Give them a call or book online to move well and live a healthier, more active life.