Physiotherapists, chiropractors, and osteopaths all have a very different approach to patient care, so understanding which one would be right for you can be difficult. A good physiotherapist, osteopath, or chiropractor may all treat injuries. Perhaps there are more crossovers than variations in how therapists approach treatment. A different therapist can approach it from a slightly different viewpoint, but we all share the same objective; to minimize discomfort and repair injury by using a drug-free and non-invasive approach to improve physical health and well-being.
Although we all have a different intervention toolbox, each specialty seeks to diagnose and treat muscle, joint, bone, and nerve-related problems. We all have various hands-on strategies to – among other things – strengthen joints, decrease muscle tension, increase the flow of nerves, and ensure that the body works as it was supposed to work. In this article, we will have a closer look at each Physiotherapy vs. Chiropractic vs. Osteopathy role.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists specialize in movement disorder diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Physiotherapy aims at rehabilitating and improving a person’s ability to move and work. They investigate the relationship between your muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems to see what could lead to your problem. Then they look at what elements of your sports, job, or leisure life may also contribute.
A typical physiotherapy clinic based in Singapore offers hands-on joint mobilization techniques or massage to release tight muscle or connective tissue. They may have an individualized workout routine to preserve the gains/enhancements made during the therapy.
Chiropractic
Chiropractors can usually treat pain and impaired body alignment conditions using joint manipulation (adjustments), either of the spine or the limbs. Manipulation is a simple manual technique that takes the joints treated to the end of their available motion range. Chiropractors can also use techniques for stretching, restoring, and rehabilitating soft tissues.
But the biggest distinction between the two is that a chiropractor typically uses spine and limb manipulation, whereas a physiotherapist uses mobilization and recovery methods more generally.
Osteopathy
Osteopaths use methods to influence joints, muscles, nerves, circulation, connective tissue, and internal organ. Hence, osteopaths tend to take an all-encompassing “big picture” approach to diagnosis and control. Osteopaths focus on the whole body’s health, not just the part that has been damaged or affected. They look at how the body’s entire structure acts as a skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulatory system, connective tissue, and internal organs. They can use manual procedures, joint mobilization, manipulation, and exercises, and soft tissue release. There are also crânio-sacral techniques used in osteopathy.
