What is the difference between chiropractic and osteopathy or physiotherapy?

Answer 1

Chiropractic is a complementary and alternative health care profession which focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, their effects on the nervous system, and on general health. Chiropractic's premise is that spinal joint misalignments, which chiropractors call vertebral subluxations, can interfere with the nervous system and result in many different conditions of diminished health. In contrast, the term subluxation, as used in conventional medicine, is usually associated with specific conditions which are a direct consequence of injury to joints or associated nerves.

Manipulation of the spine is the main technique in today's chiropractic adjustment, or treatment. Though its use has been documented from the time of the ancient Egyptians, spinal manipulation in an attempt to correct the theoretical vertebral subluxation is solely a chiropractic endeavor. Chiropractic's contribution to the field of manipulative therapies is the concept of applying a precise adjustment to a specific affected vertebra, as opposed to the generalized maneuvers of the early osteopaths. While some chiropractors adhere strictly to the use of only spinal manipulation in their adjustment, others include a broad range of methods directed at correcting the subluxation and/or just relieving musculoskeletal pain.

Some chiropractors specialize in treating specific musculoskeletal problems or sports injuries, or they may combine chiropractic with manipulation of the extremities, physiotherapy, nutrition, or exercises to increase spinal strength or improve overall health. Some also use other complementary and alternative methods as a part of a holistic treatment approach. However, chiropractors do not prescribe drugs; they believe this to be the province of conventional medicine, and that their role is to pursue drug-free alternative treatments. Depending on the country or state in which the Chiropractic school is located, some train in minor surgery. When indicated, the doctor of chiropractic consults with, co-manages, or refers to other health care providers.

Chiropractic was founded in 1895 by Daniel David Palmer, based on his assertion that all health problems could be prevented or treated using "adjustments" of the spine, and sometimes other joints, to correct what he termed "subluxations." He, and later his son, B.J. Palmer, proposed that subluxations were misaligned vertebrae which caused nerve compression that interfered with the transmission of what he named Innate Intelligence. This interference interrupted the proper flow of Innate Intelligence from "above, down, inside, and out" to the organ to which it traveled. As a result, the human body would experience "dis-ease" or disharmony which would result in loss of health. He compared this process to stepping on a hose that slowed the flow of water to a garden: if you take your foot off the hose, the flow returns to normal and the garden will flourish.

While the "pinched garden hose theory" has mostly been abandoned, it is still used in a modified form by some chiropractors to explain vertebral subluxation. However, the concept of the subluxation, which has marginal evidence, remains integral to typical chiropractic practice, and in 2003 90% of chiropractors believed the vertebral subluxation complex played a significant role in all or most diseases.
There is evidence that spinal manipulation is effective for the treatment of acute low back pain, tension headaches and some musculoskeletal issues, but not all studies support this conclusion. There are no objective controlled trials with definitive conclusions for or against chiropractic claims concerning other health benefits.


Osteopathy is a theory of disease and method of cure founded on the assumption that deformation of some part of the skeleton and consequent interference with the adjacent nerves and blood-vessels are the cause of most diseases. (Oxford English Dictionary). Practitioners of osteopathy, called osteopaths (or osteopathic physicians in the US), have a holistic approach; osteopathic philosophy requires addressing the whole person in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of illness, disease and injury, using manual and physical therapies (Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, or OMM).

With its origins in the late 1800's, osteopathy was initially a variant of the contemporary Western medical approach, and became integrated with mainstream medicine in 1969. Outside the United States, osteopathy is considered a complementary or alternative therapy, and is limited largely to musculoskeletal conditions and treatment of some other conditions using OMM.


Osteopathic medicine (formerly known as osteopathy) is a complete system of medical care with a philosophy that combines the needs of the patient with current practice of medicine, surgery and obstetrics. The emphasis is on the interrelationship between structure and function, and has an appreciation of the body’s ability to heal itself. Outside the United States, "osteopathic medicine" is often used interchangeably with "osteopathy".

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or D.O.s, apply the philosophy of treating the whole person (holistic approach) to the prevention (medical), diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease and injury using conventional medical practice such as drugs and surgery, along with manual therapy (Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine or OMM).

Thus, like Doctors of Medicine (M.D.s), Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s) educated in the United States are fully licensed physicians and surgeons who practice the full scope of medicine. In most other parts of the world, D.O.s are not medically trained practitioners. Currently, there are 23 accredited D.O.-granting U.S. medical schools and 125 accredited M.D.-granting U.S. medical schools.

M.D. and D.O.-granting U.S. medical schools have similar curricula. Generally, the first two years are classroom-based, with certain programs providing patient contact, while third and fourth years consist of rotations through the different major specialties of medicine. Upon graduation, M.D. and D.O. physicians pursue residency training programs. Depending on state licensing laws, osteopathic physicians may also be required to complete a 1 year rotating internship. Osteopathic physicians also have the opportunity to pursue allopathic (M.D.) residency programs; however, the converse is not allowed. Within the U.S., osteopathic physicians practice in all medical specialties including, but not limited to, internal medicine, dermatology, surgery, radiology, etc. There is no distinction in pay between allopathic (M.D.) and osteopathic (D.O.) physicians, but physician salaries differ noticeably among the various medical specialties.

Osteopaths educated in countries outside of the U.S. do not follow the same curriculum as U.S. trained D.O.'s. Their scope of practice is limited mainly to musculoskeletal conditions and treatment of some other conditions using OMM, not unlike chiropractors in the USA.

Physical therapy (or physiotherapy*) is the provision of services to people and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. It includes the provision of services in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by the process of ageing or that of injury or disease. Full and functional movement are at the heart of what it means to be healthy.

Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing movement potential, within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. It involves the interaction between physical therapist, patients or clients, families and care givers, in a process of assessing movement potential and in establishing agreed upon goals and objectives using knowledge and skills unique to physical therapists.

The physical therapists’ distinctive view of the body and its movement needs and potential is central to determining a diagnosis and an intervention strategy and is consistent whatever the setting in which practice is undertaken. These settings will vary in relation to whether physical therapy is concerned with health promotion, prevention, treatment or rehabilitation.

--description of the nature of physical therapy approved by the 14th General Meeting of the World Confederation For Physical Therapy (WCPT), May 1999

Physical therapy intervention may include:

"Manual handling; movement enhancement; physical, electrotherapeutic and mechanical agents; functional training; provision of aids and appliances; patient related instruction and counselling; documentation and coordination, and communication. Intervention may also be aimed at prevention of impairments, functional limitations, disability and injury including the promotion and maintenance of health, quality of life, and fitness in all ages and populations."

Some of the conditions that physical therapists manage include:

back and neck pain
spinal and joint conditions, such as arthritis
problems affecting children, such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida
heart and lung conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia
sport-related injuries
stress incontinence
neurological conditions, such as stroke and multiple sclerosis
(* The terms physical therapy and physiotherapy are synonymous and can be used interchangeably. The term physical therapy appears to be favored in the United States, while physiotherapy - or physio - appears to be favored in Canada, Australia, and many other countries.)

Answer 2

The primary focus of chiropractic care centers around the spine. It is felt that most painful problems ultimately lead back to the spine. Chiropractors usually adjust the spine to correct positional faults. While they do treat other areas of the body, such as correcting foot alignment, their main focus is the spine, but also have a very strong backround in nutritional assessment. They primarily use a hands on approach, but also occasionally use treatment modalities such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, etc. Chiropractic physicians earn a "D.C." or a doctor of chiropratic. Osteopathic physicains also have a basis in manipulative therapy and can also perform adjustments. Yet, they also have a backround in medicine and can prescibe medications and work in hospitals. They treat a variety of medical and orthopedic conditions. An osteopathic physican is denoted by "D.O." or doctor of osteopathy. A physical therapist is one of the allied health professions whose primary focus is on the recovery of function. It may be to help restore movement or reduce pain. This may be done by a variety of techniques such as strengthening, stretching, modalities, joint mobilization, massage, neuromuscular facilitation, etc. PT's treat people with a variety of condtions such as neurological problems (like MS, Parkinson's disease), orthopedic problems (back pain, after shoulder surgery, etc.), wound care, lymphedema management, etc. A physical therapist cannot prescribe medication, yet this is not their focus. In some states, one cannot see a physical therapist without first having an order from a physician, but most states have some degree of direct access. At this time, all new graduates of physical therapy have a masters or DPT (doctorate of physical therapy).

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Answer 3

chiropractic works on the alignment of the bones and the muscles which support them, osteopathy is a more holistic approach, and physiotherapy is treatment to help recovery with a specific ailment.
I have had all 3 to treat a serious back injury and i found chiropractic to be the most effective.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Chiropractic is working on back problems.
Osteopathy is working with the bones of the body.
Physiotherapy is physical therapy.

To practice osteopathy one needs a doctors degree.
The others do not require that,they are certified at most.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Physiotherapy - In this, your treatment time will vary from 15 to 30 minutes.The physiotherapist assesses your shoulder using standard orthopedic tests and reaches the conclusion that there is some impingement of one of the rotator cuff muscles, which is a very common shoulder injury.

Chiropractic - In this, your treatment time will vary from 5 to 30 minutes for your first appointment, and last for about 5 minutes in subsequent sessions.Like the physiotherapist, the chiropractor might assess your shoulder using some standard orthopedic tests. The tests might also include an assessment of your spine, often using xrays.


Osteopathy - In this, your first treatment lasts one hour. Subsequent treatments last 45 minutes. Checked your shoulder to find out which areas are damaged. Then assess your spine to see if the nerves to your shoulder are compromised. In this way this is similar to a chiropractor.

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Answer 8

Oesteopathy - Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteopathy
Physiotherapy - Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physiotherapy
Chiropractic - Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiropractic

Answer 9

3

Answer 10

2

Answer 11

1