Osteopathy or Chiropractic: What's the Difference?

I am often asked by my patients in Chester, “Osteopath or Chiropractor… What is the difference?” I often say “Not a lot! There is often more difference between individual chiropractors or osteopaths than there is between the professions as a whole.” If you trawl the internet you will find some people saying they prefer one and other people the other.

Here are some differences, but I stress that these are my own opinions and they do not necessarily concur with other people’s.

Qualifications

Chiropractors and Osteopaths are both qualified to BSc degree level. Both degrees take 4 years to complete

Basic Training

The osteopathic and chiropractic training is similar in many respects. Both chiropractors and osteopaths are trained to diagnose medical conditions which is important because it is vital to rule out underlying pathology before treatment.

Osteopaths are more focussed on improving the function of muscles and their relation to joints.

Chiropractors more focussed on producing optimum movement of the body.

Medical

After taking a full medical history and performing spinal, orthopaedic and neurological examinations, we rule out any serious pathology and make a medical diagnosis (eg slipped disc)

Functional

This means exploring how muscles and joints move together. How is the body working? Are muscles over-tight or too weak? Are the spinal joints moving correctly without restriction?

Holistic

Finally we make an holistic assessment. This means looking at other factors that may influence the problem such as posture, stress, work, diet and the feet

Postgraduate training

Both chiropractors and osteopaths are required to do on going training by their regulatory bodies.

Regulation

Chiropractors Osteopaths have their own regulatory bodies; the GCC  and the GOC, both of which are recognised by Royal Charter.

The Back Doctor

Mr Massey graduated in 2004 with first class honours in chiropractic. Since that time he has treated international athletes, professional dancers and over 2,000 patients at his Chester and St Asaph clinics. "There is an epidemic of back pain in he UK and yet most people do not need to suffer at all. I am passionate about giving people the right treatment, the right education and the right exercises, so they can live active pain-free lives".
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History

Both professions originated in the USA at the turn of the 19th century.  in America the osteopaths became allied with the medical profession and all osteopaths are now medical doctors. When this happened a lot of osteopaths did not want to be medical doctors and there was a mass exodus from America. A lot moved to the UK and colleges were set up here. That is why osteopaths are so well established throughout the UK. Chiropractors remained outside the medical world and so their development around the world was more slow and organic.

Due to these historical differences osteopathic training tends to vary throughout the world whereas chiropractic training is fairly uniform. If you go to a chiropractor in New Zealand, South Africa, USA , UK or Singapore you will get much the same treatment.

That said, with the onset of evidence based medicine (as both professions use the same evidence base) the two professions are becoming more and more similar; If chiropractors discover a new effective technique then osteopaths will start using it and vice versa. In fact there is now a university in Australia where you can come out fully qualified as an osteopath and as a chiropractor. I think the professions are going to continue to move closer together in the future.

Chester Osteopath or Chiropractor?

People get good results from both chiropractic treatment and from osteopathy. Two important considerations are:

  1. How experienced is your therapist?
  2. Do you trust them? Do you get on with them? Do they speak your language?

Phone up and have a chat with them. Do they communicate professionally?

The final call is yours. Either way you will be seeing a highly trained professional and of course… if you try one and they don’t work for you… you can always try the other!

Testimonials

Mr Massey's input has been kind, professional, caring and most importantly based on sound scientific judgements. It has not only been a healing experience with him but also a learning one. Very often we forget that each part of the body is connected to the other parts and the holistic approach is the best way for long term well-being and happiness.
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S Sethi, Consultant Paediatrician MBBS, MD, MRCP, FRCPCH, MPH

Even after the first appointment I couldn’t believe the difference, it felt like a huge weight had literally been lifted off my head, and for the first time in over 10 years I didn’t have a headache. Steve has taught me how to relax both my body and mind and, for a long period of time, I have not had a headache. I can honestly say it has really changed my life.
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W Smith

Steve helped get me back on my feet and back to work in just a few weeks. That would have been good enough but then an extended treatment over the next few months had me back in the gym and rebuilding my back muscles. The work with Steve now means that I can actually feel the health of my spine and correct issues before it becomes a painful problem.
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D. Heaton-Rue

I have a condition called symphysis pubis diastasis (SPD) which is extremely painful and can be completely debilitating. I have seen my midwife, consultant obstetrician and physiotherapist but none of them has been able to help me. They have offered me strong pain-killers, a very long stay in hospital and early induction of my labour. 1 treatment a week with Stephen Massey changed my life.
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L Smith

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