Should You See A Physio, Osteopath Or Chiropractor?

Is Widely Available On The NHS

“Physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths all specialise in healing issues with the body that impede movement. They are all non-invasive, manual techniques that aim to improve physical health and wellbeing. All three undergo at least three years of training and all are regulated by a governing body. However, while their goals are similar, the way they’re approached is based on different backgrounds of medicine. In the UK, physiotherapy is aligned with western medicine and is the dominant therapy used within the NHS.” – Eleonora Sansoni, musculoskeletal specialist

Focuses On The Muscles

“The main difference is that physiotherapists think muscle first, then the joint; whereas chiropractors and osteopaths tend to think joint first, then muscle. Physiotherapy works to build up muscles, focusing on the underlying causes of your pain. By addressing the root cause of the problem, physiotherapy can help you move better with less pain and reduce your risk of further injury.” – Liz Clare, managing director of MBST Medical UK

Can Aid Recovery After An Injury

“Physio focuses on the prevention, treatment and management of injuries and pain using personalised exercises and manual therapy. Together, these will improve your strength, flexibility and range of motion as well as reduce pain, inflammation and swelling. A good guide for which expert you should see is: if your pain is muscular – like a pulled hamstring or shoulder injury – book in with a physio; if the pain is joint related – for example, your back has gone or you’ve cricked your neck – it’s better suited to an osteopath or chiropractor. A physio can also help with pain related to conditions like endometriosis.” – Liz

Focuses On The Muscles

“The main difference is that physiotherapists think muscle first, then the joint; whereas chiropractors and osteopaths tend to think joint first, then muscle. Physiotherapy works to build up muscles, focusing on the underlying causes of your pain. By addressing the root cause of the problem, physiotherapy can help you move better with less pain and reduce your risk of further injury.” – Liz Clare, managing director of MBST Medical UK

Is An Active Therapy

“At your first physio session, your therapist will ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, and will perform a physical examination to assess your range of motion, strength and any areas of pain or discomfort. Your physio will then develop a personalised treatment plan, which will include a combination of exercises – spanning stretches, resistance training and cardio exercises – as well as manual therapy such as massage, joint mobilisation or manipulation.” – Liz

Can Produce Quick Results

“When compared with osteopathy and chiropractic, there is evidence to suggest physiotherapy may produce quicker results for certain conditions. For example, several studies have shown physio can produce faster improvements in pain and function for common running injuries like ankle sprains and knee injuries. Physio has also been shown to produce quicker improvements in pain and function for patients with knee osteoarthritis compared to other non-surgical interventions.” – Liz

Is A Holistic Option

“Osteopathy is a manual therapy underpinned by a whole-person approach. An osteopath won’t look at a painful body part in isolation – they’ll assess and treat the whole body in order to work out what triggered the pain in the first place. If it’s a sporting injury, this may be straightforward, but if the source of your pain is less obvious and chronic, they’ll delve into the ‘why’ just as much as the ‘what’. For example, if you have hip pain, why has that happened? Are there issues in your knees or lower back that have predisposed the hip to be painful or under strain? An osteopath won’t seek to rehab one part of the body – we want the whole body to work well together. An osteopath believes the body has a self-healing mechanism and, when things aren’t working optimally, the body can benefit from a little help to get back on track.” – Anji Gopal, registered osteopath

Treatment is Hands On

“The majority of an osteo session is hands-on treatment – think manual adjustments and soft tissue massage. Most osteopaths will prescribe exercises for you to do in your own time, but unlike physio, the session is unlikely to be focused on exercise. It’s also important to know that each osteo differs slightly in their approach. For example, in my clinic, I use lots of exercise therapy – like yoga and orthopaedic exercise – as well as education. Over the years, I’ve learned that pain can make us feel scared or fearful of our own body, and sometimes we need a reminder of how strong we are.” – Anji

Is All About The Joints

“On the whole, an osteopath treats fewer muscle and tendon-related injuries than a physio and instead focuses on the joints. The aim of osteopathy is to bring your body back into balance without the use of drugs or surgery. The physical manipulation, stretching and massage used in a treatment will not only relieve muscle tension but also enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, supporting your body’s own healing mechanisms.” – Eleonora

Is Great For Back Pain

“Chiropractic focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those affecting the spine. Chiropractors believe the spine is a key part of the body and that problems with the spine can affect the way the entire body works. Pain relief and alignment of the spine are key focuses of a chiropractic session and they are worth a try if you have back pain, neck pain, joint pain in the arms or legs, or frequent headaches and migraines. It’s also recommended for people with postural issues, such as those related to long periods of sitting or standing, especially during the WFH era we are in.” – Liz

Gently Rebalances The Body

“To improve the function of your joints and reduce pain and discomfort, a chiropractor uses what’s called a high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust which essentially allows you to move joints in the spine beyond their usual range of motion. A practitioner may also use soft tissue therapy, such as massage, stretching and myofascial release, to reduce pain and increase blood flow to affected areas.” – Liz

Is Suitable If You’re Pregnant

“The gentle nature of a chiropractic treatment makes it great for pregnant women struggling with pain in the pubic, pelvic or lower back region. Chiropractic care – especially the Webster technique, which aligns the pelvis with a gentle soft-tissue release of the muscles – can be a very effective way to restore pelvic and spinal mobility, reduce tension around the pelvis and allow for a more comfortable experience as the baby grows.” – Kathryn Deverson, member of the British Chiropractic Association

Can Work Alongside Physio

“It’s possible to use two methods together. In fact, they can often complement each other to provide more comprehensive care. For example, if you have a musculoskeletal condition related to the spine, such as lower back pain, a combination of physio and chiro can be effective. Physio can help with exercises to strengthen the muscles and improve flexibility, while chiro can help with joint manipulation to improve spinal alignment and reduce pain. It all comes down to finding someone you like, remembering the type of therapy offered isn’t as important as the practitioner’s qualifications. Always look for a therapist that’s registered and insured, and avoid anyone that claims to be all things to all people. Any decent therapist will be happy to refer you to another expert if they feel they’re better suited to help your current condition.” – Liz

For more information visit WellthyClinic.com, MBSTMedical.co.uk, FindingHealth.co.uk & Chiropractic-UK.co.uk.

DISCLAIMER: Features published by SheerLuxe are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your GP or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programme.