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Without Limits Health

Osteopaths in South Melbourne & Southbank treating all your musculoskeletal needs. Helping you move free, pain free.

Osteopath Vs Chiropractor - What's the Difference?

Osteo-chiro-whats-the-difference
Osteopath Vs Chiropractor - what is the difference?
It is one of the most common questions we get asked in practice. To answer this question, I want to highlight first the similarities before discussing the differences.

Both professions:
Are forms of manual therapy
Have a large percentage majority of practitioners working in private practice
Require 5 years of university study

Where the professions differ is:
Largely in the guiding principles to treatment
Treatment techniques used
Length of appointments

Guiding principles

Chiropractic
The main principle of Chiropractic as I understand is:
The body can heal itself when the skeletal system is correctly aligned and the nervous system is functioning properly, treatment is based on restoring homeostasis (physical equilibrium) to the body.

Osteopathy
Osteopathy also acknowledges that the body has self-healing properties and, similar to Chiropractors, the Osteopath's goal is to help restore homeostasis to the body. However, in Osteopathic philosophy, we acknowledge that each system in the body interacts with each other to cause dis-ease or disharmony including not only the musculoskeletal and neural systems but also the arterial/venous, gastrointestinal, immune systems within the body.
To review all of Osteopathic guiding principles please read the previous blog click here

Treatment techniques used:

Chiropractic 
Treatment is primarily focused on aligning the spine and, therefore, aiding improvement to the nervous system. This is why chiropractors are best known for spinal manipulation techniques, which is the main focus of treatment.
It is also important to note that some Chiropractors use a more gentle approach to treating the nervous system called network Chiropractic. This method uses light and gentle touch in specific areas of the body to release tension in the spinal cord and nervous system, and restore homeostasis.

Osteopathy
Treatment strategies are largely varied in Osteopathy, employing a variety of different techniques including soft tissue, myofascial release, muscle energy techniques. Osteopaths typically to not utilise spinal manipulation. To know more about what techniques we use click here :

Length of appointments:
Initial appointments for a Chiropractor are usually 40 minutes
Subsequent follow-up appointments for Chiropractors range from 10-20 minutes
Initial appointments for an Osteopath range from 45-60 minutes
Subsequent follow-up appointments for Osteopaths are usually 30-40 minutes.

I hope this article helps you to understand both the similarities and differences between the professions, both have something to offer, if you feel Osteopathy is something you find beneficial, book an appointment here. 
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What Happens at Your First Osteopath Appointment
 

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