What is the difference between Osteopathy, Physiotherapy and Chiropractic?
There are many small differences between the three professions and most of them are as a result of their evolution of practice. Historically, osteopathy was the first to be developed in 1874 and chiropractic branched off to form a separate profession in 1895. Although there remain many similarities in terms of the type of conditions treated, their philosophies now differ as a result of this separation. In general, an osteopath would be concerned with the function of the whole body, as well as its structure, taking into account the health of the spinal and other joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves. A chiropractor would be concerned with the structural alignment of the spine with a view to ensuring good nerve function and may focus on spinal manipulation. A physiotherapist’s treatment may vary depending on whether they work within the NHS or privately, but their approach is mainly directed at exercises to strengthen muscles and help with post-operative rehabilitation.
