Every day we get asked what is the difference between these professions. All of these professions are becoming more and more similar, however they do have distinct differences in belief systems.

First of all Osteopathy
Osteopathic medicine is a system of health-care based on the idea that disease is the result of the relationship between anatomical structure of the body and the way the body functions.  Therefore a normal functioning musculoskeletal system plays an important role in wellness, disease prevention and recovery.  In a nutshell, your osteopath will use a broad range of hands-on treatment including manipulation and massage techniques as well as exercises to try to improve the function of your musculoskeletal system, hence helping your condition. We believe in looking at the entire body and other environmental factors in order to help you.

Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a clinical health science and profession that aims to rehabilitate and improve people with movement disorders by using natural methods such as exercise, motivation, adapted equipment and education. Physiotherapy started out in the hospital setting, helping patients after surgery or major trauma.  It then eventually branched out into private clinics mainly focusing on sports injuries, using machines such as ultrasound and indifferential as well as exercises to treat people. Typically a physiotherapist consultation is less hands-on and more exercise-based than osteopathy or chiropractic.

Chiropractic
Chiropractic philosophy is based on the belief that the function of the body is controlled by the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body. The moving bones of the spine protect the communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots. Chiropractors believe that if the nervous system is impaired, it can cause malfunction of the tissue and organs throughout the body.

The most common therapeutic procedure performed by chiropractors is known as ‘spinal manipulation’. The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint mobility by applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile – or restricted in their movement – as a result of a tissue injury.