If you’ve injured yourself, experiencing aches and pains on a daily basis, having trouble with performing a particular task or movement, feel stiff and have reduced mobility somewhere in your body, each of these health practitioners may be able to help you. Each of these health professions have unique and very successful backgrounds.
Over the years the lines between the professions and how they treat an injury have become blurred. This is because some Osteopaths will treat similarly to Chiropractors, and Chiropractors like Physiotherapists and vice versa. However, by definition physio’s, chiro’s and osteo’s all take a slightly different approach to treatment, so it can be difficult to know which one might be right for you.
Chiropractic and osteopathy are still considered complementary or alternative medicine, and some critics will point out that there is a lack of scientific evidence to support the long term benefits of these treatments. However, they can still be beneficial for you, so that’s not to say that the treatment they provide is of less worth.
Despite whether you’ve decided to visit a physio, chiro or osteo, each practitioner will ask you for a detailed medical history on your first appointment. Here’s an idea of what else you can expect from each.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapy is focused on movement and function, this could be following injury or surgery, when dealing with a physical disability or simply to improve your performance. A physio will utilise education/advice, massage, exercise, stretching and hands-on techniques to treat your pain or dysfunction will the aim of improving your mobility and function as whole.
Physio’s may use a firmer massage technique and you may feel a little discomfort during a session, especially if your muscles are tight or your joints are stiff. This pain might extend to the next day or two, but should disappear after that and you should be moving and feeling more comfortable.
You’ll be provided with ‘homework’ in the form of a home exercise program and you’ll find results are much improved if you actually do them!
Find more information on the role of a physio in your health and well-being, visit our blog on ‘What does a physiotherapist do?’
Chiropractors
Chiropractic treatment is focused on treating and preventing musculoskeletal problems throughout the body, using manual adjustment of the spine. They can help treat or manage issues like back and neck pain and headaches. These ‘misalignments’ are believed to cause other disorders by affecting nerves, muscles and organs. The most common form of treatment is a ‘spinal adjustment’ or manipulation.
During an adjustment your chiro will mostly use their hands, but some use a metal object called an activator for tighter spots. While you might feel slightly uncomfortable at times, you shouldn’t feel pain. After your adjustment most chiropractors recommend a 3-5 minute walk to let the work settle into your body. You might feel sore the following day.
Osteopaths
Osteopaths focus on the health of the entire body, rather than the injured or affected part. They look at how your skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulatory system, connective tissue and internal organs function as a whole body unit. Osteopathy treatment revolves around a core belief that if one part of the body is restricted, then the rest of the body must adapt and compensate. You might see an osteo for issues including back pain, headaches, sporting injuries or digestive issues.
As with chiro’s and physios, osteo’s use their hands to try and balance the systems within the body, although their touch and massage techniques. They may also provide you with some ‘homework’ in the form of stretching. There is also a growing body of evidence to support their treatment of lower back-pain.
During your first visit with each of these health professionals you will be asked to perform some simple movements and stretches to help ascertain the strength of your body, your posture and mobility. They’ll also assess the health of your joints, tissues and ligaments using gentle hands-on techniques.
If you’re unsure where to start or who is best for you, your GP might be able to point you in the right direction. Here at Back in Motion Aspendale Gardens we offer free initial assessments and can provide you with a meaningful and accurate diagnosis of your injury or issue. Book online to see a Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist here.