Indeed, chiropractors and osteopaths both commonly share similar roles and responsibilities. However, the main difference between these two is that osteopaths generally provide a whole-body, holistic service, while chiropractors offer more targeted, specific treatments for the joints and the spine.
Osteopaths are well versed in the application of spinal and joint manipulation in comparison to Physiotherapists. Osteopaths will look to treat the body as a whole whilst physiotherapists are generally area specific and target the tissues involved and are much more likely to include exercise as a part of treatment.
If you want to start with restoring spinal functioning via spinal manipulation then then a chiropractor may be the best place for you to start. If you want to concentrate more on the soft tissue approach a physiotherapist would be the best place to start.
Frequent and unnecessary manipulation may do more harm than good, causing you to seek treatment for symptoms caused by the manipulation. Normal spinal joints often make popping sounds when the joint surfaces are forcefully separated by manipulation.
Chiropractic adjustment can be effective in treating low back pain, although much of the research done shows only a modest benefit — similar to the results of more-conventional treatments.
When you are just starting a new treatment plan, it's common to have adjustments multiple times a week. As your body begins to heal, that number could drop to just once a week. And if you are pain-free and simply want to maintain your lifestyle, you might only need to get an adjustment once or twice a month.
The adjustment itself should last anywhere between five and 20 minutes, again, depending on the issue and its severity. If the doctor has prescribed you a massage or some physical therapy, you can expect the appointment to take 45 minutes to an hour. If it's just an adjustment, it should be under 30 minutes.
Improves your posture. Reduces pain and improves range of motion of your spine and other joints. Reduces symptoms of chronic conditions like osteoarthritis. Treats minor neck or spine injuries, especially whiplash.
The clearest difference between Chiropractic and Osteopathic treatments is that a Chiropractor will mainly focus their efforts entirely on the spine, whereas an Osteopath will adopt a more holistic approach and will look for ways to treat their patient which involve the entire body, not just the spine.
A doctor of chiropractic is a professional who is engaged in the diagnosis of conditions throughout the body and focuses on the treatment of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system. A traditional osteopath is a professional trained in the field of osteopathy.
There's some evidence to suggest that osteopathy may be effective for some types of neck, shoulder or lower-limb pain, some types of headache, and recovery after hip or knee operations.
Our fees range from $130 for massage to $180 for Osteopathy. We cost less than other Sydney clinics because we maintain a commitment to be affordable and accessible. Seriously. HICAPS allows you to make your private health claim on the spot to reduce your outlay.
If you're suffering from poor posture, frequent headaches, muscle and joint pains, and limited limb mobility, seeking chiropractic care is in the best interests of your long-term health and wellness.
Sometimes, a toxin release feels great because endorphins are released during a chiropractic adjustment.
Changing your posture, changing your spine's ability to move, changing your muscle health and structure take time. Months in fact. All muscles have memory and your body wants to go back to its old patterns instead of creating new healthy ones. That is why adjustments need to be repeated again and again.
A chiropractor has the ability to realign the spine and alleviate pressure on the disc. Without realigning the spine, the disc will progressively bulge and potentially cause pressure on spinal nerves causing pain and numbness down the leg. This is known as sciatica.
If you don't drink enough water after a chiropractic adjustment, your ligaments can lose elasticity and strength due to dehydration. This can leave you sore or worse. So, it's imperative to drink water after an adjustment and to, of course, always stay hydrated.
In fact, this is one of the reasons that a chiropractic visit is so quick when compared to other therapies. When a chiropractor performs an adjustment, this quickly stretches the local spinal muscles, stimulating the GTOs, and causing relaxation. This relaxation of muscles is instantaneous.
An osteopathic treatment every 2-4 weeks can help you recognise asymmetries in your musculature or movement patterns, free up areas of restriction and identify potential injuries to ensure you don't accumulate musculoskeletal issues over time.
Many osteopaths will be able to successfully treat a recent or acute injury within just one to three sessions. However, older problems or chronic pain is likely to take a little longer to improve and could see a patient completing up to six or more sessions before receiving the full benefits of the treatment.
Most patients will feel at least some improvement after the first osteopathic session. For some patients, the benefits may only be felt after a couple of days. Other patients may have a reaction to treatment, sometimes called a "healing crisis", and feel a bit worse for a day or two after treatment.