30/10/2023
This is something that patients ask us all the time! Mainly because people want to know if they’re going to be seeing the right person for their particular complaint.
The truth is, we’re actually very similar professions.
👉🏻 We both have degrees that qualify us to do our jobs and we’re regulated professions.
👉🏻 We both have extensive knowledge of the way the body works - not just your muscles and bones but have a sound basic medical education too.
👉🏻 We both treat virtually all mechanical problems that arise in your body. Sprained ankle or locked up neck? We can both help. Whiplash or arthritic knee? We can both help.
We just do it in different ways...
👉🏻 Osteopaths are extremely hands-on professionals. We spend a large proportion of our appointments massaging tight muscles and loosening stiff joints and generally moving you around quite a lot. Physiotherapists often place a healthy emphasis on exercise-based rehabilitation. So a lot of their appointment time may be spent getting you to mobilise your joints and stretch your muscles yourselves with movements you can then do at home too. That said, each practitioner is totally individual in their approach.
I always say to patients that it really comes down to preference when choosing who they want to see. Research who is in your local area, their background and qualifications and see who seems like the right fit for you. The chances are that we can all help in our own way, but just like all kinds of human interaction some things just work better for some people! Your instinct about what you feel most comfortable with is the highest priority.