Managing pain and recovering from injuries can be difficult for many athletes and individuals who are regularly active as they look to remain at the peak of their performance as frequently as possible.
However, with physical therapy, you can now enhance your overall well-being and recover from injuries with expert guidance. This allows many athletes to compete in their sport at the top of their game more often.
When considering osteopathy vs physiotherapy, both methods gained much recognition for their many benefits in recovery. Both methods aim to improve your body’s overall function and reduce pain and discomfort.
In this blog, we will identify the key differences between both forms of therapy to help you decide on what may be best for your needs.
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a manual therapy of the musculoskeletal system including the bones, muscles, and joints. Founded in the late 19th century by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, osteopathy is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on their bones, muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue functioning smoothly together.
Practitioners will use a hands-on approach to diagnose, treat, and prevent health issues by moving and stretching a person’s muscles and joints that may have been strained from physical activity.
The Principles of Osteopathy
Osteopathy treatment is founded and operated on four key principles that make the treatment unique and different from physiotherapy. Here are its key principles below:
- The body is a unit and integrated whole
- The body possesses self-healing mechanisms
- Structure and function of the body and interrelated
- Rational treatment is based on these principles
The Techniques Involved in Osteopathy
Osteopathic practitioners utilise a hands-on approach that allows them to address the key issues that may be causing discomfort deep into the tissue or muscle. The key techniques used are:
- Soft Tissue Treatment – This involves stretching, massaging, and applying pressure to the soft tissues.
- Articulation – Gentle and rhythmic movement of joints.
- High-Velocity Thrusts – This includes quick and precise thrusts to increase blood flow and restore motion.
- Cranial Osteopathy – Gentle head and spinal manipulation techniques to improve mobility.
Understanding Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy, often referred to as physical therapy, focuses on restoring movement and function when you are suffering from an injury, illness, or disability.
Physiotherapists tend to work closely with you to help identify the underlying causes and maximise your movement potential with the use of physical methods and correct treatment protocols.
Physiotherapists are highly trained individuals and are qualified to assess, diagnose, and treat physical issues that have been caused by injury or old age.
How are the Principles of Physiotherapy Different from Osteopathy?
Physiotherapy treatment is an evidence-based method, utilising the best available research and clinical expertise to provide the best treatment possible. The core principles of physiotherapy include:
- Promoting mobility and optimal body function.
- Preventing disability through maintenance and promotion of physical activity.
- Rehabilitating injury or disease through therapeutic exercise and physical intervention.
The Techniques Used in Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists will use a variety of techniques within your session based on the key principles involved in the therapy. Here are the key techniques that will be used:
- Exercise Therapy – Tailored exercise plans to help improve strength, relieve pain, and improve flexibility, and coordination.
- Manual Therapy – Techniques including spinal and joint manipulation and mobilisation.
- Electrotherapy – The use of electrical energy to stimulate nerves and muscles.
- Hydrotherapy – Water-based treatments to help with pain relief and improve joint movement.
- Education and Advice – Beneficial guidance on how to improve posture and lifestyle and to prevent injury.
The Key Differences Between Osteopathy and Physiotherapy
The main difference between osteopathy and physiotherapy is down to their key philosophies and principles. Osteopathy takes an overall approach to therapy and emphasises the connection between the body’s structure and function.
Osteopathists believe that based on its principles, the body can heal itself and aim to improve this process through manual therapy.
On the other hand, physiotherapy focuses more on the scientific aspects of healing and movement. The purpose of the therapy is to identify specific impairments in the body’s musculoskeletal system. Therefore, applying targeted pressure to specific joints and muscles helps restore function and reduce musculoskeletal pain.
Treatment Focus
Osteopathy practitioners often focus the treatment on the body as a whole and interacting with the body’s different systems.
When utilising the treatment, you will discover that your practitioner will look beyond the immediate symptoms and will consider factors such as diet and overall well-being. This approach is highly beneficial for treating chronic conditions where there may be more than one factor causing the problem.
Physiotherapists typically focus on specific areas of the body that are injured. Their treatment sessions are often goal-oriented, focusing on rehabilitation and enhanced function in the area that has been affected.
Conditions Treated
Both osteopaths and physiotherapists treat a wide range of musculoskeletal pain and conditions however, there are key differences in their common areas:
- Osteopathy – Often used for chronic conditions like arthritis, digestive issues, and migraines, due to its overall approach.
- Physiotherapy – Commonly employed for acute injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, and sports injuries, emphasising recovery and prevention of future issues.
Osteopathy and Physiotherapy at Concordia Clinic
Both osteopathy and physiotherapy offer beneficial approaches to managing pain and improving physical function.
Discovering which treatment is best for your needs will depend on your general health, treatment preferences, and medical history. Consulting with your healthcare professional will help you make the best decision for your health.
Here at Concordia Clinic, we have a great understanding and passion for health and well-being. We look to provide you with reliable and effective treatment programmes that help speed up your recovery and get you back to the top of your game.
If you have any queries about our treatment methods, get in touch with a member of our team who will guide you through the processes.
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