What is the difference between Physiotherapy, Osteopathy and Chiropractic? There is some similarity between a manipulative Physiotherapist and an Osteopath. Physiotherapists may focus more on a broad approach to resolving problems that include a substantial proportion of therapeutic muscle work combined with different forms of manipulation. Osteopaths may focus on joint based therapy and passive muscle techniques, but there is overlap in the techniques used by both professional groups. Physiotherapists tend to treat a wider range of musculoskeletal problems. Physiotherapists seek problem solutions with a short course of treatment and educate patients emphasising the importance of self-help and self-management principles.
Chiropractors tend to use more manipulative approaches and may focus on the possibility of spinal contributions to both local spinal and more remote problems. They often utilise methods that require regular appointments at intervals of a few days or weeks, managing patient symptoms this way, which reinforces the benefit of treatment.
