| What is the difference between Osteopathy
and Chiropractic?
Both osteopathy and chiropractic practitioners work
on a patient's musculo-skeletal system. They
use their hands to diagnose and treat structural and functional
problems by working with the bones, muscles and connective
tissue.
Osteopathy
and chiropractic share a common origin. Their roots can
be found in traditional "bone
setting," and both were formalised in the USA in the late
19th century. Daniel Palmer, the founder of chiropractic,
is said to have observed the teaching of Andrew Taylor
Still, the founder of osteopathy, before setting up his
own school.
In some countries, such as Australia,
there is a combined regulatory body and students
graduate from University with an Osteopathic and Chiropractic
qualification having studied both forms of diagnosis and
treatment. In the UK there are two separate regulatory
bodies, the General Osteopathic Council and the General Chiropractic
Council.
The term "manipulative therapy" refers to both
osteopathy and chiropractic and sometimes to physiotherapy. Stretching a joint within its full range
of movement is know as mobilisation. Osteopaths use mobilisation
more than chiropractors. To restore normal function
a joint might be moved just beyond its normal range of
movement so that it is "manipulated"
or "adjusted".
Traditionally
osteopaths favour leverage techniques, whereas chiropractors
might use direct rapid thrusts, to produce the characteristic
"click".
Both professions take
a case history and undertake a patient examination. Both
use manual palpation (feeling the spine and joints while
in motion) to diagnose abnormal or restricted movement. Chiropractors generally tend
to rely more on diagnostic procedures, such as x-rays,
MRI scans, and blood and urine tests.
There is generally considerable overlap
of techniques and ideas. In the UK the two professions
probably have more similarities than they have differences.
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