Chiropractor vs. Osteopath vs. Physiotherapist: Who To See For Your Pain?

If you’re experiencing pain in your body, especially musculoskeletal pain, you may be thinking it’s time to work with a chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapist.

Whilst a stiff neck, tight shoulder or back, or painful knee or hip might have you reaching for your phone to book an appointment, how do you know which pain management specialist is right for you?

Let’s explore each of these below to help you make your choice.

What Does A Chiropractor Do?

• A chiropractor focuses mainly on treating issues related to joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves and most importantly, the spine.
• Their primary form of therapy is to provide corrective manual adjustments to misaligned vertebrae (called a subluxation), which would otherwise negatively influence nerve transmission and consequently the health of the affected tissue.
• In doing this, chiropractors work toward optimal alignment of the spine, relieving pain and dysfunction in the process.
• Due to working with the spine and nervous system, which instruct all organs and systems, they may also work more broadly than bones, joints and soft tissue; examining the body holistically and working towards its optimum function.
• This modality often employs diagnostic devices such as x-rays and scans to gain insight into the health of the spine at baseline and to track treatment progress.
• Some chiropractic practitioners will use handheld devices to help with manual adjustments.
• Appointments with a chiropractor tend to be shorter and therefore more frequent.

How Can An Osteopath Help?

• Osteopathy is also a holistic manual therapy, which normally diagnoses, treats and prevents musculoskeletal disorders relating to your bones, muscles, fascia (connective tissues), tendons and ligaments.
• However, in this process, they’re interested in the interconnected nature of your body, looking at how other related joints or organs (e.g. shoulder or hip) may be impacting your presenting pain (e.g. knee).
• Osteopaths also use spinal and joint manipulation, which is generally more subtle than a chiropractic adjustment, as well as stretching and soft tissue manipulation, as their mainstay treatments.
• Additionally, they have extensive training in palpation (feeling with the fingers or hands), able to glean information from physically examining and assessing the problem area/s of your body (rather than requiring medical imaging or observing with sight alone).
• Overall, whilst osteopathy assesses and addresses the structural and mechanical issues within your body, it aims to restore the whole body back to state of balance.

What About A Physiotherapist?

• A physiotherapist’s primary aim is to treat issues affecting your movement, with the aim to correct or improve a person’s capacity to move and function again.
• To do this, they largely focus on your main problem area (e.g. neck, back or knee), and create a treatment specific to that area, rather than viewing the whole body.
• Within a session, they use hands on therapies such as joint manipulation and massage to address your complaint, but also undertake observations to diagnose and monitor you. They can employ additional therapies such as electrotherapy and hydrotherapy to assist with your specific pain point or lack of movement.
• A mainstay facet of physiotherapy is the prescription of exercise regimes to manage and treat your injury when you leave the appointment.
• This modality also works in rehabilitation settings to assist optimum movement in people who may be recovering from surgery, or who have a chronic condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological conditions (e.g. stroke, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis) or respiratory issues.

Which Pain Management Specialist Will You Choose?

It’s important to remember that while the information above works to differentiate each of these pain management partners, there are many similarities across each, and each Practitioner offers their own unique skillset. Generally speaking, a chiropractor will look at your presentation from the perspective of your spine and what adjustments it may require, an osteopath will also use manipulation and soft tissue interventions to holistically address your pain, and physiotherapists will focus their treatment avenues more specifically on the area of concern, normally prescribing exercises as a part of your treatment.

If your pain is part of a larger health picture (i.e. relating to a chronic health condition), you may find it beneficial to also speak with a Naturopath. Working alongside your manual therapist, a Naturopath will be able to support the underlying drivers of your situation. In combination, this a truly holistic approach to having you pain free and feeling more vital, sooner! Click here to find a suitable Healthcare Practitioner in your area.

What About Pain Supplements?

All these health practitioners will be able to discuss specific natural and nutritional medicines which may assist in reducing pain and inflammation. Metagenics offer a range of high quality, effective pain supplements, including:

• PainX Headache & Migraine: is formulated to relieve mild nerve pain and reduce inflammation. Combining high strength, enhanced absorption PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) with saffron, it helps to break the cycle of pain.
• Inflavonoid Intensive Care: An analgesic and anti-inflammatory formulation, containing herbs including BCM-95™ turmeric and Boswellia, traditionally used in Western herbal medicine for the relief of mild joint pain and inflammation.
• PainX: Scientifically designed to relieve pain and support neuromuscular function, it contains high strength PEA in combination with enhanced absorption magnesium (MetaMag™). Providing analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, PainX helps to reduce mild nerve pain and supports muscle relaxation, relieves mild spasms and reduces muscle cramps.

Consult your trusted Healthcare Practitioner to see if these pain supplements may be suitable for you, and work with them to create a personalised pain management plan that can help you on your journey to embracing pain-free life.