Osteopath: In a nutshell

In this series “In a nutshell- Layman’s Explanation”, we will be looking at various modalities of health practitioners such as chiropractors or physical therapists and what they do. Why? I’ve been to all of them and if you’re starting to crack like me, at some point you might find yourself wondering, ‘Who do I go to? Why can’t I just do Pilates and get a massage?’

So today, let’s look at Osteopaths.

What do Osteopaths do?

They focus on treating the body as a whole. Their assessments may seem similar to a chiropractor but they have more of a focus on every joint not only working from a spinal perspective. They use a variety of techniques including soft tissue techniques, join mobilization and muscle energy techniques. In my experience, their approach seems softer and more fluid even if conducting a spinal adjustment.

What qualifications to they have to obtain?

To become a fully qualified and board-registered osteopath doctor in Australia, one will spend 6 to 8 years studying. They will start with a 4-year undergraduate degree, then 2 to 3 years of specialised graduate Master’s level study, plus one year of supervised clinical internship.

How are Osteopaths different from chiropractors?

Osteopaths typically use gentle, low-force manual techniques while chiropractors are more direct and use a higher force. Chiropractors have a strong focus on working from the spine. That being said, I am currently under the care of an acupuncturist who is also a chiropractor and uses a combination of those two to treat me while, for my jaw arthritis I see a TMJ specialist who, is a trained chiropractor with a focus on TMJ. When I was in France, the best local practitioner I knew was an osteopath who focused on spine more than anything else. No one osteopath or chiropractor is the same. Therefore, it is best to find someone with not only good reviews but someone whom you trust and can notice improving results with ongoing care.

When do I need to consider seeing one?

-After an injury or fall

-If a physio recommends you

-Ongoing pain

- If your Pilates instructor recommends you.

When I taught group classes in gym, I would often have people come up to me after with various ailments and reasons why they couldn’t do certain movements, hoping for an assessment. Yes, Pilates teachers can assess the body and there are physio-Pilates teachers out there. As a dancer and Pilates instructor, it is my job to know where my job ends and someone else’s begins. I have often recommended students to a chiropractor, osteopath, physio or recommended acupuncture if they don’t like manipulation. You will see this sentence repeated in other articles.

Is one appointment enough?

Usually no. Some people who have Medicare or insurance will do maintenance checkups twice a year. Dancers or sports persons may go every month or bimonthly since they put their bodies through such stress.

What should I expect from a first appointment?

Osteopaths generally begin with a thorough case history that covers your symptoms, lifestyle, posture, and any relevant medical conditions. They’ll assess how your whole body moves not just the area that hurts using physical tests, observation, and gentle palpation. Osteopath sessions tend to be longer than chiropractor sessions.

In conclusion, Osteopaths are similar to chiropractors from an amateur perspective but there are minor differences that set them apart. If you’re deciding which one to go to, I would simply recommend seeing what is in your area and read the reviews and then finding one who gels with you.