osteopathy

hello guys...
can u tell me whther osteopathy is different to physiotherapy? and in what ways?
will it be more benefecial if we have chance to learn osteopathy course-masters.?

regards
care physio

I would hate for a bunch of Physio to comment on the differences here. Perhaps someone should redirect this to the fundemental differences between a manipulative physiotherapist (only a small part of the physio profession) and an osteopath. It might be better to understand the differences in approach between a chiropractic philosophy and an osteopathic philosophy as the former grew out of the later.

The courses and practitioners are so varied depending on the country that this comparison is difficult. Also this is a forum for discussing topics on physiotherapy, not opening up what could be a pandoras box on the pros and cons of osteopathy vs physiotherapy.... 8o

helo,

sorry to post that message in this forum. thought there would be useful information abt that. i dont know physios around would hate WORD "osteopathy"

dont mind.

regards
care physio:eek

Hi - Why would a discussion on the differences b/w physio and osteo be so bad? - maybe we need to know what the differences are...

I for one get asked *a lot* about what the differences are.

I am prepared to discuss this issue but my personal ground rules are to be fair and use manners during a discussion without name calling.

Basically, i think there are a lot common things that osteos, chiros and (musculoskeletal) physios treat. Some of the techniques are similar (e.g. manipulation and Muscle Energy Techniques).

Each profession has their own way of assessing and providing treatment.

What I emphaise when answering this question is that most physios are experts at exercises for the prevention of recurrence. We as physios have the most knowledge in the areas of core-stability and specific motor control retraining.

We can manipulate fixated joints (like a chiro), we can unload myofascially compressed joints (like an osteo) we can retrain muscles for insufficiently compressed joints and we can assist in the healing of soft tissue.

I think as physios, we are fearful of things like visceral manipulation and spinal manual therapy for pain in the organs. It was only because of talking to a chiro that i was able to help a patient who had not eaten a full meal in *over 2 years*. Addressing his thoracic and lumbar spine stiffness and control solved his eating problems and the stomach cramps he got when eating disappeared. Or the child who had constipation for years - cured with spinal manual therapy.

I would argue (as a biased physiotherapist) that we have a lot to offer the community since seem to have a more rounded approach but I have so much more to learn from chiros and osteos - even if i don't agree with their theory - why else would they be in business? If they were useless or what they did wasn't effective then people simply wouldn't show up for treatment...

Thanks for the opportunity to express this opinion...

hey...
thats great insight u provided...
yeah ur right.

regards
carephysio

The training for Osteopaths is very different in Europe and Canada versus the United States. In the United States they are able to specialize in manipulative practice or in any branch of medicine and their basic training issame as Allopathic medical schools except for additional emphasis on musculoskeletal practise. There are D.O.'s who are in family practise, internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, etc. I believe that in Europe and Canada and perhaps other parts that Osteopaths are more specialized in the practise of musculoskeletal/craniosacral/visceral manipulation, etc. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Jerry Hesch, MHS, PT

I too also get asked regularly by patients what the differences are between physios, osteos and chiropractors. I think it helps to keep an open mind about what the other professions do and feel that we should all be able to learn from each other.

To change the topic slightly - I am currently looking into an accelerated Osteopathic course in London and was wondering if anyone else had completed this (or knew anybody else who had) who may be able to give me some feedback of the course itself or their experiences since.

i am agrre with you.i think that we must be open to these helth therapys as chiropract and osteopathy,and why not zen shiatzu and much more..
these therapist can help us for a lot of treataments.
but the most important thing is that we are physioterapist that can do another differents things.
i dont use these therapis alone,i mix all ,and i do the best with exellents results.
bye
mart