subject: The differences between osteopathy and chiropractic [print this page] Iam often asked by patients about the differences between an osteopath and a chiropractor. In the words of Eddie Izzard, the famous comedian, the main difference is the spelling!!
Whilst there is some truth to the fact that osteopathy and chiropractic have similarities this is of course an over-simplification. The reason for the similarities is because the founder of chiropractic, Daniel Palmer was a student of the founder of osteopathy, Andrew Taylor Still and carried over much of the philosophy to chiropractic.
One must however first make a distinction between osteopathy in the USA and the the rest of the world. Osteopaths in the USA are D.O.s Doctors of Osteopathy. This means that they are physicians in every sense of the word and although they have all studied osteopathy, both the philosophy and the practice they may never use the disciple and in fact may work as cardiologists, anesthesiologist or any other medical specialty. This of course is not like chiropractic all. Whilst Chiropractors in the USA do call themselves "Doctor" they are not physicians and are not trained in allopathic (conventional) medicine.
Chiropractors in the USA are more like the osteopaths of Europe and Australia in that they train purely in manual medicine. The osteopaths in Europe train purely in osteopathic, that is, manual medicine and are also not called doctors.
It is very hard to generalise about how osteopaths work and how chiropractors work since within the profession there are a lot of osteopaths who work like "chiropractically" and a lot of chiropractors who work "osteopathically".
Osteopaths have a reputation for working in a more gentle manner with an emphasis on massage whilst chiropractors have a reputation for using manipulation, the "clicking" of joints that one may be familiar with.
Both osteopaths and chiropractors treat a similar series of problems albeit with a different approach. What is most likely to determine whether or not a patient decides to go to one or the other is more likely the individual's personal preference, the affinity towards the practitioner and of course the success of the treatment.
