OSTEOPATHY vs Chiropractic/Physiotherapy

​OSTEOPATHY is a system of health care that treats the body as a 'whole'. This immediately distinguishes it from chiropractic and physiotherapy where the tendency is to either treat only the spine (the nervous system) or the injured body part. Like chiropractors and physiotherapists, osteopaths will refer for x rays and US as/when deemed necessary and are ACC registered so there is no need to go to your GP first. It is not unusual for patients to be seeing an osteopath and a physiotherapist for the same injury/at the same time as the two modalities can complement each other. 

By treating the body as a 'whole' osteopaths treat the whole body. This will often involve treating the areas away from the injured/dysfunctional site appreciating that it is this connection/inter relationship that is the underlying cause. For example foot problems are often resolved by treating the knees, knee problems by treating/correcting hip alignment and hip problems by treating the lower back. 

Osteopathic treatment focuses on health and well being providing the body with the inherent ability to restore itself to a state of balance without the use of drugs or surgery but by specific techniques that break down the barriers preventing the tissues from functioning optimally and healing themselves post injury.  A range of non invasive, gentle, techniques are adopted which can involve treating the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments) the organs (e.g the small and large intestines) and the joints, including joint manipulation (audible click).