Who should I see – an Osteopath, Physiotherapist or Chiropractor?
This is a question a lot of people ask. It is confusing to know who you should see for your pain problem.
The truth is all three professions are likely to treat your pain. All three are experts in muscle and joint problems. This is a huge generalisation because every practitioner is different but to give some guidance:
Physiotherapists – tend to do less hands-on treatment, may use equipment such as ultrasound, and will focus on exercise prescription.
Chiropractors – tend to mainly do hands-on treatment, often with a focus on manipulation
Osteopaths – generally provide a combination of hands-on treatment which may include manipulation on occasion alongside exercise and well-being advice.
Maybe one of those general descriptions already appeals to you. Every practitioner works slightly differently and often they have particular patient groups or conditions they specialise in. The best advice is to look around at the practitioners local to you. Your friends and family may provide you with a recommendation from their treatment. Look at the practice website and try to get a feel for what they are like and how they practice. You may be able to find out more from their social media pages.
There is no straight answer who you should see but you will probably make a good improvement whoever you see if you like the practitioner, their explanation of your problem and their treatment approach.