Chiropractors and Osteopaths

 Whats the difference between a Chiropractor and an Osteopath?

In truth, the answer is probably very little, but there has been such a division historically that many people are still confused to this day.

In simple terms, both osteopaths and chiropractors tend to treat similar conditions with similar techniques. Especially here in Britain, where the two evolved along parallel paths there is some overlap in approach.

The differences between osteopathy and chiropractic stem from a rather subtle variance in philosophy. In general terms osteopaths believe ‘the rule of the artery is supreme,’ meaning that a healthy blood supply is likely to support a healthy bodily environment. Thus, osteopaths take circulation carefully into account when assessing patients.

Chiropractors however, believe that ‘structure governs function.' This has made chiropractors musckulo-skeletal specialists primarily concerned with the bio mechanics of the body. A chiropractors main emphasis is the effect that tight muscles and stiff joints have on the bodies nerve supply. Problems in the bodies nerve communication system, for example, too much tension in certain muscles or the misalignment of a bone, can inhibit the natural ability of the body to heal itself.