Osteopathy vs. Chiropractic
I’ve put together a table which compares osteopathic treatment with chiropractic. My goal is not to denigrate or insult chiropractors, but instead to objectively compare training, scope of practice, and treatment philosophies. I would ask that any comments be respectful and instructional in nature, rather than negative.
October 5th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I am concerned about the information you have compiled. It is inaccurate and not objective as you suggest. I feel that you are misleading and one sided and have not been fair in your research. I used to see an osteopath as my primary care physician but every time I went to his office I was given a medication or prescription, even if my symptoms were mild. Most osteopaths do not practice manual manipulations when necessary because insurance does not properly reimburse for this service. DO’s are no different than MD’s. I have never been to a DO and been given any type of manual therapy. Further, I would encourage you to do more research about chiropractors and the type of care they offer. My chiropractor is very gentle and specific and not at all as you suggest in your table.
Hi Angela: You are right that many DOs do not do manipulation. In fact, for Family Practicioners the rate is less than 50%. And there may be chiropractors who are more gentle than others. Neither of these things, however, makes my information less accurate. In fact, simply having to comment on the exceptions proves the rule.
If you noticed on my other pages, I encourage anyone interested in Osteopathic treatment make sure that they research how much manipulation their doctor does. That way they can be sure that they will be treated as they are expecting.
Lastly, as far as reimbursement goes, my practice accepts all PPOs as well as Medicare. If you happen to belong to an HMO, your insurance will not allow for additional reimbursement for manipulation as it is considered part of your doctor’s accepted practice. –Dr. Loveless
February 12th, 2009 at 12:37 am
There are two types of chiropractors. One is called a strait chiropractor who adjust the spine to relieve pain and to restore movement/flexibility. Another group of chiropractors put more stock in the belief that ailments through out the body can be healed through spinal adjustments. It is this latter type that is likely to prescribe multiple visits over a longer period of time. Strait chiropractors are likely to correct problems with far fewer adjustments. Chiropractors can vary widely as to the level of force used in there adjustment technique. Some use the activator method which is very gentle along with gentle manual manipulation and others use a more medium force adjustment. I’ve have been to a variety of chiropractors from time to time in a few different states over the last 20 plus years and have rarely encountered an adjustment that I would consider harsh. I understand that chiropractors have a lot more hours of instruction and practice in manual manipulation of the spine at their schools than do osteopath at their schools. On the other hand osteopath do a lot of training in regular or standard medicine. I have never been adjusted by a osteopath, but I think for a specific back/neck issue I would go with chiropractic and for other issues I would go with the osteopath. I understand that osteopath are more holistic and preventative health oriented than an MD.
March 6th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I would like to comment on the question of Osteopathic Adjustment. Its true that the AMA swallowed up the Osteopathic profession and few actually practice manual therapy in regards to manipulation. However, if you were to research Dr. A.T. Still, Dr. Littljohn and Mr. John Wernham, you would see that the practice of true Classical Osteopathy is alive and well throughout the world today.
Please google Dr. T*odd B*ezilla who is a teacher of mine in Osteopathic Manual Manipulation and also look up the growing practice of Classical Osteopathy in Canada, specifically in Hamilton Ontario at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.
Osteopathy was originally about finding the truth about disease and correcting the lesions so that the body may heal itself.
There is a vast difference between Chiropractic and Osteopathy. The true Osteopathy will not just address the Bony displacement of verteba to reach the nervous system but also address the arterial supply, venous return, lymphatics.
Please look into the “Early American Manual Therapy” website and educate yourself on history of Osteopathy prior to passing judgement on the entire profession.
thank you
May 20th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I am a current student at an osteopathic medical school in the U.S.
Your “mode of treatment” section is incomplete in its description of osteopathic treatments. While many osteopathic treatments move away from restriction (all the indirect treatments, e.g. Functional Methods) there are also treatment modalities that involve moving through or into restriction (High Velocity Low Amplitude.)
I don’t know whether chiropractors learn any indirect techniques, but current osteopathic students learn techniques to move both towards and away from restrictions.
Sara: Very true comment. The way it is written it certainly implies that DOs do not use direct technique, which couldn’t be further from the truth. I believe there is a time and a place for all techniques, which is one of the strengths of an Osteopathic education. We have a variety of techniques at our disposal, direct, indirect, or sometimes combined. This lets us select the best approach for a particular patient based on things like age, health status, vitality, type of presentation (acute vs chronic) or time available. I will change the table to more accurately reflect our technique approach–BL
August 8th, 2009 at 5:37 am
I would love to respond to several of these posts as one who discovered osteopathy quite by accident 18 years ago. I had also experienced MDs who just pull out the prescription pad for anything and everything, so I wasn’t too fond of doctors. I had a friend who worked for a DO and when I had a particularly severe problem, she recommended I come in. This DO was also a homeopath, which was also new to me. I find the combo amazingly effective. Anyway, I found osteopathic manipulation one of the most effective treatments for a wide range of issues. I also found that DOs are easy to communicate with and they seem to always be teaching me more about my body or my particular problem and ways to stay more healthy. It is true that many DOs stop “practicing their craft,” which is so sad and frustrating. Take the time to ask questions before seeing a DO, to make sure they use OMM in their practice….there are those who do and it is invaluable. I have found that, while they are able to dispense medication, they usually try other approaches first, unless the situation requires it. I’ve been to a couple of chiropractors and they have their place in the world, but I find osteopaths offer more, as they address more systems than just joints and such. I have very rarely had to have multiple treatments to solve a problem, whereas with many chiropractors, repeated adjustments are standard practice. This is because DOs address the underlying causes of the problem. For example, when one is having “back trouble,” one cause may be that the muscles in the back are holding the spine in an improper position. If a chiropractor simply does a realignment, muscle memory will eventually pull the back out of alignment and the problem will return, requiring another adjustment. An osteopath can “re-train” the muscles to hold the back in the proper position, so further visits are usually unnecessary. They can treat more than just musculoskeletal problems and OMM is so effective at stimulating the immune system to allow the body to heal itself. It is a fabulous holistic approach to treatment.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:28 am
I had been seeing a chiro for a hiatal hernia when I also suffered a pinched nerve in upper back (ironically, from sleeping on a wedge pillow for the reflux!). After two treatments for the pinched nerve, with some immediate improvement, I decided to see a massage therapist specializing in “mechanical links,” an osteopathic technique, because I wasn’t having much success with the chiro treatment of hiatal hernia. The catch was, the new practitioner informed me that chiro and mechanical links were “not compatible,” and therefore I would have to stop seeing the chiro if I was going to work with her. It’s been 3 weeks since my first ML treatment, and my symptoms have gotten worse; the therapist said some “regressive” inflammation often occurs in early stages (1-2 wks). But now I’m wondering if I should go back to the chiro? I’m still very intrigued with the larger, holistic approach of ML, but quite frankly, I’m not sure if I can wait for the more gradual effect of ML. I’m exhausted from poor sleep and the discomfort has become nearly constant. Anyone have any thoughts on what’s a reasonable time frame for expecting improvement from ML? Thanks.
September 15th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Tom:
Well I would strongly suggest that you find an Osteopath in your area, I am sure that the therapist that has had some Osteopathic Technique training may have helped many people; however that particular technique may not be what is required. A true Osteopath knows many techniques and has many tools to pick from but it is the understanding of principles that makes the differance. Many courses are taught to massage therapists that are based upon technique but it takes a strong Osteopathic education from the point of fundamental principals and in depth education of anatomy and physiology that makes the difference.
take care and good luck
sean
November 28th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Tom:
Or you could just keep on going to your chiropractor for your pinched nerve and perhaps consult an MD on your hernia problem
July 8th, 2010 at 4:04 am
pain is the body’s way of telling you something is wrong (or if you exercized too hard that you have muscles that were underworked previously or are now overworked) anyway it was the osteo who said you must abandon the chiro. What did the chiro say? I’ve had great and not so great from the chiro. Mostly great but not all things worked for me and some caused problems that were previously not there…. I’m going to an osteo (hence looking at this site) but it will be an osteo recommended by someone who has had a good encounter - no yellow pages guessing. Find someone else and if the chiro was good go back. Say what you need. You are in charge here. good luck