Difference between osteopath and chiropractor?

[angel0071987]

I am suffering from severe SPD in pregnancy. A physio confirmed pelvis is separated and miss-aligned but after several attempts at putting her entire weight through front of me to fix it had to ask her to stop due to pain. On an off chance when visiting my parents (300miles away) I saw an osteopath who "fixed" my issues from the same joint in my back with no pain by gently pushing and it's given me three glorious weeks of barely any pain but as expected it's slipped again and I'm in agony again.
Looking to find a local osteopath and keep seeing chiropractors coming up. What's the difference. I don't want to be manipulated painfully ... clueless as was not expecting osteopath to help and never had alternative medicine before. Thank you for reading

They're pretty similar really and often seen for the same sorts of issues. Chiropractors focus more on bones and the spine, whereas Osteopaths focus more on muscles.

I'm 23 weeks and seeing a chiropractor at the moment. The reason I went with chiropractic care rather than an osteopath was just that I'd had it previously and it was helpful. I'd have happily gone to an osteopath instead if there wasn't a chiropractor nearby.

It's not exactly a relaxing treatment (although I personally really love hearing bones click and creak!!) but it can make a big difference. They also look wider at the whole spinal alignment and may realise there's something further up your back that's out of place which could be exacerbating the issue and so look to fix that too.

Good luck - hope you get some relief again soon!!

I was told physios focus on muscles, chiropractors focus on bones and osteopaths focus on both.

There are also different kinds of osteopaths - the "normal ones" and cranial ones. Both do more than just backs and infact my osteo does a great job of my wonky knee.

i had a lot of issues with my pelvis when pregnant and an osteopath really helped. It continued after birth and the usual guy wouldn't treat until 6 weeks post partum. My current one ( a cranial osteopath) did treat during this time and also treated my premature twins successfully for reflux, colic and sleep issues too. My pelvis now much better and I see him because of skeletal problems arrising from picking up tantruming kids now.

good luck. (I'm team osteo all the way) The best thing is to get a good personal recommendation from someone.

My very qualified and experienced physiotherapist recommends osteopathy and is very anti chiropractors. Your muscles hold your bones in place, so chiropractic work is only a short term fix, and can be very dangerous as it's a non regulated title. Anyone can do a one day course and call themselves one.

I saw an osteopath for SPD while waiting for my physio appointment in hospital. I have always used osteopaths but maternity physio was free while osteopath was €75 per session. I saw physio weekly for 6 months free, it would have cost a small fortune for osteopath even with health insurance covering half the cost. Good osteopaths are fantastic. I got my current osteopath from my previous one as we moved 300km. Ask your previous osteopath for recommendations in your area don't just go to any. Hope you feel better soon.

Quite a lot of crossover! For clarity Chiropractors in the UK are regulated and the tittle is in fact protected (Doctor of Chiropractic).

This is due to the rigorous training (Masters degree) and allows chiropractors to work as Primary Health Care Professionals.

There are many misconceptions about both professions.

The aim of chiropractic is to create a more optimal healing environment and improve function. This can be done through treatments and aided through rehab guidance.

My understanding is osteopathy is also a regulated profession.

Ultimately the important thing is finding a practitioner who you trust, so don’t be worried about asking lots of question or trying a few.

whereas Osteopaths focus more on muscles.

That's not my experience. Plus osteo means "relating to bone".

I have had an osteopath in the past who did the "forceful crack" type treatment but I far prefer the massage type. It's a matter of finding the right one.

I had SI separation in pregnancy and the only person that got me moving was an osteo. Physio was useless, recommended belts and exercises. I couldn't move to do the bloody exercises.

I've never seen a chiro.

If you have true separation of the pelvis be careful to get proper treatment mine still haunts me 15 years later.