Osteopaths are health care professionals that are trained to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions. This relates to pain or injury of the joints, spine, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. They are highly trained, and regulated by the General Osteopathic Council (GOSC) who are responsible for maintaining a high standard of clinical care by the profession. Only clinicians registered with GOSC can use the title osteopath.
Osteopaths usually start by taking a detailed medical history from a patient, taking the time to listen to their situation and history of the injury. They will then perform a thorough physical assessment of any areas related to your complaint. This usually involves viewing some of the movements that are currently challenging or painful. They will then use their hands to feel the movement of the joints and muscles, to help determine what has caused the injury. Once the cause of pain has been established, a course of treatment involving hands on manual therapy and exercise rehabilitation is usually recommended to help ease symptoms and improve day to day function.
Osteopaths are experts in treating a wide range of conditions throughout the body. Most complaints will be related to pain, often with associated stiffness or lack of movement. This can stem from an injury to the joints, muscles, ligaments, or tendons, and often be related to the nerves that are connected to these areas. The most common complaint seen by osteopaths is back pain or neck pain. However they can also treat most areas of the body, including the feet, shoulders, hips, jaw, elbows, hands, wrist and knees.
Osteopaths & chiropractors will usually be consulted by patients with similar injuries or conditions. The approach to patient care usually varies between individual clinicians as much as between professions. However, as a general overview, osteopaths tend to look at the body in a more holistic manner. This includes reviewing any muscles or joints that are related to the area of pain and injury, to determine whether they are involved or contributing. They will also usually ask questions around lifestyle, stress, and sleep, as changes here can help aid in the healing process.
Osteopaths can help with sciatica and are usually very effective in helping to relieve symptoms such as pain. Sciatica is a complex issue that refers to pain running down the back of the leg, caused by the sciatic nerve. An osteopath would first aim to diagnose the cause of sciatica, and then come up with a treatment plan to address the underlying cause and improve the patient’s daily function. This will usually involve a gradual exercise rehabilitation programme to help ease symptoms more quickly. If required an osteopath may recommend a scan such as an MRI scan to help understand what is causing the symptoms, however this is often not required.
Osteopathic medicine is the same as osteopathy. This is the system of healthcare used by osteopaths in their unique approach to the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal pain and injury. Osteopaths use movement and hands on treatment to help ease pain and injury, instead of using medications.
Doctors and osteopaths are both healthcare professionals, however they are two separate professions. Osteopaths undergo a four year degree in osteopathy before being qualified and able to register as an osteopath. Doctors usually undergo a five year degree in medicine before being able to register with the british medical association. Osteopaths are allied health professionals, similar to physiotherapists or podiatrists. They are qualified to diagnose and treat pain & injury, but are not qualified to prescribe medications or perform surgical procedures. Osteopaths will often work with other healthcare professionals, including doctors, to help achieve the best outcome for their patients. In the USA osteopaths must undergo medical training so earn the title of Doctor of Osteopathy (DO). While these professions differ greatly, much of the core training will be similar, with osteopaths spending more time focusing on anatomy and orthopaedic injury.
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