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This has to be one of the most common questions asked to us here at The Forge Clinic. Although the theoretical frameworks of Osteopaths, Chiropractors and Physiotherapists can appear quite different, there is frequently an underlying similarity of approach to the treatment of a specific condition. Hence, your choice as a patient should focus on which approach is best aligned with your expectations. All three professions share much in common. They all look at patients holistically and address the musculoskeletal system of patients using manipulation as a primary means of treatment. Historically, chiropractic is often regarded as an offshoot of osteopathy and physiotherapy as being delivered in a hospital setting. The training of each profession is slightly different but increasingly there appears to be more crossover. All Osteopaths, Physiotherapists and Chiropractors undertake at least a four year degree and have to be state registered with their governing (e.g. The General Osteopathic Council) body just like dentists and doctors in the UK. Much of the difference is in the history and derivation, which can be explained as follows: Chiropractors believed any vertical misalignment caused bony pressure on nerves, leading to problems not just in the surrounding muscles and tissues but also in other areas of the body. The osteopathic concept was more that any physiological or functional changes in a disturbed spinal segment would affect the surrounding autonomic nerves and lead to an impaired blood supply to any tissues supplied from that level. As a result Chiropractors focus on the relative position of joints and vertebrae while Osteopaths focus more on the motion and function of the spinal segments or areas of the body. In treatment terms this can mean that Chiropractors may only require short sessions with quite focused and specific manipulation of the spine whereas Osteopaths prefer longer treatments with more work on muscles and, perhaps, a more gentle manipulation. Osteopaths at The Forge Clinic however often combine other treatment modalities such as ultrasound and dry needling. Physiotherapy has a less 'philosophical' approach to treatment than osteopathy or chiropractic. Its focus is very much on mobility and it is more closely aligned to traditional medical approaches due to its foundations in a hospital setting. Physiotherapists until recently were not allowed to diagnose. Its focus on using electrical therapies such as short-wave diathermy, ultrasound and heat lamps is a key difference. In addition, Physiotherapists also have a particular focus on remedial exercises and increasingly offer facilities for supervised exercise as part of an effective rehabilitation program. Their particular skills in treating and managing soft tissue injuries make them obvious candidates for many of the impact injuries suffered in contact sports, but increasingly their skills are being complemented by Osteopaths and Chiropractors in order to remedy the functional problems encountered by athletes' musculo-skeletal systems as result of trauma or strain. This is the advantage that The Forge Clinic has in that we are able to offer these treatments under one roof to make sure that patients are getting the optimum treatment. | 
