If you have a muscular injury that needs treating, you’ll need to see a specialist – pronto. But which one? Here’s our guide to the differences between physios, osteos and chiros.

Bad back? Niggling hamstring? Sports injury? You’ll need to get it seen to – and fast. But there are a lot of similarities between the specialists that deal in musculoskeletal pain and injury and you need to choose the therapist that’s right for you. Here’s our guide to the different practices.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is the most popular musculoskeletal therapy in Australia. A physiotherapist specialises in the rehabilitation and treatment of painful joint and muscular injuries, with the aim of maximising movement.

With a focus on exercises and massage, physiotherapists might also use ultrasound, hydrotherapy, heat therapy or electrotherapies in their treatments. Alternative treatments such as acupuncture and reflexology are also becoming incorporated into treatments.

While physiotherapy is commonly known as a treatment for sport or work-related musculoskeletal injuries, physiotherapists can also work in other health settings. This includes aged care – especially in stroke recovery or mobility after a fracture, hydrotherapy for arthritis, the fitting of splints and braces, incontinence, mental illness, occupational therapy and even intensive care.

Physiotherapy is available in both the public and private health care systems in Australia.

Osteopathy

Similarly to physiotherapy, osteopathy treats problems with muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints. However as a holistic therapy, osteopathy seeks to treat the body as a whole. Osteopaths believe that injury and pain result from abnormalities in our body’s structure and function. They focus on how the different elements of the body function together as a holistic unit.

So, in order to treat symptoms effectively, osteopaths believe the underlying cause of the injury needs to be treated. This form of treatment should also prevent recurrence of the injury. Treatment includes a variety of techniques on muscles, ligaments and other soft tissue including gentle manipulation, joint mobilisation, stretching, exercise, nutrition, soft tissue massage and trigger point therapy.

Together these techniques help the body return to natural balance and mechanical function – helping the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Chiropractic

Like osteopathy, chiropractic treatment is a holistic therapy focussing on musculoskeletal problems. A chiropractor believes that the body is capable of self-regulation and self-healing, and is controlled by the brain, spinal cord and nervous system.

Chiropractors focus on the position of the vertebrae in the spine. If the nerve pathways of the spinal cord are affected by pressure or misalignment of vertebrae, problems are created in surrounding muscles and tissue and other areas of the body. So although it might appear as though your condition is not related to the spine, it may still require spinal adjustment.

A chiropractic treatment involves adjustments or manipulation of the spine, pelvis or skull to help remove the blockages of the nervous system. This in turn relieves pain and muscles spasms. Chiropractors believe that this helps the body resist disease and ill health in the future.

Despite their different philosophies, all three therapies are capable of treating musculoskeletal conditions. Contact your local physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor for more information.