Which healing modality is best for you? Chiro vs. Osteo vs. Massage vs. Acupuncture vs. Physio
Got a funny looking mole? Time to see the skin doctor. Want to get fit? A personal trainer can help. Experiencing pain in your back, shoulders or neck? Hmmm. It’s a little trickier to know where to look for assistance.
We’re often asked by people in the throes of pain or injury: “Should I see a chiro, an osteo, a physio, an acupuncturist or a massage therapist? How do I choose?!”.
And it’s no wonder. There are so many different options for dealing with musculoskeletal issues that picking the right therapeutic approach can be tough.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide to common healing modalities, explaining their philosophy and points of difference so you can choose with confidence.
Remedial massage
Many people see massage as a luxury rather than a serious therapy, but it’s actually pretty well supported by science for pain management and stress reduction.
Remedial massage employs a wide range of techniques to locate problem areas and stimulate healing, so you can expect anything from deep to gentle pressure, trigger point therapy, dry needling or stretching, depending on your preferences and practitioner.
Like chiropractic, it acknowledges the interconnectedness of the body, and suits people who enjoy physical touch (and even some ‘ouch!’ moments) and want to combine relaxation with pain relief.
Osteopathy
Osteopathy is easily confused with Chiropractic. They’re both about bones… aren’t they?
Sort of. Osteopathy is less focused on optimising the spine and nervous system, or treating specific pain and injuries, than balancing the body as a whole.
Osteopaths perform adjustments (usually of the neck and spine) in addition to massage, mobilization, cranio-sacral techniques, stretches and gentle touch. They don’t usually order X-rays or MRIs to investigate problems, opting for physical assessment instead.
While osteopathy shares chiropractic’s holistic view of the human body, there are big differences in how they’re delivered: the duration and frequency of sessions, which areas of the body they target, and simply how the adjustments and techniques feel.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is commonly seen as ‘that thing you do for sporting injuries’. Focused on movement and function, physiotherapists are famous for prescribing at-home exercises and mobilization techniques.
Of course, your experience of physiotherapy will depend on the individual practitioner, and can be relatively hands-off, more hands-on, localised over an injury or for whole-body strength and conditioning.
If chiropractors are ‘vitalistic’ (acknowledging that the human body is a whole, self-healing organism) physiotherapists could be seen as having a more ‘mechanical’ view of things, paying attention to structural problems, presenting pain and specific diagnoses.
Acupuncture
You might already have a positive or negative association with acupuncture depending on how you feel about needles!
This practice tied to Traditional Chinese Medicine is all about the insertion of tiny metallic needles along meridian lines or into specific points on the body to stimulate the movement of ‘qi’. If that sounds a little ‘woo woo’, acupuncture can also be explained by science, with each needle helping to relax tight muscles and bring blood flow to various parts of the body.
However you frame it, acupuncture can assist with everything from sprained ankles to nausea in pregnancy, and has a growing body of evidence to support its effectiveness.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a safe, noninvasive technique that acknowledges the innate healing power of the human body.
By removing interference to the nervous system caused by spinal subluxations, chiropractors help the body reestablish proper communications between cells, nerves, muscles, organs and systems. Put simply, small spinal adjustments can free your body up to do its thing.
People think of chiropractic as specific for back or neck pain, and while there’s plenty of evidence to support that reputation, it’s a holistic system of healing, too. Everything from digestion to immune function is connected to the nervous system, and can be improved by working on the spine – which is why people notice all kinds of benefits to their health after seeing a chiro.
The verdict
You won’t be surprised to hear that we’re all for chiropractic care. We love its safe, gentle and effective approach that champions the body’s innate ability to heal, making it an ideal choice for anyone, of any age, in any state of pain, debility or wellness.
Of course, it’s about your personality and preferences, too. Are you someone who wants to optimise your body’s healing potential (chiropractic), or do you thrive on at-home exercises (physiotherapy)? Is there something about osteopathy that intrigues you, do you need some serious TLC (massage), or are you feeling the pull of traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture)? Asking yourself these questions can help you choose wisely.
It’s also important to find a practitioner you like! Therapeutic relationships built on trust and rapport are vital to the healing process, so take the time to seek out somebody who makes you feel safe, heard and cared for.