Chiropractor vs. Osteopath vs. Orthopedic Physician: Who Should I See?

There are many medical fields that deal with bodily pain, and many patients often ask whether they should visit a chiropractor, osteopath, or orthopedist. While these professions appear to be related to each other, they are actually different health practices, each with its own specific specialties.

Chiropractors, osteopaths, and orthopedic doctors specialize in different things, so the best healthcare provider for you will largely depend on your condition or injury. Before making a decision, it is important to understand what chiropractors, osteopaths, and orthopedists do and what makes them different from each other so that you can easily choose the right healthcare professional.

Chiropractors

Chiropractors are people who treat conditions related to the musculoskeletal system. They are also called DC or Doctors of Chiropractic. CDs address aches and pains related to bones, muscles, ligaments, joints, and nerves. Most of them treat pain conditions in the vicinity of the spine. However, they also specialize in musculoskeletal pain in the various extremities of the body.

The profession is well established in the United States and is the third largest healthcare field after medicine and dentistry.

What do chiropractors do? The chiropractic approach is non-pharmacological in nature. Professionals use their hands or various instruments to manipulate joints, muscles, ligaments, and other affected areas. Most treatment plans involve several sessions of manipulation.

In addition to manual adjustment and manipulation, they can also provide advice to their patients. Chiropractors do not prescribe medications, but they can generally recommend nutritional supplements or give suggestions on exercise and positive eating habits.

Chiropractor training. To practice the profession, a person needs a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree. Achieving this requires 4 years of graduate education after earning an associate’s degree. They will also need at least 500 hours of hands-on experience and training for manipulations and adjustments.

Osteopaths

An osteopath or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) is a medical professional who places an emphasis on the body’s self-healing ability. Osteopaths advocate a “whole person” approach to care. They believe that physical problems and abnormalities affect the entire body. To help facilitate the body’s healing process, they make use of manual and manipulative therapy.

What do osteopaths do? Like chiropractors, osteopaths also follow a natural approach to healing. They use a technique called osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT. This technique allows them to use their hands to diagnose and treat painful joint, ligament, and muscle injuries and conditions.

ODs generally employ gentle forms of manipulation, such as stretching and applying gentle pressure to the affected areas. What makes the practice different from chiropractic is the fact that osteopaths can write prescriptions and perform surgical procedures.

Osteopathic training. Obtaining a DO degree also requires 4 years of graduate study after completing a 4-year bachelor’s degree. The degree requires students to spend at least one year of hospital internships and rotations. They can practice, prescribe medicine, and perform surgery anywhere in the United States.

Orthopedics

Orthopedists are surgeons who specialize in the musculoskeletal system. Although they are surgeons by nature, they do not necessarily use surgery all the time. They also employ non-surgical means to treat muscle injuries and trauma, degenerative diseases, tumors, infections, and congenital disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic and orthopedic surgeon labels are often used interchangeably and mean the same thing.

What do orthopedists do?Orthopedic surgeons diagnose and treat a variety of musculoskeletal problems. They diagnose conditions through physical exams, X-rays, and other lab tests. Most conditions are generally treated with non-surgical procedures such as physical therapy, exercises, or even pain management methods. In severe cases of pain disorders, orthopedists perform surgical treatments such as joint replacement, soft tissue repair, and arthroscopy.

In cases that do not require a surgical procedure, orthopedists may recommend that patients see physical therapists or osteopaths for therapy or manipulation. Since orthopedic surgeons are medical doctors (MD) by profession, they can prescribe for their patients.

Orthopedic training. Orthopedic surgeons must complete a four-year bachelor’s degree and a four-year medical school. Graduates of medical school must undergo a five-year residency to specialize in surgery. The five-year training consists of one year for general surgery and four years for orthopedic surgery.

Who should I see?

Finding the right healthcare provider can be confusing for first-time patients. Who you choose to see will largely depend on your condition and the type of approach you prefer. An osteopath is a good option if you want a comprehensive treatment. If you have acute back pain or pain caused by injury or trauma, a visit to a chiropractor may be a good idea. On the other hand, an orthopedic surgeon may be recommended for extreme cases of pain or those caused by other underlying physical conditions.