Chiropractors tend to rely primarily on high velocity thrust, which is a short, sharp motion that releases areas of the body with limited range of motion. It’s this technique that results in the popping or cracking noise. Osteopaths may use high velocity thrust as well, but instead of applying the motion directly to the spine as in chiropractic, the DO may rely on the patient’s limbs to achieve the same effect.

More often, osteopathic doctors manipulate your body’s tissues using less force, employing techniques like stretching, massage and applied pressure in addition to occasional use of high velocity thrust. The gentler techniques deliver the added benefit of improved circulation in the area being treated.

Principles of Osteopathy
The principles of osteopathy are similar the principles of naturopathy, where first and foremost, one should do no harm. This means relying on non-invasive healing methods first, to aid the body in healing itself versus surgery, which seeks to eliminate the symptom without addressing the underlying cause. However, some osteopaths are also medical doctors and can prescribe and/or perform surgery as a last line of defense.

Secondly, osteopathy looks beyond the disease or illness for the root cause and seeks to treat that cause rather than the symptoms alone. For that reason, it may seem like a DO isn’t addressing your complaint when they begin to work with you—their assessment of your body may lead them to a block elsewhere in the body that’s causing your symptoms.

Lastly, DOs base their assessments and treatments according to the idea the nothing is more effective in healing the body than the body’s fully functioning nervous, circulatory, lymphatic and immune systems. DOs often work to educate patients on how to maintain their well being through changes in diet and exercise, lifestyle and stress management.

Why Visit an Osteopath?
You might consider visiting a DO if you suffer from lower back pain, chronic headaches, TMJ, sciatica, arthritis, repetitive strain injury or other chronic conditions like asthma, respiratory and/or ear infections. You may also choose to seek osteopathic treatments if you’ve been injured or are dealing with long-term repercussions from old injuries.

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