When looking for the right doctor to treat injuries to the neck or back, you might wonder what the difference is between an osteopractor and a chiropractor. There are a variety of options out there for treating injuries, back pain, joint conditions, and more, and each type of doctor or treatment promises why it is the best option for you. If you are looking for a chiropractic clinic in Atlanta and want to know more about the difference between these two types of doctors, check out the information below.
Doctors Defined
An osteopractor is a medical doctor who uses manual therapy techniques to treat a variety of neuromusculoskeletal concerns. An osteopractor may also practice physical therapy and utilizes a lot of similar techniques as a physical therapist who have an additional skill in hands-on manual therapy techniques for injuries and pain.
A chiropractor is a healthcare provider who pursues post-secondary education and receives a Doctor of Chiropractic. While not considered medical doctors, chiropractors are licensed to treat a variety of musculoskeletal injuries and focus on how treating the spine and joints can affect the rest of the body. Chiropractic is a natural and effective treatment style for injuries and pain.
Philosophical Differences
Both types of doctors are similar in that they focus on how the whole body works together to heal and repair itself with the right interventions and support. Chiropractors focus on how misalignments in the spine can affect the rest of the body in a variety of ways, from nerve issues to chronic pain. Osteopractors also focus on the spine and is a particular specialty or sub-specialty for a medical doctor or physical therapist to practice.
Chiropractic care focuses on the idea that a wide variety of injuries including car accident injuries and pain can be treated naturally, non-invasively, and more conservatively than traditional medical doctor approaches. A chiropractor focuses on helping the body into a healthy structure and posture that allows the body to heal and restore itself. This type of treatment does not use medicines or surgical interventions because of this belief in the body to heal and support itself when optimally adjusted.
Education and Training
Both osteopractors and chiropractors go through post-secondary education for at least five years that involves a combination of classroom and clinical trainings. Osteopractors go through traditional medical school and follow the route of a medical doctor, while chiropractors go to school specifically for chiropractic and receive a Doctor of Chiropractic. Both types of doctors believe in focusing treatment on the whole body, only chiropractors experience all their educational and clinical time with this mindset.
In chiropractic school, future chiropractors study the nervous system, the spinal cord, the muscular and joint structure of the body, and the biomechanics of how it all works together. The education and training focus of a chiropractor is on the spinal cord and how it houses the nervous system and supports the brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of the body. It is important to learn about how the spine functions and how its structure can help or harm depending on its posture and positioning. Chiropractors do not spend as much time in school as osteopractors do because chiropractors are not trained in surgical operations.
Approaches to Treatment
Chiropractors use a more conservative approach to treatment and care. Chiropractors do not use medicine or invasive treatment approaches ever. Instead, the non-invasive treatment techniques involve spinal manipulation and adjustment unique to the chiropractic profession. In order to provide adjustments, a chiropractor will first manually examine the spine and identify any bones or joints that are out of place. This is referred to as a subluxation, more commonly understood as a misalignment in part of the spine. A chiropractor will use gentle adjustment techniques to manually align that part of the spine to its proper position in their chiropractic clinic.
Considerations for Care
It often helps to determine what is you want out of treatment and what type of health provider will provide you with the best results and long-term relief. While many healthcare providers will say they treat all kinds of injuries and chronic pains, it is important to consider the kind of treatment you want to experience. More risky treatment options like surgical interventions can have a long recovery time and make an even greater impact on your daily life.
Chiropractic clinics offer a natural, non-invasive approach to your treatment in order to allow for the most conservative treatment options. Consider scheduling an appointment with an Atlanta chiropractic clinic to learn more about this natural, holistic approach to your care and see how a more conservative approach to supporting your health and well-being can work for you. Call us today!