What is the difference between an Osteopath, a Chiropractor and a Physio?
It is the one question that we get asked all the time. Every answer you receive will probably be different depending on who you ask. Each profession will probably claim their way is the best!
So let us start by looking at what is the same
- They all treat musculoskeletal problems of the human body.
- They all treat with the aim of reducing aches, pains and injuries.
- They all work within a bio-psycho-social model. This means they take into consideration your psychological health and how that might affect your physical health. A total body approach.
- They are all educated to degree level.
- They all are bound by registration and have protected titles. This means no-one can use the title unless they are fully qualified, registered and insured.
So how do you choose who to see?
Today there seems to be more overlap between these professions than ever before with the use of similar techniques, skills and approaches, so actually choosing who to see can sometimes come down to personal recommendation or just finding the practitioner who you get on with and feel fits with you.
Here is a little help
The Osteopath
Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. It works with the structure and function of the body and is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues functioning smoothly together.
To an osteopath, for your body to work well, its structure must also work well. So osteopaths work to restore your body to a state of balance, where possible without the use of drugs or surgery. Osteopaths use touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and to help your bodyÔÇÖs own healing mechanisms. They may also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring.
The Chiropractor
Chiropractors tend to work very similarly to osteopaths however they tend to use more manipulation techniques (that is the clicking part!) and less soft tissue techniques. They evolved from the theory that the integrity and structure of the spine is the solution to stimulation of nerves, and therefore the health of the body.
The Physiotherapist
Physiotherapists specialise in the rehabilitation of acute and chronic joint injury, often prescribing exercises that the patient carries out at home. They also regularly use machines such as Ultrasound or ITF/TENS machines to treat an injured area.
Within the NHS, the diagnosis and treatment of patients tends to emanate from an orthopaedic surgeon, consultant rheumatologist or GP rather than the Physio. As a result their treatment will also tend to be more focused on a specific issue rather than integrative such as in the case of treatment by a Chiropractor or Osteopath. In private practice this may be different.
So there you go. If you are no clearer who to get an appointment with, then please give us a call and we can discuss your needs.
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Avin will start by asking about your problem, your general health and your medical history. He will then look at how you move and examine the area that is bothering you, as well as other areas that may be contributing. He will explain what he thinks is going on and, if it is appropriate, start treatment in the same session. You will usually leave with advice or simple exercises to do at home.
First appointments usually last around 30 minutes, as they include a full case history and examination. Follow-up appointments usually last around 20 minutes.
Avin usually needs to see and feel the area being treated, so you may be asked to undress down to your underwear. Please wear underwear you feel comfortable in. If you would prefer, you can bring loose shorts or a vest top. You will never be asked to do anything you are not comfortable with.
Yes. You are welcome to bring a friend or family member with you. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Most people find treatment comfortable. If an area is already sore, you may feel some tenderness whilst it is being treated, but Avin will check in with you and change his approach if anything feels like too much. Many of the techniques he uses are very gentle.
No. Avin is a registered osteopath and medical acupuncturist, not a medical doctor. He is registered with the General Osteopathic Council (registration number 6152) and has over 20 years’ clinical experience. If he thinks you need to see your GP or have tests, he will tell you.
No. You can book directly with Avin, in the same way you would book a dentist or optician. Some private health insurers ask for a GP referral before they will pay for treatment, so check with your insurer first if you are planning to claim.
Osteopathy is only occasionally available on the NHS and waiting lists can be long. Avin’s clinics are private, so you can book an appointment directly, often within a few days, and emergency appointments are available for sudden pain.
Avin runs regular clinics in Oakham (6 Church Street, Oakham, LE15 6AA), Scraptoft (11 Long Close, Scraptoft, LE7 9XS) and Wigston (The Two Steeples Medical Centre, Wigston, LE18 2EW). He sees patients from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, and offers emergency home visits.
Oakham: Monday and Thursday, 7am to 5pm.
Scraptoft: Monday 5.40pm to 7pm, Tuesday 8.40am to 7pm, Thursday 5.40pm to 7pm, Friday 8.40am to 5pm and Saturday 7am to 11am.
Wigston: Wednesday, 7am to 5.20pm.
Emergency appointments are available on Saturday afternoons and Sundays.
The Scraptoft and Wigston clinics both have plenty of parking, and The Two Steeples Medical Centre in Wigston has full disabled access. There is no parking at the Oakham clinic itself, but you can park on the street nearby or in the council car park on Church Street.
Yes. Avin offers emergency home visits across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for people who are in too much pain to travel. Call 07739 828 664 to arrange one. Fees for home visits are available on request.
Yes. Avin treats patients of all ages, from newborn babies to older adults, and adapts his techniques to suit each person. A parent or guardian must come along to appointments for anyone under 16.
Not necessarily. The ‘click’ some people associate with osteopaths is just one technique, and many patients are treated without it. Avin will only use joint manipulation if he thinks it is suitable for you and you are happy for him to do so.
This is a common misunderstanding. Joints rarely ‘pop out’ of place. More often a joint becomes stiff or restricted, along with the muscles around it. Treatment aims to help that area move more freely again, rather than physically putting anything back.
Some people feel a little tired or achy for a day or two afterwards, a bit like after exercise you are not used to. This usually settles quickly. If you are worried about how you feel after treatment, call Avin on 07739 828 664.
It depends on the problem, how long you have had it and your general health. Avin will talk you through a plan at your first appointment. His approach is ‘Find it, Fix it, Leave it’, which means he aims to see you only for as long as you need, rather than booking you in for a long course of treatment by default.
It is Avin’s simple approach to treatment. ‘Find it’ means working out what is really causing your problem, which may not be where it hurts. ‘Fix it’ means treating that cause as directly as possible. ‘Leave it’ means not over-treating, and giving you the advice you need to help prevent the problem coming back.
An initial osteopathy or medical acupuncture appointment costs £75 and follow-up appointments cost £60. Cranial osteopathy costs £80 for an initial appointment and £70 for a follow-up. Emergency and out-of-hours appointments cost £100. Home visit fees are available on request by calling 07739 828 664.
Yes, in most cases. Avin is registered with the major UK health insurers, including AXA, Cigna, Exeter, WPA, HSA and Standard Life. You pay the clinic at your appointment and then claim the cost back from your insurer. Check your policy first, as some insurers need a GP referral or an authorisation code before your appointment.
You can pay by card, cash or bank transfer at the end of your appointment.
Please give at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or move your appointment, so the slot can be offered to another patient. Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice, and missed appointments, are charged at the full cost of the appointment.
We understand that cancellations sometimes can’t be helped because of illness or an emergency, and we will take genuine circumstances into account.
You can book online through the Appointments page on this website, or call or WhatsApp Avin on 07739 828 664. Not every appointment slot is released online, so if you cannot see a time that suits you, it is worth getting in touch directly. You will receive a confirmation email after booking and a reminder two days before.
Osteopathy may help with a range of muscle and joint problems, including back pain, neck pain, sciatica, joint pain, arthritic pain, muscle spasms, headaches arising from the neck, shoulder pain linked to the neck or upper back and minor sports injuries. If Avin thinks your problem needs a different kind of care, he will tell you and suggest who to see.
Avin will always be honest with you. If your symptoms suggest something that needs medical investigation, or that osteopathy is unlikely to help, he will explain why and advise you to see your GP or another appropriate professional.
Yes, if you have them. Please bring a list of any medication you are currently taking, as well as any recent X-ray, MRI or blood test results related to your problem. This helps Avin build a complete picture of your health.
Please call or WhatsApp Avin on 07739 828 664 as soon as possible. He will do his best to accommodate you, but your appointment may need to be shortened to avoid delaying the next patient.
Osteopathy can be suitable for many people with thinning bones or osteoporosis. Avin takes a full medical history first and uses gentle, low-impact techniques, such as soft tissue massage and gentle joint movement, and avoids strong joint manipulation.
If your joints are unusually flexible (hypermobile), they can sometimes lack stability, leading to muscle fatigue and aching. Osteopathy may help with these aches. Avin focuses on safe, gentle movement and targeted strengthening advice rather than over-stretching your joints.
An osteopath is a regulated healthcare professional who looks at how your muscles, joints and ligaments are working together. Avin Patel uses his hands to assess and treat, with techniques such as massage, stretching, gentle joint movement and, where appropriate, manipulation. He also gives advice on posture and exercises so you can help yourself between appointments.
All three work with muscle and joint problems, and there is a lot of overlap. Osteopaths tend to look at the whole body rather than just the sore spot, and use a wide range of hands-on techniques alongside exercise advice. Physiotherapists often focus more on exercise-based rehab, and chiropractors often focus more on the spine. The best choice is usually the practitioner you feel comfortable with who is properly registered.
