Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
Insight Chiropractic

2435 Forest Ave #110

San Jose, CA 95128 US

(408) 244-0727

Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Doctor
    • Meet the Team
  • New Patient Center
    • Why Choose Us?
    • Online Forms
    • What to Expect
      • Your First Visit
      • Phase 1: Relief Care
      • Phase 2: Corrective Care
      • Phase 3: Wellness Care
    • Virtual Office Tour
    • Health Resources
    • Payment Options
  • Services
    • Chiropractic Care
    • Active Release Technique
    • Physio-Therapy
    • Sports Medicine
    • Massage Therapy
    • Car Accident Injury
  • Functional Nutrition
    • Nutrition Response Testing
    • 21 Day Purification Program
  • Foot Care
    • Foot Scan
    • Plantar Fasciitis
    • Blister Care
  • Senior Balance Therapy
    • Focus on Seniors
    • Senior Chiropractic Care
    • Balance Therapy Class Description and Pictures
    • Balance Therapy Testimonals
  • Share With Us
  • Office Hours
  • Contact Us
  • Chiropractic Blog
  • Community Content
    • About Chiropractic Care
      • What is Chiropractic
      • How Does it Work
      • Who is Chiropractic For
      • Vertebral Subluxation
      • Wellness Resources
    • Common Conditions Treated
      • Auto Accident Injuries
      • Back and Shoulder Pain
      • Body Pain
      • Chronic Condition Relief
        • Conditions Affecting Women
        • Headaches
      • Herniated Discs
      • Improved Health
      • Pediatric Ailments
      • Repetitive Use Injuries
      • Respiratory Function
    • Health & Wellness
      • Healthy Thinking
        • Get Positive
        • Relaxation Techniques
      • Life in Motion
      • Wellness Lifestyle Tips
        • Treat Yourself Well
        • Treat Others Well
        • Eat Well
      • Wellness Essentials
        • At Home
        • At Work
        • Exercise
        • Nutrition
        • What You Wear
      • Wellness Perspectives
        • Mental
        • Spiritual
        • Social
        • Physical
    • Therapies & Techniques
      • Techniques
      • Therapies
    • Newsletter Library
      • Back, Body & Joint Pain
      • Healthy Tips
      • Exercise & Fitness
      • Injury Rehab & Prevention
      • Kid's Health
      • Illness Prevention
      • Chronic Conditions
      • Nutrition & Healthy Eating
      • Breaking Bad Habits
      • Senior Health
      • Weight Loss
      • Pregnancy & Parenting
      • Wellness
      • Mind-Body Connection
      • Stress & Anxiety
      • Life-Work Balance
      • Staying Young
      • Staying Motivated
    • Wellness4Kids
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Newsletter Library >
  • March Newsletter: The Key Differences between Chiropractors and Osteopaths

March Newsletter: The Key Differences between Chiropractors and Osteopaths

  • Created in Newsletter Library

Chiropractor adjusts woman's shoulder

Chiropractors and Osteopaths: The Key Difference Between Them

It's not always easy to decide which healthcare professional to see when you're in pain. Although both chiropractors and osteopaths treat muscle and joint pain, treatment approaches do differ.

Education

Osteopaths attend a four-year school of osteopathic medicine after receiving an undergraduate degree. Classes focus on the musculoskeletal system in addition to traditional medical school classes. Upon graduation, students are awarded the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. Their hands-on education continues during multi-year residencies and fellowships following graduation. Residencies allow the doctors to specialize in a particular area of medicine, such as family practice, internal medicine, surgery or obstetrics/gynecology.

Chiropractors may attend chiropractic school after receiving an undergraduate degree or after completing 90 credit hours or three years of undergraduate studies. The Association of Chiropractic Colleges notes that 24 of those hours must be earned in physical or life sciences. Completing chiropractic school takes three to four years, depending on the school. Students take classes in anatomy, physiology and chemistry, in addition to learning how to perform chiropractic treatments. During the final year of the program, students usually work exclusively with patients. New chiropractors receive the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree when they graduate.

Treatment Scope

Osteopaths believe that all systems of the body are connected. The osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMT) DOs learn during medical school relieve muscle and joint pain and treat asthma, migraines, menstrual problems, fibromyalgia, digestive disorders and other conditions.

DOs also provide the same type of treatment options as medical doctors. Depending on their specialty, osteopaths can treat the flu, determine the cause of your heartburn, deliver your baby, or remove your appendix. They use holistic diagnostic methods that consider the whole person rather than just a specific system or body part.

Chiropractors focus on issues that affect the bones, muscles and joints and frequently treat back and neck pain. Although chiropractors can't prescribe medications or perform surgery, they also focus on holistic medicine. In fact, some common symptoms, such as indigestion or frequent illnesses, could actually be related to subluxation (misalignments) of the spine. Realigning the vertebrae with spinal manipulation, a common chiropractic treatment, not only eases pain, but can help improve health by reducing pressure on the nerves that control organs and systems.

Procedures

OMT and chiropractic treatments both involve hands-on treatments, although the techniques used for these therapies differ. Among the treatments an osteopath may use are:

  • Muscle Energy Technique. During this technique, the patient tenses a muscle while the osteopath provides resistance. Muscle energy technique increases joint mobility and eases pain and stiffness.
  • Strain-Counterstrain Technique. Strain-Counterstrain relieves soft muscle spasms. This technique involves placing the body part in a position that relaxes the muscle and stops the spasm.
  • Indirect Treatment. Indirect treatment relaxes tight tissues by moving them through three planes of movement.

Both chiropractors and osteopaths use massage to relax tight muscles and high velocity/low amplitude techniques to realign vertebrae. Called "spinal manipulation," by chiropractors, the treatment involves quick, hands-on thrusts that move the vertebrae back into place.

Chiropractors also offer several other treatments, including:

  • Flexion-Distraction. Flexion-distraction is performed on a special moving table. Table movements combined with hands-on treatments decompress your spine. The therapy is helpful for chronic back pain and stiffness. It's often used to reduce herniated disc bulging and relieve pressure on spinal discs and nerves.
  • Ultrasound Therapy. A handheld ultrasound device produces sound waves that heat and relax deep tissues, relieve pain and inflammation, and increase circulation.
  • Traction. Traction uses gentle pressure to stretch the spine. The chiropractor may use his or her hands to provide the therapy or use a traction table. Traction relieves pressure on nerves, tissues and spinal discs and eases head and neck pain.
  • Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation (TENS). A gentle electrical current passes through electrodes attached to the skin and prevents pain signals from reaching the brain during this treatment.

Treatment Availability

Although osteopaths can provide OMT, many of them don't use the treatment on a regular basis, according to a 2018 survey of osteopathic physicians conducted by the American Osteopathic Association. Seventy-seven percent of the doctors who responded said they used the techniques on fewer than 5% of patients. Fortunately, hands-on treatments are readily available at chiropractic offices.

Bothered by joint pain, stiffness, muscle sprains and strains, or frequent headaches? Chiropractic treatment relieves these painful conditions naturally. Call us to schedule an appointment with the chiropractor.

Sources:

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: About Osteopathic Medicine

https://www.aacom.org/become-a-doctor/about-osteopathic-medicine

WebMD: DOs, Chiropractors, and MDs: How They’re Different, 5/4/2022

https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/osteopathic-versus-md-chiropractor

SPINE-Health: Chiropractic and Osteopathic

https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/chiropractic-and-osteopathic

Journal of Osteopathic Medicine: Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) Use Among Osteopathic Physicians in the United States, 1/1/2021

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33512391/

  • About Chiropractic Care
    • What is Chiropractic
    • How Does it Work
    • Who is Chiropractic For
    • Vertebral Subluxation
    • Wellness Resources
  • Common Conditions Treated
    • Auto Accident Injuries
    • Back and Shoulder Pain
    • Body Pain
    • Chronic Condition Relief
      • Conditions Affecting Women
      • Headaches
    • Herniated Discs
    • Improved Health
    • Pediatric Ailments
    • Repetitive Use Injuries
    • Respiratory Function
  • Health & Wellness
    • Healthy Thinking
      • Get Positive
      • Relaxation Techniques
    • Life in Motion
    • Wellness Lifestyle Tips
      • Treat Yourself Well
      • Treat Others Well
      • Eat Well
    • Wellness Essentials
      • At Home
      • At Work
      • Exercise
      • Nutrition
      • What You Wear
    • Wellness Perspectives
      • Mental
      • Spiritual
      • Social
      • Physical
  • Therapies & Techniques
    • Techniques
    • Therapies
  • Newsletter Library
    • Back, Body & Joint Pain
    • Healthy Tips
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Injury Rehab & Prevention
    • Kid's Health
    • Illness Prevention
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Nutrition & Healthy Eating
    • Breaking Bad Habits
    • Senior Health
    • Weight Loss
    • Pregnancy & Parenting
    • Wellness
    • Mind-Body Connection
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Life-Work Balance
    • Staying Young
    • Staying Motivated
  • Wellness4Kids

Sign up using the form or call 408-244-0727 to make your appointment.

Featured Services

Click to Find Out More

  • Services

    We strive to provide complete care for our patients. Learn more about all the services we provide.
    Learn More
  • Make an Appointment

    We will do our best to accommodate your busy schedule. Schedule and appointment today!
    Schedule Now
  • Online Forms

    Our patient forms are available online so they can be completed in the convenience of your own home of offices.
    View Forms

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

1:00pm

7:00pm

Tuesday:

1:00pm

7:00pm

Wednesday:

9:30am

6:00pm

Thursday:

Closed

Closed

Friday:

9:30am

1:00pm

Saturday:

Closed

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Closed

Locations

Find us on the map

Testimonial

Review By Our Satisfied Patient

  • "Dr. Jen helped me fully recover from a car accident when my primary care physician, long-term physical therapy, and therapeutic massage had no benefit at all. I've had really mixed experiences with chiropractors in the past (mostly unhelpful), but Dr. Jen knows techniques that were very effective and restored full range of motion to my neck without pain. I am beyond grateful and have referred one of my best friends to her; the friend is just as delighted as I am. In addition to being uniquely effective, Dr. Jen provides the perfect balance between nurturing human warmth and professional efficiency. I think she's amazing."
    Dan H. San Jose, CA

Featured Articles

Read about interesting topics

  • October Newsletter: Can Chiropractic Care Help with Digestive Disorders?

    Could chiropractic care offer the solution to your digestive problems? ...

    Read More
  • October Newsletter: Chiropractic Care to Improve Workplace Ergonomics

    Could chiropractic care and ergonomics be the keys to easing your work-related aches and pains? ...

    Read More
  • September Newsletter: Chiropractic Care for Tendinitis

    Not sure what to do about tendinitis pain? Call your chiropractor! ...

    Read More
  • September Newsletter: How Your Chiropractor Can Help with Chronic Pain

    Tired of living with chronic pain? Find out if chiropractic car can help. ...

    Read More
  • August Newsletter: Text Neck Syndrome: How Your Chiropractor Can Help

    Does your neck hurt when you use your cellphone? You could have text neck, one of the many conditions chiropractors treat. ...

    Read More
  • August Newsletter: Chiropractic Care for Autoimmune Diseases

    Having trouble coping with autoimmune disease symptoms? Give your chiropractor a call. ...

    Read More
  • July Newsletter: How Your Chiropractor Can Help Relieve Migraines

    Wondering if chiropractic treatment could ease your migraine pain? ...

    Read More
  • July Newsletter: How Chiropractic Care Can Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

    Could a visit to the chiropractor relieve your painful carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms? ...

    Read More
  • June Newsletter: Chiropractic Care for Whiplash

    Suffering from whiplash? Chiropractic care could ease your neck pain. ...

    Read More
  • June Newsletter: How Your Chiropractor Can Help with Knee Pain

    Have you considered chiropractic care for your knee pain? ...

    Read More

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Sign up for more articles

Follow Us

  • Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In