To recover after an injury or to overcome muscle and / or joint pain (among other things), the intervention of a professional is essential.
The problem ? Like many French people, you do not necessarily know where to turn, the differences between physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors are often too subtle for laymen. Philippe Fleuriau, president of the French Chiropractic Association, readily admits: “It’s complicated, because we are all on the same pathological management ground.” Which, however, is no reason not to try to sort it out.
Physiotherapists
- What are they dealing with?
Orthopedic (lesions, sprains, muscle problems, etc.), rheumatological (osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, inflammatory diseases), urogynecological, neurological (Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, hemiplegia), pneumological (bronchopneumopathies, bronchiolitis, etc.) problems: the field intervention of physiotherapists, all state graduates, is extensive. “And there are, in addition, specificities for some, who specialize in sports physiotherapy and intervene in the monitoring of training and musculoskeletal problems inherent in the practice of sport“, explains Laurent Rousseau, secretary general of the FFMKR (French Federation of Physiotherapists and Reeducers).
- How do they work?
First of all, it is important to note that, as Laurent Rousseau explains, “Physiologists work on medical prescription. Sometimes we have direct access to the patient for an emergency, but we tell his doctor” And then ? “There are two parts. First of all, support and care, for which we are implementing techniques (such as manipulations, massages or strengthening exercises, editor’s note) which accelerate and guide the healing of a given pathology. “ An approach supplemented by a more global approach: “In some settings, like everything rheumatological, we will work on biomechanics, but also psychological and social to better understand the person and the origin of his pain or his disabilities.”
- In which case to choose them?
“I would say that the person has to determine the right type of practitioner based on their beliefs and knowledge. If the patient has a very mechanical view of their health (something is wrong, it needs to be fixed), the osteo and the chiropractor can stick “, explains Laurent Rousseau, before specifying that physiotherapists are perhaps more suitable for those who want to be “accompanied by their doctor and benefit from a global vision, especially when it comes to treating a chronic disease such as low back pain. But the important thing is to start from the patient, instead of attaching a type of practitioner to a given problem. “
Osteopaths
- What are they dealing with?
“Mostly various and varied pains such as back pain (low back pain, back pain, neck pain) but also temporary suffering after trauma, such as sprains or fractures “, details Dominique Blanc, president of the Association of Osteopaths of France.
- How do they work?
To better understand the work of osteopaths, it is necessary to understand the principle of connective tissue, these biological membranes which make the link between the different tissues of the body: “The ligaments, the synovial membranes, the peritoneum, the meninges, all that is connective tissue”, explains Dominique Blanc. “It is found everywhere in the body, and it is sometimes subjected to tensions related to the history of the patient, his traumas and his morphology, or even a surgical intervention.” Following a general assessment, the osteos identify these tensions apply “joint manipulation techniques. But we will also be interested in the viscera and the skull. This is our real specificity.”
- In which case to choose them?
Again, it all depends on your beliefs. “But what is important in our case, beyond the cranial and visceral work, is the notion of wholeness. When we see a patient, we do not treat a region or a joint but the whole of the individual. “, explains Dominique Blanc, who also specifies that osteo “work in collaboration with all health professionals, and in particular physiotherapists. We are completely complementary.”
Chiropractors
- What are they dealing with?
“Anything that is musculoskeletal”, explains Philippe Fleuriau. “It is therefore a fairly broad therapeutic field, which goes from back pain to knee problems through ankle problems. Our axis of treatment is the spine and the pelvis, but we are working also on peripheral joints, such as wrists, elbows, knees or hips. “
- How do they work?
Spinal mobilization and manipulation. This is the main principle on which chiropractors base their interventions. “Then there are three types of manipulations: strictly manual, as with osteoarthritis, mechanically assisted or instrumental (that is to say with tools specific to the profession, for patients who do not wish to be manipulated, editor’s note.) But You should know that in France, we are one of the only two professions authorized to practice vertebral manipulations with force vectors (that is to say based on impulses, nldr.) Physiologists and osteos are not allowed . “
- In which case to choose them?
It all depends, again, on your preferences. “But it should be noted that a physiotherapist, for example, cannot go much further than what the patient’s doctor asks him to do “, specifies Phillipe Fleuriau. “That said, there are situations in which the intervention of another practitioner, such as for a massage or the implementation of exercises in the case of the physiotherapist, is necessary. We can advise our patients to take care of it. multidisciplinary. But I would say that the best is still to try to find out! “
Also read:
- Back pain: is it mechanical or inflammatory?
- Postural stretching: the anti-back pain gym
- Back pain: 6 sports that provide relief
- Telecommuting: 5 tips for choosing an office chair
- Muscu at home: 4 exercises to keep in shape
