Many people look for different treatments. You will notice some choosing traditional Chinese medicine to balance their bodies and treat their condition. The common ones you will see from them are acupuncture, tai chi, and herbal medicines. However, there are other procedures you can do, especially if your problem concerns the musculoskeletal system and even vertigo. With this, you might be familiar with physiotherapy and osteopathy. If you are interested, here are the things you need to know about them.
PHYSIOTHERAPY VS OSTEOPATHY
Physiotherapy and osteopathy always bring confusion to people. Aside from physiotherapy, you will also see osteopathy performed in a physiotherapy clinic in Singapore. It could be difficult to distinguish their differences from each other, but to help you, these are some of the differences you will notice between them:
HEALTH PROBLEM SCOPE
The scope of the health problems is one of the most confusing factors between physiotherapy and osteopathy. It is because these therapies underwent the same training, making them have some similarities with each other. You will see a physiotherapist in Singapore treating the following:
- Physiotherapy: this treatment covers neurological health, musculoskeletal, and respiratory.
- Osteopathy: this procedure is for joint and spinal manipulation and musculoskeletal health.
The similarity that you will notice is they both treat the musculoskeletal system.
TREATMENT METHODS
As mentioned, the training of osteopathy and physiotherapy are the same. However, the treatment method is one of the things where they differ. If you visit a physiotherapy clinic, these are the treatments they do:
- Physiotherapy: the hands-on approach is 60%. Treatments they do involve electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, and ultrasound.
- Osteopathy: the hands-on approach is 90%. They do muscle energy, stretching, and pain education.
These are only some of the differences they have in terms of treatment. If you want to experience one that is more hands-on, try osteopathy.
HEALTH CONDITIONS
The health conditions they treat are also part of the confusion because they offer treatments for the same health problem. To help you, here are some issues where they differ and match:
- Physiotherapy: tendon issues, arthritis, posture, sciatica, knee pain, wrist pain, ankle pain.
- Osteopathy: migraine, neurological pain, shoulder pain, pregnancy pain, muscle pain.
- Covered by both: headache, neck pain, sports injuries, back pain.
Some people with injuries look for a sports injury clinic in Singapore. If you are experiencing the same, consider visiting them first to see what treatment works for you.
TREATMENT COST
Of course, the cost of the treatment is also one of the differences since they offer a different kind of procedure. Some would go for one that is cheaper than the other, especially if the problem they are experiencing is treatable by both.
- Physiotherapy: $80 – $130
- Osteopathy: $70 – $120
Sometimes, the fees also depend on the physiotherapy clinic.
PHILOSOPHY
You can also base the treatment you want to get on their philosophy since the two have different beliefs in treating people. These are their idea differences:
- Physiotherapy: believes in traditional medicine, therapies, hands-on treatment, and medication.
- Osteopathy: “body is a whole”, hands-on treatment, self-healing mechanism, and connection in all systems in the body.
By knowing these factors, you can decide what procedure you want to undergo. You can also ask a physiotherapist to learn about their other differences.
QUESTIONS TO ASK A PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Before you go to a physiotherapy clinic in Singapore, you must have enough knowledge about them and the treatment you want to get. But of course, you do not need to base all your knowledge on what you will see or read on the internet. Asking questions is a way to learn, and here are some of the things you might ask in a physiotherapist:
WHAT ARE THE COMMON ISSUES HAVE YOU TREATED?
Asking the common issues they have treated will let you know if the physiotherapy clinichas enough experience in the field. You will also see if they are knowledgeable enough about your condition.
DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE?
Insurance is necessary, whatever service it is that you will get. It can protect both the patient and the therapist if something goes wrong in the treatment.
ARE YOU REGISTERED?
It is okay to ask a physiotherapist if they are registered. This question will help you know if they are reliable and if you can trust them.
WHAT CONDITIONS ARE DIFFICULT TO TREAT?
You can have a little chat with them by starting with their experience. And, this question is one of the things that could begin the conversation.
DO YOU ALSO TREAT VERTIGO?
Not many people know, but vertigo is also treatable with the help of physiotherapy. But you can also search for a vertigo specialist in Singapore to learn more.
HOW MANY SESSIONS DO I NEED TO COMPLETE?
Some treatments need several sessions to complete the whole procedure. You need to know about it so you can fix and adjust your schedule.
IS THERE ANY AFTERCARE?
Aftercare is applicable in some treatments. Do not forget to ask if ever the physiotherapist did not tell you any. It might help you get better in no time.
IS YOUR TREATMENT METHOD PAINFUL?
Pain is one of the things that many people do not want to experience. If you are one of them, ask it first to know if it is bearable or if you will decide to postpone the treatment.
HOW IS PHYSIOTHERAPY DIFFERENT FROM OSTEOPATHY?
Confusions between physiotherapy and osteopathy continue to rise. To know which treatment is for you, ask the physiotherapist first. You can have any of the two, depending on your situation.
WHAT OUTCOME DO I NEED TO EXPECT?
Getting better is the result you will expect, of course. But aside from that, what else? You need to know about it so you will not get shocked once you experience it.
These questions will help you learn more about physiotherapy and a physiotherapist. You will have ideas about them and recommend them to your family and friends.
These are the factors you need to remember if you want to treat your condition more naturally. You will know more about it by searching a physiotherapy clinic in Singapore or visiting Calibrate Health’s website. You can check all the offers and services they have for their patients.