Difference between osteopath and physiotherapist? Cheshire

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jennie1000

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I want to give my horse a back check. Does anyone know the difference between an osteopath and a physiotherapist? Do they work differently? Train differently?

I have previously had Adam till stone from weaver house but other people have recxomended Rachel green. I'm in the Cheshire area.
 
In a very basic nutshell, physios work with the muscular structure and osteos work with the skeletal structure. Being married to a physio I am aware of the huge bias they hold against each other so am unable to comment further!
 
I can highly recommed Gabrielle Kerfoot in Macclesfield, she is a veterinary physiotherapist. She also runs a rehab yard and works very closely with Liverpool Vet teaching hospital
 
Thanks for explaining the difference.... Think it's a bit clearer in my head now. It's so overwhelming trying to make the choice as to who to go with.

Is there a qualification that I'm looking for in each of these different people?
 
I think Rachel is a chiropractor...am sure she came out to my horse once (Weaver House are far too expensive and I've never been that impressed with the work I've seen, so I used Rachel instead).

Physio's work on muscles, osteopaths work on spine-related stuff. I go to an osteo for myself but IMHO she's more like a physio as everything she does is muscular. Personally I don't use osteo's or chiro's for horses as they tend to make very grand claims about how they can "pop the horse's pelvis back in line", which is absolute nonsense. The osteo who treats me always says you can't manipulate bones (although a lot of horsey "back men" seem to think they can) but you can work on the muscles around them to allow the body to support itself properly.

I use a proper veterinary physio for my horse but I know a few people don't like her honesty... I've seen chiro's and osteo's go to horses, claim to wave a magic wand and the owner then think the horse is "cured". And then complain when the horse reverts back a few weeks later. When my physio comes, she does do a lot of stretches and manipulations but more importantly, IMHO, she discusses the work my horse is doing, how I could change/improve that to work on certain issues, gives me stretches to do and always tells people you can't expect miracles in one sessions... it's all about working the horse correctly every day. Many people don't want to hear that they need to change the things they're doing with the horse, or include new things, they just want their horse to have a nice massage and be told "he's cured".
 
Trouble4125 said:
An Osteopath would be my preference because they train for humans and do a really intensive training course to work with Horses. Also because they are able to use the skills of both a physio and osteopath...
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Physio's have to train for people too... the chartered veterinary physio I use did a people physio degree first then went on to train in horses.
 
Do you mean Rachel Greetham (can never remember if her married name is Green and she goes professionally under Greetham ?) Anyway, if you do then she is a physio and is excellent, I wouldn't hesitate in recommending her :)
 
My human physio says that in the old days physios gave people exercises to help them recover from injury and osteo's and chiro's did manipulation. She said nowdays a good physio should do some manipulation and give you exercises. She said that the osteos and chiro's try to get you to have perfect physical alignment in your skeleton which just isn't possible for lots of people and that they will happily take money off you every month in the guise of their trying to achieve this perfection.

I personally use a physio because my lady is bloomin marvellous.
 
Thanks for explaining the difference.... Think it's a bit clearer in my head now. It's so overwhelming trying to make the choice as to who to go with.

Is there a qualification that I'm looking for in each of these different people?
 
Ali2 that is the Rachel I mean. I emailed my enquiry and they so far har been extremely fast is responding ad given me lots of information. I was impressed I just want to make sure I chooses the right type of person. Especially seeing as there seems to be so little inobout there and theres not a bee all an end all qualification like a farrier has!!! I was thinking of having her checked once a year? If I'm doing the right thing?
 
Personally I would always got for a physio over a chiropractor or osteopath, based on personal preference and previous experience! :)
 
jennie1000 said:
Ali2 that is the Rachel I mean. I emailed my enquiry and they so far har been extremely fast is responding ad given me lots of information. I was impressed I just want to make sure I chooses the right type of person. Especially seeing as there seems to be so little inobout there and theres not a bee all an end all qualification like a farrier has!!! I was thinking of having her checked once a year? If I'm doing the right thing?
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Rachel is great. I'd get her out for an assessment and any treatment (if required, hopefully not!) and let her guide you on how often she needs to be seen. My boys have 6 monthly checks when all is well :)
 
Trouble4125 said:
It's simples:
Chiropractor: Bones and Joints
Osteopath: Bones, Joints and Muscle
Physio: Muscle

An Osteopath would be my preference because they train for humans and do a really intensive training course to work with Horses. Also because they are able to use the skills of both a physio and osteopath...
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Very True, Osteos have to go through the most training and are also able to diagnose. I use Emily Bewsey based in Yorkshire however through her website there are links to other good osteos.

I have tried and tested all 3 for both myself and horse and woudnt use anything other than a classical osteo now
 
I can only speak on behalf of physios rather than osteopaths, but:

To become an equine physio you have to first do 3 years physiotherapy degree for people, you then ideally have to work with people for at least 2 years in a musculoskeletal setting, you then have to do a 2 year part time veterinary physiotherapy masters - i.e. that's a good 7 years training to become an equine physio :) Physios also don't "just do muscles", a good physio should look at the whole body structure and environmental factors affecting your horse. As a human physio I treat muscles, ligaments, nerves, bones - everything!
 
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