Physios, Osteos and Masseurs -
What is the difference and when should I see one?
by Martin Kingston
http://www.massage-therapy-london.co.uk
+44 20 8400 9712 / +44 7710 314432
This article appeared in the newsletter for BodyworkersLondon.com
THIS ARTICLE REFLECTS THE PRIVATE VIEWS OF THE AUTHOR AND SHOULD NOT
BE CONSIDERED A MEDICAL REFERENCE.
I bet you have heard a friend enthusing about their osteopath, while
another praises his physiotherapist.
You ask yourself "so what's the difference, and how do my massages
relate to all this?"
All these different titles seem a bit obscure when they are all bodyworkers,
right? Right!
Although good practitioners learn from each other, whatever the discipline,
there are still some important differences between the practices, and
they are well worth knowing.
So What is a Physiotherapist?
The "Society of Trained Masseurs" was formed in 1894 in London
to work in hospitals with doctors. During the First World War there was
a lot of success working doing physical work with troops returning from
the front, and in 1920 it was renamed the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
(CSP). With major advances in medical technology and pharmacology, and
the fascination at the time with all things mechanical, electronic techniques
took precedence over massage, however.
The CSP has protection of name since 2002, and only CSP members can call
themselves "physiotherapists" or "physical therapists".
They have a professional register and practitioners have to complete an
expensive degree course before they can practice.
Many physiotherapists have learned from other disciplines, but the focus
of training is still the utilitarian physical recuperation from major
illness and their focus is on the National Health Service. It can take
months to see an NHS physio, and sometimes other compensation injuries
develop in the wait. Other physios operate privately, and have become
specialists in all areas of healthcare. People interested in sports and
physical health should check out the books of Chris Norris. Highly skilled
in conventional medicine, but consequently often a tad expensive and focussed
on specific symptoms and procedures.
Definitely worth going to, however, if you have a serious medical condition
that may require co-ordination with other medics. For ongoing bodywork,
however, check their prices.
Osteopathy
The 19th Century in the US was a time of great change and new ideas.
Osteopathy and Chiropracty were pioneered by 2 charismatic guys that learned
european "bonesetting" folk medicine and Native American techniques.Chiropracty
originally lay the blame for most ill-health on interrupted nerves, while
osteopathy considered blood circulation crucial. Both approaches focus
on manipulation, particularly of joints, to free up blockages in flow.
Nowadays in the US chiropracty is closely associated with conventional
medicine, while in the UK osteopathy is more established - a tribute to
the effective organisation of the respective professional associations
in each country.
Osteopaths here are educated on an expensive (£20k+) 4 year degree
course, and are therefore strongly motivated to recoup expenses with intensive
short consultations. They are thorough in their investigations, however,
and are likely to be "holistic" in their approach, looking at
diet and lifestyle, attitudes and other factors, besides just physical
symptoms.
They have a single professional body and register, and protection of
the name "osteopath".
Masseurs
Massage Therapists are more artisan. The industry is barely regulated,
and so there is a lot of competition between people with different skill
levels. People are used to paying low prices for low skilled work, and
the focus has been on "feeling good" to de-stress rather than
recovery from injury. Because of the competition, massage has been constantly
re-inventing itself, and borrowing ideas from other traditions to create
a product that people want. All in all it can be confusing, and a triumph
of marketing over substance sometimes, and many practitioners do not have
great confidence in their work.
The General Council for Massage is trying to create a single professional
body and register of therapists, like physiotherapy and osteopathy. Like
them, however, it will take some years to bring about.
Massage concentrates on the soft tissues of the body - muscle, tendon
and fascia, rather thank joint capusles and bone. An ostopath will manipulate
a joint to free up a joint out of place, while a masseur will concentrate
on the muscles in spasm pulling on the bones. This means, if a masseur
says "oops" you will have a bruise and cuss your therapist;
if an ostopath says "oops" you may spend 2 weeks in bed and
then sue!
So when go to a Masseur?
Go to a masseur for physical maintenance of good health and wellbeing
when there is not anything major wrong with you, or if the condition is
well understood. If they are properly trained, they will know the limits
of their expertise, and to refer you on to a specialist. If you want to
make a project of regular bodywork - to help your stress levels, relieve
muscular aches and pains or to improve athletic performance - go to a
good massage therapist, because we are comparatively cheap!
We hope to hear from you soon! :-D
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