Are Osteopaths Outside of the U.S. Very Similar to Chiropractors?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Well both are little more than glorified masseurs. Outside the US they don't prescribe and don't operate and are fake doctors.

Osteopaths deny the germ theory of disease so it's probably a good thing they can't prescribe, chiropractors push and peddle useless treatments for which there is not a jot of evidence. So you pays your money and take your choices.

Don't forget that the manipulations can cause sudden and unexpected deaths (unexpected to the patients that is). US trained osteopaths actually can treat patients in both the US and Canada and in Canada are allowed to call themselves doctor. UK and elsewhere trained osteopaths are nothing more than quacks. The difference is that in the 50's the US lot decided they could no longer ignore 150 years of advancing medical research, whereas elsewhere they stuck with germ denialism and so prescribe stuff like homeopathy.

So, if you trained in the US and want your status to be maintained the only places you can work are the US or Canada. Elsewhere you'll have to be re-certified as an MD - unless you want to compete with the other quacks

Canadian Osteopathic Colleges turn out Osteopathic Manual Practitioners who practise manual manipulation (I wouldn't use the word massage to describe the treatment). They don't deal in drugs or surgery (thankfully). There are also independent Chiropractic Collleges. In Ontario there is a Regulated Health Professions Act that governs the establishment of councils/colleges for Physicians and Surgeons, Dentists, Nurses, Dental Hygeinists, Homeopaths, Naturopaths, etc. They establish the curriculum standards for membership requirements in each profession, standards of practise, etc.
You can check out the curriculum of one of the osteopathic colleges here:
http://www.osteopathiecollege.com/

Really good question. I was wondering if non US osteopaths subscribe to the nonsensical subluxation theory that US chiropractors hold so dear. Hopefully Lightning will see this,he is an New Zealand Osteopath

Chiros do not perform surgery nor prescribe drugs. Osteos do. Those are the main difference, although there is also a philisophical divide.

Outside the US we are not doctors, do not prescribe, do not do surgery and are very proud of that!
You are correct. However our philosophies differing tends to make our approach towards treatment and practice significantly different.

Ignore the answer from the troll.
No we do not deny germ theory. Lots of us question how significant germ is to disease as clearly other factors are involved in contracting a disease associated with a germ but a majority of us are more than happy to accept germs are a significant factor.
This use has found 1 fringe group of osteopaths with a very small membership that made this claim. According to him that means we all do! Yeah thats really good research and good science reporting eh?

####Don't forget that the manipulations can cause sudden and unexpected deaths (unexpected to the patients that is)###
This occurs about 1 in 4 million adjustments. It compares very favourably to the number of patients that die from adverse drug reactions (100,000 per annum in the US) and occurs about as frequently as it does when ladies have their hair washed in a hairdresser. Do you see anyone campaigning for hairdressers to cease practice?
Thats why my insurance this year is <NZ$500. How much is it for MD's?

Prescribe Homeopathy?
Thats not standard practice as we are trained as OSTEOPATHS. The only prescription I make are for diet and lifestlye advice + exercises to mobilise and articulate. Homeopathy? Nah. They can see a homeopath if they want homeopathic remedies. There are no shortage of them where I practice.

3 days ago was the first time in months I did some soft tissue techniques on a patient. As I treat about 50 a week, 1 patient in several months having a bit of a back rub hardly makes me a glorified masseuse.
I'm mostly articulating joints, HVTing them or working on the involuntary motions of tissues using Visceral and cranial techniques and don't waste time doing in-efficient soft tissue techniques very often. If someone wants a massage they can get one cheaper elsewhere.

I don't know of any massage registration board that requires its practitioners to be able to MEDICALLY SCREEN patients and be trained as primary care practitioners.
He's been told this numerous times but persists in trying to propogate these myths and lies. Why? I don't know but have my suspicions.

Good job me and my friends are watching him aye!

95% of US osteopath disappear into medicine. 5% realise that although science has moved on, there is still a place for what the hands can do to affect the self correcting mechanisms of the body and embrace the non medical aspect of their training with vigor.

I'm waiting for a sock account to post too. You'll recognise it straight away with references to poor education standards etc which are completely unfounded and other rubbish about cranial and visceral techniques.....

NB. In Australasia we are fully at liberty to use the Honorary title "Doctor" just like the medics who also haven't been awarded Phd's. Most of us choose not to though as we don't like to be confused with people who prescribe drugs.

Edit:
The subluxation theory is definitely unique to Chiropractic. Its not part of osteopathic teaching and philosophy in any Osteopathic teaching institution that I am aware of worldwide.

NZ registered Osteopath, BSc (Hons) Oxford Brookes university. Government regulated Primary care practitioner.