Differences: Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Physiotherapy & Massage Therapy

 Similarities & Differences

         Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy

                                                    (DO vs DC vs PT vs MT)

European style Osteopathy, massage therapy & physiotherapy are offered in a diploma or degree format, while chiropractic is offered only as a degree. These four professions have more similarities than differences. They all offer valuable services to patients and are great health professions. In many cases and in many rehabilitation clinics, osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists and massage therapists work together as a multidisciplinary team to get patients better in the best way applicable. They each offer unique & amazing health care which is much appreciated by patients worldwide.

	Osteopathy	Chiropractic	Physiotherapy	Massage Therapy
Designation	DOMP, DO, BSc (O), MSc (O)	DC, BSc (C), MSc (C)	BSc (PT), MSc (PT), PhD,  DPT	RMT, LMT, MT
Average School Tuition	$5,000 to $100,000	$60,000 to $120,000	Free (government paid) to $100,000	$15,000 to $30,000
Study Time for Regular Students	From 1 to 4 years (depending on diploma or degree)	3 to 4 years	2 to 4 years	1 to 2 years
Accelerated Program Study Time for Students With Prior Health Education	4 months to 2 years (depending on student’s background & diploma or degree program)	1 to 2 years depending on student’s background	1 to 2 years depending on student’s background	4 months to 1 year depending on student’s background
Average Annual Income	$90,000	$100,000	$80,000	$60,000
Average hiring salary for new graduates	$30 per hour	$40 per hour	$40 per hour	$20 per hour
Average Hourly Treatment Fee (Canada)	$80 to $140	$100 to $150	$80 to $150	$60 to $80
Hourly Fee Set by Financial Service Commission of Ontario for Car Accident Patients	$57.67	$111.80	$98.86	$57.67
Insurance Coverage in Canada	Accepted by all major insurers	Accepted by all major insurers	Accepted by all major insurers	Accepted by all major insurers
Board Exams	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Practice	Primary health practitioner. Can open independent clinic and see patients directly without supervision.	Primary health practitioner. Can open independent clinic and see patients directly without supervision.	Primary health practitioner. Can open independent clinic and see patients directly without supervision in most countries. In some places must be supervised by MD	Primary health practitioner. Can open independent clinic and see patients directly without supervision.
Medical Diagnosis	Yes (for degree holders), No (for diploma holders)	Yes	Yes	No
Manual Diagnosis	Yes, both diploma & degree holders can perform osteopathic diagnosis	Yes, can perform chiropractic diagnosis	No. Manual diagnosis is not taught	No. Manual diagnosis is not taught
Physiotherapy Modalities	Yes (diploma holders need extra training)	Yes	Yes	NO
Prerequisite to Education	High school graduation for diploma holders & BSc (O), university education for DO & MSc (O)	University education	High school graduation	High school graduation
Employment Potential	Zero unemployment	Zero unemployment	Zero unemployment	Zero unemployment
Radiography	Not permitted	Able to take x-rays	Not permitted	Not permitted
Radiology	Degree holders able to read x-rays. Diploma holders no.	Able to read x-rays	Not able to read x-rays	Not able to read x-rays
Most Common Disorder Treated	Low back pain followed by neck pain	Low back pain followed by neck pain	Low back pain followed by neck pain	Low back pain followed by neck pain
Foot Orthotics	Able to cast & dispense	Able to cast & dispense	Able to cast & dispense	Not able
Orthopaedic Bracing	Able to dispense	Able to dispense	Able to dispense	Not able
Compression support hose	Able to dispense	Able to dispense	Able to dispense	Not able
Treatment Plan	Able to sign	Able to sign	Able to sign	Able to sign
functional Abilities Evaluation	Degree holders permitted.	Permitted	Permitted	Not permitted
Job Site Analysis	Degree holders permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Not permitted
Home Based Assessment	Degree holders permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Not permitted
Independent Medical Evaluation	Degree holders permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Not permitted
Treatments at Home	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted	Permitted
Regulation	Regulated in 7 countries	Regulated in 7 countries	Regulated in all countries	Regulated in 7 countries
Can Open Independent Clinic	Yes, in all countries	Yes, in all countries	Yes, in some countries. Elsewhere PTs must work in an MD owned clinic or hospital	Yes, in all countries
Largest Schools in Canada	National Academy of Osteopathy	Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College	University of Toronto	Humber College
Largest Schools Internationally	National University of Medical Sciences	Palmer University	University of Southern California	University of Illinois
Founder	Dr Andre Taylor Still	Dr Daniel David Palmer	Henrique Ling	Unknown
First known school	121 years ago in USA	116 years ago in USA	100 years ago in UK	Less than 100 years ago in USA
Largest Association	International Osteopathic Association	American Chiropractic Association	American Physical Therapy Association	American Massage Therapy Association

 

Osteopathy vs Chiropractic vs Physical Therapy vs Massage Therapy