Osteopath or physiotherapist: what are the differences?

Recovering from a fracture, relieving pain or joint disorders… it is sometimes difficult to know which practitioner to turn to. The professions of massage therapist and osteopath seem to share many similarities. Nevertheless, several nuances exist both in their practical approach and in their fields of intervention. What are the differences between osteo and physio? Le Figaro takes stock.

Masseur-physiotherapists hold a state diploma obtained after 5 years of training (1 year of selection followed by 4 years of preparation for the diploma). They are health professionals working in the paramedical field. In France, a large number of physiotherapists are contracted in sector 1. In other words, their interventions can be reimbursed by Medicare, or even certain complementary mutuals, provided they have been directed to this practitioner on prescription. medical.

Unlike physiotherapy, osteopathy is a primary care profession. In other words, you can consult an osteopath without the need for a medical prescription. However, osteopaths are not health professionals, although they hold a diploma recognized by the Ministry of Health (prepared in 5 years of study within an approved establishment). As such, they are not under agreement and their care is therefore not covered by Medicare. However, some mutuals offer partial reimbursement.

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The masseur-physiotherapist uses a local symptomatic approach. It focuses on treating a functional disorder (disorders of the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive or genitourinary system, etc.). On the other hand, it does not act on the actual cause of the problem, which is rather the responsibility of a doctor and/or specialists.

One of its missions is to restore a functional, physical or psychological alteration of the body following an illness, an accident, a trauma or an operation. Thus, it is often used in the context of rehabilitation to correct significant muscle loss, mobility disorders or to soften the joints.

It also has the role of strengthening or maintaining functional capacities: for example, to correct bad postures or free movement. Finally, it acts to relieve daily pain in the event of osteoarthritis or rheumatism, especially in the elderly.

Generally, several sessions (about twenty on average) are necessary.

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The osteopath also has a manual approach but, unlike the physiotherapist who can resort to the use of machines (virtual reality, rotary chair etc.), he exercises his practice exclusively with the hands.

The osteopath treats mechanical problems at the level of the skeleton, the viscera and the skull, with a fairly global approach. It emphasizes the relationships between the different parts of the body through gentle manual techniques and tries to identify if the imbalance in the state of health can come from somewhere other than the level of the symptom itself. Its manipulations involve in particular massages, stretching, pushing or pulling in order to correct or relieve a mechanical defect of the musculoskeletal system.

Nevertheless, the osteopath cannot offer a complete rehabilitation program. If necessary, the patient is redirected to a doctor who can prescribe physiotherapy sessions. On average, one or two osteopathy sessions are enough to identify the problem.

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The cost of osteopathy or physiotherapy sessions varies considerably from one region to another and according to the practitioners who set their own fees. On average, an osteopathy session is between 50 and 90 euros and a physiotherapy session between 20 and 50 euros, but prices can rise beyond that.