Blog

It’s a commonly asked question, and those that have never experienced both treatment methods, it can be a tricky to try and differentiate between them. There are clear similarities between the professions, although the way that injuries and illnesses are approached, their underlying principles and philosophies differ.

The 9-5; some of us love it, some of us loathe it, many of us are indifferent…..but one thing we can all agree on is that at some point or another it brings an element of pain with it. From the lower back, neck, shoulder and even wrists that are vulnerable to stiffness, pain and lack of mobility, the 9-5 has a lot to answer for.

We are sent constant messages throughout our day to day lives, and one of those messages that has increased in prevalence over the last five years is the importance of regular exercise (along with ‘eating clean’). We have always been taught about taking part in physical activity, but never has such a focus been placed on it. And we are listening – consumer spending on UK gym membership increased by 44% between 2014-2015, and there has been a steady increase in the number of adults taking part in events such  as Park Run and organised cycling and open water swimming.

Acupuncture is the name given to a traditional style of Chinese medicine that involves making tiny needle punctures in the skin (not nearly as scary as it sounds) to relieve pressure. It works on the basic principle that the body is covered in ‘acupoints’, which are locations in the body that, when manipulated in the right way, can alleviate a range of medical complaints. Acupuncture has an extensive history, and is first documented in the Book of Chinese Medicine dating back to the first century BC.

Podiatry is the name given to the branch of medicine concerned with complaints in the lower extremities (the leg beneath the knee and the foot), and there are over 12,000 podiatrist practices in the UK alone. There is a growing demand for healthcare professionals who specialise in a single area of the body, and due to the complexity of the human body with 206 bones, 640 muscles and 78 different organs, it’s not hard to see why.

Osteopathy is a ‘whole body’ treatment that centres around the principle that to achieve general wellbeing, all the bones, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue in our bodies must work harmoniously together. At the core of Osteopathy is the belief that every part of the body is unified, and manipulating a certain area of the musculoskeletal system can promote complete self-healing.

Physiotherapy was first established in 460 BC and was practiced by the Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. Physiotherapy is a combination of manual therapy, exercises and advice designed to treat a large range of musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses.

Pilates is an exercise system that concentrates on conditioning your entire body. It was developed by a German physical trainer named Joseph Pilates who was inspired by the Ancient Greek ideal of perfectly balancing one’s mind, body and soul.

Adhesive capsulitis is an unpleasant condition that causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint; it is most commonly referred to as ‘frozen shoulder’. It can be debilitating, causing severe pain and restricting movement in the entire shoulder area. The exact cause of frozen shoulder is uncertain, but it is often brought on by a trauma such as an injury or disease.