Osteopath or kinesiologist: Who should you see?

You’re not entirely sure what an osteopath does. However, you understand that osteopathy is a gentle, complementary approach that views the entire body as a series of interconnected systems. Now, you have a sports injury. Should you make an appointment with a sports osteopath on the Plateau-Mont-Royal, like me, or should you see a kinesiologist?

I asked Antoine Valois-Fortier, a kinesiologist and head coach at Judo Canada, to team up with me to explain the differences between osteopathy and kinesiology.

Osteopathy or kinesiology? Short answer.

Are you experiencing pain or stiffness that just won’t go away? An osteopath is a good choice. Do you need to work on restoring your range of motion while recovering from an injury? A kinesiologist is a good choice.

But in many cases, it’s best to do both: osteopathy helps you relax, and physical therapy helps you build strength.

In short, the two approaches (osteopathy and kinesiology) are complementary. As a client, your best choice depends on your problem, how far along you are in resolving it, and your goal.

Quick Comparison

I completed my training at the Collège d’études ostéopathiques de Montréal, which no longer exists. Training is now offered through UQAM’s public microprogram for osteopaths, as well as through private programs. Osteopathy is in the process of gaining professional recognition.

– Marie-Claude Dion

Who Does What? The Differences Between Osteopaths and Kinesiologists.

Simply put, an osteopath understands how your body works, while a kinesiologist understands how your body moves.

Osteopaths

An osteopath works exclusively with his or her hands. He or she palpates (or “manipulates,” as it’s commonly called) your tissues. This might involve the mobility of a joint like the ankle, the flexibility of a fascia like the iliotibial band, the movement of the internal organs protected by the abdominal wall, or the rhythm of the skull as part of the “flow” while running.

In short, osteopaths identify what isn’t functioning as expected within your body’s chains and systems. Their treatment is designed to help you regain your mobility so that your body can function properly.

(Kind of like tuning up your bike in the spring.)

The osteopathic approach is holistic. In other words, your osteopath will identify a lack of mobility and assess whether this weakness has an impact on the rest of your body. That’s their specialty: understanding that an ankle that doesn’t move properly creates tension throughout the entire posterior muscle chain and causes iliotibial band syndrome when you run.

Kinesiologists

Antoine is a specialist in human movement. His greatest strength lies in objectively assessing physical condition and prescribing targeted exercises to rehabilitate, strengthen, prevent injuries, or improve your performance.

While Marie-Claude (me) works with my hands, a kinesiologist gets you moving. He has you move, measures your ability to perform various movements, identifies muscular imbalances, and designs a progressive program that you’ll follow on your own or with him.

This is the right person to see for:

• rehabilitate a knee after an injury, with or following physical therapy;
• correcting one’s professional posture through exercise;
• to train for a sporting event or get back in shape after a long break;
• and help manage a chronic condition such as diabetes.

What about athletic therapists?

If Antoine and I have managed to clearly explain the difference between osteopathy and kinesiology, you might now be wondering what an athletic therapist does.

Athletic therapy is a distinct profession, different from kinesiology and osteopathy. I’m speaking about this without consulting a colleague because I’m a certified CAT(C) athletic therapist. In fact, Antoine knows me from my time as the head athletic therapist for Judo Canada.

Sports therapy, as some call it, focuses on the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries related to physical activity. I’m in intervention mode, out on the field. So, the sports therapist handles sports emergencies, first aid, concussion management, and immediate return to play.

Real-life examples:
When should you see an osteopath or a physical therapist?

Why do the two approaches complement each other?

Osteopathy relieves. Kinesiology strengthens.

A joint that has been freed but has never relearned how to move properly will eventually become stuck again. A strengthened muscle surrounding a restricted joint will compensate. That is why, in many situations, it is not a question of “osteopathy or physical therapy?”, but rather a complementary approach.

I treat movement restrictions using osteopathy. I assess and treat sports injuries through athletic therapy. And I work in collaboration with trusted kinesiologists to whom I refer patients. Because that’s their area of expertise, and our skills complement each other.

– Marie-Claude Dion

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

And what about physical therapy in all of this?

Physical therapy is yet another profession, regulated by a professional association in Quebec. Read my article, co-written with Jimena Castaneda of the Physio Théra Plus clinic: Osteopathy vs. Physical Therapy.

Still on the fence?

If you’re not sure whether to choose osteopathy or athletic therapy, that’s okay. Make an appointment with me at my clinic in Plateau-Mont-Royal or send me an email. I’ll refer you to the right professional—which might even be your doctor.