Dr. Daniel Palmer, the founder of chiropractic, is believed to have spent some time studying with Dr. Still. Following that study, Dr. Palmer moved to another state and started his own personal healing discipline. Chiropractic means manual treatment it is formed by two Greek words, chiro, meaning hands, and praktikos, meaning done by. There are similarities and differences between the two therapies. Palmer first stressed the role of the nervous system and of the spinal column in health and disease, seeing nerve compression as the basis for all problems.
Chiropractors are more likely to use X-rays when diagnosing a patient s problem.
They also concentrate on manipulation of the spine, directly adjusting it with rapid movements. The differences between osteopathy and physiotherapy are mainly found in their underlying philosophies. They do not use drugs, but manual treatment, exercises, and electrotherapies. In the past, physiotherapists did not make diagnoses, but worked with a patient after the doctor s diagnosis. Physiotherapists are experts in their field and they work in collaboration with osteopaths in various cases.