So, do osteopaths use acupuncture? Some osteopaths are beginning to incorporate acupuncture and dry needling into their practiceto treat severe muscle spasms and severe pain from conditions such as arthritis. However, osteopaths must be sufficiently trained to practice acupuncture.

There is a big difference between massage and osteopathic manipulation. Massage is mostly the rubbing and kneading of muscles and tissues to produce relaxation. Osteopathic manipulative therapy, on the other hand, is a hands-on approach that uses the practitioner's full body to treat patients.

You should avoid osteopathic manipulation if you have a broken bone or dislocation, bone cancer, a bone or joint infection, damaged ligaments, rheumatoid arthritis of the neck, or osteoporosis.

The major difference between an Osteopath and a Chiropractor is that while the Chiropractor is primarily focused on the spine, joints and the muscles, an Osteopath is also concerned with the rest of the body.