Side hurting? Leg aching? Shoulder sticking? It can be difficult to know who to turn to when your GP has ruled out anything sinister. The choices include an osteopath or chiropractor, but what’s the difference between the two therapies? Breathe irons them out

Perhaps you have a crick in your neck, a dull ache in your back, hot pains in your feet after a long walk, even in trainers, or stiffness in your whole body when you wake up in the morning. Too much of this (sitting down), too little of that (not enough stretching). The wrong bed, chair or pillow. PC too high, keyboard too sticky. Poor posture, bad technique when lifting things or throwing balls for dogs. Ageing. Each of these factors, individually or combined, can cause problems with the musculoskeletal system – that amazing structure of bones, tendons, muscles, ligaments and soft tissue that supports your body and enables you to move.

Most people don’t give their muscles and joints much thought until they’re reminded of their existence by pain. Often, this will be transitory, a sprain or strain that disappears of its own accord. But sometimes, no amount of rest, stretching, cold and hot packs, painkillers or even massages (sports or pampering) will ease the discomfort. The first thing to say is that any persistent pain, wherever it occurs, must always be assessed by a doctor. While aches in the joints, for instance, are most often not related to anything sinister, they can be a symptom of rheumatism, osteoporosis or other conditions that might need further investigation or medical intervention.

If your GP gives you the all-clear, but you continue to feel discomfort, then you might decide to seek complementary treatment from a registered osteopath or chiropractor. Though the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recognises, and even suggests, both practices as beneficial to people suffering from certain kinds of pain, they’re usually only available via the NHS in exceptional circumstances and it can depend on where you live.