What is Chiropractic?
The word chiropractic means “done by hand”
Chiropractic is a primary contact healthcare discipline that places an emphasis on the examination, diagnosis and management of problems and/or conditions that can affect the spine, muscles or extremity joints of the body.
Most people associate chiropractic care with just the treatment of back pain, neck pain and headaches. We go further than that by taking into consideration your overall health status before embarking on a treatment programme in co-operation with you, the patient.
We commonly see patients with:
Are there any risks?
The therapies employed by chiropractors have fewer risks than other treatment options. Serious side effects are uncommon. Manipulation of the neck has been linked by some sources with strokes. However, there are no significant research studies to provde a causal relationship. Treatments and therapies used in chiropractic practice have been shown to be safe and effective for certain conditions. At our clinic we are happy to discuss any concerns you may have. Your well-being and safety is always our primary concern.
Will treatment hurt?
The treatments used to care for our patients generally do not hurt. As with any healthcare procedure, there are risks and benefits. These are always considered before decisions are made and any procedure will be discussed with you so that you are fully informed and can make the right decision for you.
Chiropractic Care and Your Child
Our clinic and chiropractic in general have experienced an increasing number of referrals from midwives, health visitors and parents seeking care for their newborn children. We see a multifaceted role for chiropractors in healthcare that primarily affects the musculoskeletal system. We also provide a careful health assessment of babies and offer gentle treatment. This does not take the place of regular health checks for babies and we endorse and recommend the NHS vaccination programme. We recognise that more research needs to be done to support effective care for babies so this is an ongoing research project at the College.
Chiropractors have a strong history in providing care for older children. This primarily involves back pain and headache, where there has been some suggestion in the scientific literature that it is under-reported, and injuries arising out of sports and recreational activities. Our approach with all patients, no matter how young or old, involves taking a complete health history, performing a careful and full physical examination to arrive at the appropriate diagnosis and treatment method that is best for the condition and consistent with the patient's age.