What is chiropractic?
Chiropractors are hands on practitioners who are concerned with the framework of the muscles and bones that support the body (the musculoskeletal system) and the effects that musculoskeletal conditions have on the function of the body’s nervous system and general health. Chiropractors use gentle, safe and specific spinal manipulation often referred to as adjustments to loosen joints in the spine and other areas of the body that are not moving properly. Chiropractors may also use a variety of techniques including massage, ultrasound, exercise and acupuncture. Chiropractic treatment aims to restore the movement of joints and muscles and enhance nerve supply to tissues. Treatment helps to stimulate your body’s own healing mechanisms. Chiropractors use a range of techniques and treatment methods but do not use drugs or surgery.
Chiropractic is a complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) and was founded by a Canadian called Daniel David Palmer in 1895. D. d Palmer went on to found The Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa in 1897. The 20th century saw the growth and development of the profession worldwide, gaining recognition and respect for the place it has taken in the primary care environment. The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) was founded in 1925 and is the largest and longest-standing association for chiropractors in the UK. The General Chiropractic Council was formed in 1994 to regulate, protect and develop the profession and its patients. There is a separate division of Chiropractic called the McTimoney method of chiropractic, known for having a slightly more gentle approach, was developed by the late John McTimoney over 50 years ago.
How do chiropractors treat?
Chiropractors work to restore the movement in your joints and muscles. One element of treatment is mobilizing and loosening the joints and their connecting ligaments through manipulation. Chiropractic manipulation is often referred to as an adjustment; this is when a practitioner uses their hands to place a gentle yet quick force through a joint. There are numerous manipulation techniques used by a chiropractor the most common form is high velocity-low amplitude thrusts. Muscle work is just as important and chiropractors will use massage along with stretching and myofascial release techniques to relax overstressed and tight muscles to ensure muscles & joints function smoothly together. Some chiropractors will use a form of Acupuncture known as dry-needling or will use an instrument called an activator which can be gentler than hands on treatment. During treatment a chiropractor will not focus solely on your symptoms but will also identify and treat the parts of the body that have caused the symptoms. Most people who see a chiropractor do so for help with back or neck pain, however chiropractors are also proficient in treating problems related to the muscles and joints in the extremities. As well as hands on treatment chiropractors will also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring. Chiropractors assess and treat people of any age from the elderly to the new-born and from pregnant women to sports people.
What to expect on your first visit to a chiropractor
Before your appointment
Just before your first appointment you will be asked by the receptionist to fill out a form listing your details including your current complaint and your medical history. To help your chiropractor and to get the most from your treatment it is important that you answer as much as you can. Taking a list of all your prescription medication along with the dosage quantities and frequency will be very helpful for your chiropractor.
Medical History
Once your appointment has started your chiropractor will take time to listen to you and ask questions to make sure they understand your medical history and your day-to-day routine. They will ask you about things like diet, exercise and what is happening in your life, as these may give clues to help their diagnosis. They will also ask you detailed questions about your complaint including the type of pain you are experiencing, when the pain happens and what aggravates or relieves the pain. Thorough questioning not only allows the chiropractor to formulate an examination plan but it also provides an opportunity for them to triage your case and make sure that you don’t need medical attention.
Examination
The next part of your appointment will be a full orthopaedic and nuerological examination which means an examination of how well your bones/joints and nerves are functioning. You will probably need to remove some clothing from the area being examined and will normally be provided with a gown to wear (men tend to prefer wearing shorts). Your chiropractor will start by examining your posture as this can be thereason of or the stressor of your complaint. They will also want to assess the movements of the joints and will do so by gentle pushing and feeling around the joint line to see what hurts, where and when. Using touch, they will also try to find the muscle areas which are sensitive, weak or tight as this will help in identifying what’s going on. Specific joint tests and nerve tests including checking your reflexeswill be carried out. Your chiropractor may also feel your pulse and take your blood pressure. The purpose of the examination is normally to recreate the pain from your complaint, this enables your chiropractor to pin point what exactly is causing your pain and form a diagnosis. If they are unable to identify what is causing your pain they may refer you for clinical tests, such as x-rays.Sometimes if they feel that chiropractic is not appropriate for you and your complaint they will refer you to your GP or another specialist such as an orthopaedic surgeon who will investigate your condition further.
Diagnosis
Once your chiropractor has diagnosed your condition they will formulate a treatment plan, working out what type of treatment to use and estimating how long your treatment plan will be. Before they start to treat you, they will sit down with you and discuss exactly what the examination revealed, your diagnosis and what they think your treatment plan will involve.
Treatment
Your diagnosis, age and fitness will dictate what type of treatment your chiropractor will choose to use. This means treatment is different for every patient but may include techniques such as different types of soft tissue massage and gentle manipulation to release tension, stretch muscles, help relieve pain, improve movement and boost nerve supply to tissues. Sometimes, when they manipulate your joints you may hear a ‘click’. This is just like the click people get when they crack their knuckles and is a by-product of the treatment. Some soft tissue treatment may cause discomfort, your chiropractor will tell you what to expect, and will want you to let them know if you are in pain. You may feel a little stiff or sore after treatment. This is a normal, healthy response to the treatment. Your chiropractor will be able to advise you on whether to use ice or heat to limit post treatment soreness.They may also discuss exercises that you can do to improve your posture in your workplace and everyday life to help speed up your recovery and prevent symptoms recurring.
Average treatment times, prices and plans
How do I get chiropractic treatment?
You don’t always have to see your doctor before visiting a chiropractor especially if you are paying for your own treatment, which most people opt to do. However, more and more health insurances are starting to cover complimentary therapies and some companies require you to attend your doctor first, so double check your policy before booking. Chiropractic is not widely available on the NHS, your GP or primary care trust will be able to advise you further on the matter. Certain councils also run contributory funds to help out with a percentage of the cost. It is important that you attend a reputable chiropractor so check through the Clinic HQ directory to find your local recommended chiropractor.
How much does chiropractic treatment cost and how long are appointments?
The costs of treatment vary from practice to practice and across the country so make sure you check before booking. In general, the first appointment lasts about 40 -60 minutes and the typical price range is from £35-£70. Subsequent treatments last around 15 -30 minutes and will cost anything from £20 - £35 but again this varies across the country.
How many appointments will you need?
The treatment course will depend on the severity of your condition but your Chiropractor will aim to keep your appointments to a minimum. In the case of lower back pain, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that treatment should include up to nine sessions over 12 weeks. Treatments will typically be closer together to begin with whilst your pain levels are high and will space out as you recover. In some cases where you have a chronic long standing condition your Chiropractor may recommend that you attend for regular check-ups just as you would with the dentist.
Does chiropractic work?
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends chiropractic as a treatment for persistent lower back pain. There is very however very little evidence to support the wider range of conditions that some chiropractors treat including asthma, infant colic, irritable bowel syndrome and many others.Serious side effects or complications are rare but recently there has been allot of attention around the possible link between neck manipulation and stroke. There have been little systematic study’s surrounding this link and the extensive medical examination a chiropractor performs prior to treatment including blood pressure and pulse checks will identify at risk individuals. Chiropractors will use alternative methods for these individuals.
Associations and schools
To qualify, a chiropractor must study for four to five years for an undergraduate degree. This is similar to a medical degree, with more emphasis on anatomy and musculoskeletal medicine and includes more than 1,000 hours of training in Chiropractic techniques. There are currently three chiropractic education institutes in the UK: The Welsh institute of Chiropractic at the University of Glamorgan in South Wales, The Anglo-European College of Chiropractic in Bournemouth and the McTimoney College of Chiropractic in Oxfordshire. All chiropractors in the UK are by law registered with and regulated by the General Chiropractic Council (GCC). Chiropractors are required to renew their registration each year to obtain an annual license to practice. As part of this process, the GCC checks that chiropractors have current professional indemnity insurance, are fit to practice, and ensure that each individual has met mandatory continuing professional development requirements. It is an offence for anyone to call themselves a chiropractor if they are not registered. You can check whether your chiropractor is on the register on the GCC website.