What is chiropractic?
Will I need Xrays?
We will only refer you for xrays if clinically necessary. Xrays show a great deal of information about what's going on with your spine, spinal misalignment, degeneration and what areas to focus on to maximize care to your nervous system. If we determine that you need an xray, then we will refer you to a local clinic. If you already have xrays, then bring in a photocopy of your xray report and a copy of your xrays (get a copy on a computer cd at your hospital). Is chiropractic included in the NHS?
No, chiropractors are not part of the NHS or paid by the NHS. Our clinic is private and only gets payments from its patients. Many public institutions including NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence, www.nice.org.uk ) recommend that GPs refer people to chiropractors because studies have determined it to be a more effective treatment for back pain and low back conditions than conventional therapies. (see NICE guidelines). However, chiropractic is not currently offered on the NHS. A review of the NICE guidelines can also be viewed at Colchiro Is Chiropractic covered by private health insurance?
Most insurance companies including BUPA, AXA PPP and HSA cover chiropractic care. Each individual’s policy will vary so check with your provider. You may need to get a referral from your GP before you start care. We accept payment at the time of service and will give you a receipt so you can claim back your payments for our chiropractic services. How many sessions are recommended?
The number of visits needed to feel change varies from person to person depending on the individual’s health history, age, past injuries and lifestyle habits. Correction of long term problems may take longer than short term problems.
Some patients feel change immediately following a treatment and often say they feel lighter, can move more easily and sleep better at night. Some even feel instant pain relief, and comment that headaches immediately resolve. Others may not get changes or improvements until they have regular adjustments over a few weeks or months. Some may even feel problems shift to other areas as their body is healing. Some may feel no change at all but may comment that sleep, digestion or allergies have improved.
Getting chiropractic adjustments is a lifestyle choice. When the spine is checked regularly for subluxation then there are greater long term health benefits. You could compare regular visits to the chiropractor to exercising regularly or eating a healthy diet. If you do it more frequently then you will have more health benefits. If you get your spine checked less often then you can still benefit but poor spinal patterns will have more time to manifest and could result in underlying damage like osteoarthritis, wear and tear, and irreversible joint damage.
Prevention is better than cure. This is why, in our clinic, we encourage regular spinal maintenance to keep you healthy for life. In our clinic, maintaining your spine is not dependent on symptoms. We even see children who are pain free but who show early signs of joint damage and vertebral subluxation.
Do I need to see a Chiropractor forever?
Seeing a chiropractor is a healthy lifestyle choice. You can stop at anytime just like you can stop eating a good diet, or stop going to the gym to stay fit.
If you feel great eating a healthy diet would you want to stop? If regular exercise makes you feel more energetic, strong and happy, would you want to discontinue? Once people achieve health, it makes sense to maintain it. However, it is always up to you how much you want to benefit from chiropractic care. In our office, we educate our patients about the importance of keeping the spine in good alignment for a lifetime, not just when it hurts. This is why most of our patients come in to get to get their spines checked on a regular basis. The regularity varies according to each individual’s stress levels…. Some people with high physical workloads, like bricklayers and carpenters, come in once a week to be adjusted. Others with less physical stress come in fortnightly or every 3 to 4 weeks.
Is Chiropractic for back pain only?
If a bone within the spinal column is out of alignment, it can cause pressure to sensitive nerve roots interfering with normal nerve transmission or the flow of electricity or signals to your body. If the affected nerve connects to your arm then the messages to this area can be impaired affecting the function of your arm. Have you ever had pins and needles or tingling in the arm? Have you ever woke up in the night with numbness in your fingers? If the nerve is the one which connects to your stomach, then digestion, or stomach acid may be affected. A study by Dr. C. H. Suh, Phd showed that a very small amount of pressure, equivalent to about the weight of a 5 pence piece changed nerve transmission dramatically. His study noted '20mm Hg of pressure on a nerve root caused a 50% decrease in electrical transmission through the nerve.'
The health of every part of the body depends on the proper transmission of signals or electricity through the nerve. If nerve flow is cut off or interrupted, the result is imbalance, disharmony, dysfunction and dis-ease (dis-ease means your body doesn’t function so easily or efficiently). Your body will not be able to respond, function or heal optimally.
The chiropractor’s job is to locate areas of nerve interference, known as subluxations. Subluxations involve misalignments of the spinal bones or vertebrae. Chiropractors aim to correct the misalignment through hands on corrections called adjustments. When the bones are in the proper position, and the joint is moving correctly then the nerve can resume its normal flow and functions. When nerve signals are flowing properly you have a better chance of expressing true health.
Who can benefit from chiropractic?
All people from young to old can benefit from chiropractic. In our clinic, our patients range in age from 1 week to 93 years old. We love adjusting babies and we love adjusting their great grandparents too. We use gentle techniques that are comfortable for all ages. What causes subluxation?
A difficult birth or a prolonged labour can be the cause of the first subluxation. Many births, even Caesarean section deliveries, involve the use of force or forceps which put stress on the baby’s neck and can lead to a multitude of injuries.More info. The mode of delivery can have a huge impact on the infant’s development - Read more. Arno Burnier, D.C., states that using forceps during deliveries can exert 90 – 140 lbs of pressure on the baby’s cervical spine which can result in serious injury - More info. What is your education and what type of training is required to become a chiropractor?
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University, Marietta, Georgia, USA. Who can chiropractic help?
During my clinical internship at Life University and throughout my years in practice, I have seen a wide range of people with a whole range of problems. Some people come to my practice with traditional back and neck problems, others come in because they have poor posture or want to prevent future problems or optimise their health. This is the best approach to spinal health. Prevention is always better than cure!
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