What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a drugless and non-surgical form of health care that aims to treat causes rather than symptoms. The term 'chiropractic' literally translated means 'done by hand' and chiropractic restores health by adjustments of the spine and other joints of the body using the hand. The basic principle of chiropractic is that disturbances of the nervous system, resulting from subluxation of the bones of the spine and other parts of the body, are a primary or contributory factor in the pathological process of many common human and animal ailments.

There are many chiropractic approaches and techniques used around the world, often named after their originator. The McTimoney method of chiropractic is typified by a whole body assessment and swift, light force adjustments, which makes it a comfortable treatment to receive. The subtlety of the adjustment demands great sensitivity and mechanical skill, and once mastered the technique is extremely effective.

Chiropractors consider that the body benefits from having periodic chiropractic treatments on a preventative basis so that incipient problems may be avoided.

Many people wonder what the differences are between the various manipulative approaches. In general terms, physiotherapy works on the soft tissue between the vertebrae and other joints and does not usually involve spinal manipulation; osteopathy tends to apply long lever techniques if the spine is manipulated, whilst chiropractic applies short levers in a precise adjustment of the individual vertebrae. Soft tissue work and rehabilitation is often an integral part of the chiropractic treatment also.

Conditions Commonly Treated

Chiropractic has provided effective relief to millions of individuals suffering from back and neck ailments. Chiropractic has also provided relief from many other musculoskeletal complaints ranging from knee and ankle problems to carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow. In fact, musculoskeletal pain or discomfort in any area of the spine or extremity is a candidate for safe, natural, non invasive chiropractic care. If a condition exists which is better suited for treatment by a medical specialist, chiropractors are fully trained to identify such conditions and make the appropriate referral. However, most patients suffering from musculoskeletal complaints can and are successfully treated with chiropractic every single day.

Common musculoskeletal conditions treated:

• low back pain and stiffness
• neck and upper back pain and stiffness
• mid back pain and stiffness
• headaches and migraines
• leg pain, weakness, numbness and tingling
• arm pain, weakness, numbness and tingling
• extremity joint pain and dysfunction
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• reduced degeneration and tissue injury risk
• enhanced tissue injury
• decreased tissue inflammation
• decreased stiffness

Common Injuries Treated

Chiropractors commonly treat all types of injuries and recognize the unique findings associated with each. For example, it's important to understand that auto injuries often involve a delayed onset of symptoms which commonly surface weeks and even months post-accident. In work injuries, chiropractors routinely look beyond the actual injury and address such things as work station setup, ergonomically correct equipment, and proper work techniques. For sports injuries, chiropractors often check for biomechanical and muscle imbalances as a routine part of the treatment plan. Treating the whole person and optimizing health is what chiropractic is all about

• car accident and whiplash injuries
• on-the-job and lifting injuries
• sports/athletic injuries
• slip and fall injuries
• chronic injuries

Non-Musculoskeletal Conditions Treated

In addition to musculoskeletal problems, chiropractic treatments have also been shown to benefit many individuals suffering from "medical" ailments such as chronic ear infections in children, menstrual pain and irregularities in women, and arthritis in the elderly. Although chiropractic care is not a specific form of treatment for such conditions, research has shown that many "medical" conditions can be caused or aggravated by irritation to spinal nerve roots which share an intimate relationship with the spinal structures. By restoring proper nerve functioning and by normalizing spinal structure and function, we believe some individuals suffering from these "medical" ailments may obtain partial and in some cases, full relief.

Non-musculoskeletal conditions which studies have shown may benefit from chiropractic:

• asthma
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• dizziness and dysequilibrium
• dysmenorrhea
• infantile colic
• low energy levels
• otitis media (ear infection)
• ulcers
• sense of well being
• balance and coordination

Please note these are conditions seen commonly in clinic. Many are cured, many are improved, some require another approach depending on their individual histories which are thoroughly examined in the course of an assessment.

To those interested it is well worth exploring the vast amount of evidence based research gathered which supports the chiropractor’s everyday findings.

This is the first article in a mini-series written by Dr Teresa Mann, McTimoney Chiropractor at the wellbeing clinic, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1PH