conditions we treat
Chiropractic can be used to treat and manage many conditions
including:
Back pain is very common -
some estimates are that four out of five people will suffer back pain
at some
time in their lives. Back pain can restrict your movement and
cause misery, stress and discomfort. It can also
cause
people
to take time off work which is very expensive for companies, costing a
huge amount in sick pay and lost productivity.
Back pain can be caused by:
- poor lifting or carrying heavy weights incorrectly
- poor posture
- unsuitable beds or chairs
- sports or other injury
- stress
- pregnancy
- general 'wear and tear'
Chiropractic
manipulation is recognised as
being highly effective in
treating back pain. In 1996, the Royal College of
General
Practitioners issued guidelines to GPs recommending manipulation within
six weeks of the onset to relieve acute low back pain. Studies have
shown chiropractic to be one of the most
effective forms of treatment for low back conditions.
Chiropractors
are trained to identify and treat the specific causes of back pain.
Once they have treated you with manipulation, massage,
specific stretches and trigger point therapy, they will advise you to
follow a rehabilitation and maintenance
care plan to prevent the condition from recurring. This will
include looking carefully at your posture to prevent the condition from
recurring.
As most of us spend a lot of time sitting or working at computers, we
can
often get problems with our posture and our neck muscles can become
tense. The very intricate joints of the neck can fail to
function smoothly and effectively. This can cause headaches,
migraine or other pain and
can
also put extra pressure on the joints in the neck which can irritate
the spinal nerves. Sometimes, this can lead to 'referred
pain',
where you feel pain or pins and needles in other parts of your
shoulders, arms or hands.
Your
neck supports the weight of your head using a complicated system of
joints, muscles and ligaments. If you fall or take a blow to
your
head, it can cause injury. Around 85% of all injuries to the
neck
are the result of motor vehicle collisions and are referred to as
'whiplash'. Whiplash is a general term used to
describe
any injury where the neck has undergone sudden acceleration and
deceleration. Examples include vehicle collisions, diving
accidents and falls. Half of the people who have had such
injuries
still have considerable pain eight months after the incident and many
suffer intermittent pain for up to two years. Whiplash
injuries can occur when vehicles are travelling at speeds as low as
5mph, even when the vehicle itself shows little or no signs of damage.
The chiropractor
will manipulate, massage and carry out specific stretches and trigger
point therapy to help restore normal neck movement.
The chiropractor will also give you some exercises to help
your neck
regain its strength and flexibility. She will also advise you
on how best to adapt your posture which will also help relieve
long-term pain and discomfort.
Chiropractors understand
how every joint in the body works. The chiropractor will
examine
you to find whether the pain you are having in, for example, your
elbow, knee or ankle, may actually be 'referred pain' from your spine
or another joint. This is because nerve irritation in one
area
can sometimes lead to pain in another part or parts of the body.
Chiropractic
can help treat conditions like tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, repetitive
strain injury (RSI), frozen shoulder, hip and knee pain.
Almost everyone gets a headache now and again. But if you
take them for granted, you may be suffering more than you need to.
Chiropractors can treat many of the causes of headaches.
Headaches can be the symptom of stress, through worry or overwork.
This is because the muscles, ligaments and joints of the neck
may fail to function smoothly and effectively which can cause headaches
or migraines.
Chiropractors are trained to diagnose the causes of headaches and will
then treat you appropriately, or refer you for further investigation or
treatment elsewhere. Chiropractic treatments for headaches
may involve manipulations (called 'adjustments') to the neck and upper
back, soft tissue massage, specific stretches and trigger point
therapy. The chiropractor will also advise you on exercises
and posture to ensure the best possible response to treatment and to
maintain your improvement.
Sports injuries may result from poor gait or posture, a lack of fitness
or inadequate or the wrong equipment.
Taking part regularly in sports may leave you vulnerable to
over-training or repetitive strain injuries.
Whatever your age, these may have long-term and harmful
effects.
Chiropractic treatment for sports injuries focuses on manipulating the
spine, joints and muscles. This allows them to move
correctly. The chiropractor will also advise you about
exercises you can do to help maintain strength and flexibility.
Chiropractors not only treat sports injuries, but can also carry out
pre-season checks to identify any areas of possible weakness before any
injuries occur. Your chiropractor can also carry out regular
checks to help maintain your best possible performance. Many
top athletes and sportspeople attend their chiropractic clinic
regularly to ensure they are at the top of their sport.
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints which can cause considerable
pain and discomfort. There are many causes of arthritis,
including natural ageing and 'wear and tear'.
The chiropractor will take a full case history and carry out an
examination which may include x-rays. She will then be able
to diagnose the cause of your pain and suggest suitable treatment.
Some arthritic conditions respond well and can be
'controlled' by chiropractic care. Other conditions will gain
pain
relief and flexibility, but the chiropractor may also refer you to your
GP for further treatment.
Chiropractic cannot reverse the degeneration of your joints but, by
regular adjustment and manipulation, it can help you stay
mobile and
reduce pain and further 'wear and tear'.
You can find a map here.
Treatments