What is Chiro?

Chiropractors use their hands to perform spinal adjustments to restore joint function and mobility, this, in turn supports the nervous system. The theory is that good health is partially dependant on the normal functioning of the spine and nervous system; and proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal system, especially the spine, will enable the body to heal itself.

Chiropractors also use soft tissue therapies such as dry needling, rehabilitation exercises, lifestyle recommendations and nutritional advice.

If you have ever suffered with back pain, you will know the debilitating impact this can have on your overall physical health. Everyday movements become increasingly difficult, which restrict your everyday activities. In turn this massively affects your overall quality of life: putting on your shoes and socks, picking something up off the floor, participating in sports and exercise and even picking up your kids and grandkids. All of these simple things that we take for granted can be affected, which is why it is so important to look after your spine.

Everyday actions such as a fall or accident, poor posture, lifting a heavy object or even stress can cause any of your movable vertebrae to lose its normal range of motion. The joint becomes fixed or restricted, which leads to irritation of the joint, spasm of the surrounding muscle and irritation of the nerve. The nerve’s function may be altered which can generate symptoms of pain in the area of the joint or elsewhere in the body; numbness, tingling, pins and needles and even weakness.

A safe, controlled force applied to a joint to restore proper mobility and function.

Accidents, falls, stress or over-exertion can negatively impact your spine and other joints. These changes also impact the tissues, the nervous system and other parts of the body. The Chiropractic adjustment is essential to decrease pain, increase movement and improve performance. We spend years perfecting this technique and these adjustments are safe and highly effective at restoring joint motion.

What is the ‘popping’ noise heard when you are adjusted?

This popping or cracking sound that is heard is merely due to the gas and fluid within the joint shifting. The sound has nothing to do with the quality of the adjustment.

• Take a complete medical history, including your past medical history, family history and other conditions you may have suffered with previously.
• Ask specific questions related to your pain such as: location, type, mechanism of injury etc.
• Complete physical exam to assess your condition including: posture analysis, range of motion testing, reflexes, orthopaedic and neurological tests. This will give your Chiropractor a greater knowledge of the cause of the problem.
• X-rays or lab tests may also be required but are not always necessary.
• Your Chiropractor will also determine whether your particular problem is within his/her scope of practice or whether referral is necessary.

If your Chiropractor determines that your case may be treated through Chiropractic care, they will use a range of different soft-tissue treatment techniques and spinal adjustments.

Some patients experience immediate relief, and other require a few treatments in order to correct a problem. This all depends on each individual patient, as no two patients are the same and no two patients will respond exactly the same to treatment. It also depends on the type of injury and period of time the injury has been present, and any degenerative issues that you may have. You have to be patient as your body starts to realign itself and learns to adapt to the changes that are happening. It is not a quick fix as the Chiropractor is determining the source of the problem and trying to correct it, rather than taking a pain killer or anti-inflammatory which will mask the symptoms but not always address the underlying problem.