Chiropactor Guide

Chiropractor Guide

What is a Chiropractor ? Back top top

Chiropractic is based upon the theory that good health depends on the proper function of the nervous system especially those of the spine, chiropractic means "effective treatment by hand" Chiropractors believe that many diseases are caused by the body being unable to adapt to its environment, chiropractors locate and adjust musculoskeletal areas of the body which are not working properly.

Chiropractic is a complementary and alternative health care profession which focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, their effects on the nervous system, and on general health. Chiropractic contends that spinal joint misalignments, which chiropractors call vertebral subluxations, can interfere with the nervous system and result in diminished health. This differentiates chiropractic's vertebral subluxation from other forms of subluxation.

Chiropractors may specialize in treating low back problems or sports injuries, or may combine chiropractic with manipulation of the extremities, physiotherapy, nutrition, or exercises to increase spinal strength or improve overall health. They may also use other complementary and alternative methods as a part of a holistic treatment approach

History of the Chiropractor  Back top top

Written records from the ancient Greek and Chinese civilizations, dating back several thousand years, refer to spinal manipulation. Chiropractic was founded in 1895 by Daniel David Palmer, based on his idea that health problems could be prevented or treated using "adjustments" of the spine, and sometimes other joints, to correct what he called "subluxations." He said subluxations were misaligned vertebrae which caused nerve compression that interfered with the transmission of what he called Innate Intelligence. Therefor the human body would experience "dis-ease" or disharmony which would result in ill health.
Palmer's first chiropractic treatments consisted of the of manipulation of the spine and this procedure is still the technique used today's chiropractic adjustment.

About the Spine Back top top

The spine is a complex structure, it begins at the base of the scull and ends at the center of the hips. It is made up of a series of 33 moving bones called vertebrae. 

Extending down the spine is the spinal cord which contains nerve fibers, there are 31 pairs of nerves that branch off the spinal cord extending to every part of the body. There are 3 categories of nerves

1~motor nerves movements of muscle.

2~sensory nerves carry impulses to the spinal column and brain.

3~ mixed nerves contain 1 and 2. Injury, stress and tension can effect the spine and cause displacement. 

The Chiropractic Treatment Back top top

The consultation will include a physical examination and possible x-ray  with special attention to the spine looking for defects. When the problem has been identified adjustments will be made to the spine by manipulation, this can be done by hand or activator instruments, and involves pressure on the area of the spine which is out of alignment, this procedure is not considered painful but occasionally uncomfortable. The chiropractor may also recommend an exercise program to keep your back healthy, remember strong stomach muscles help to support the spine.

How can a Chiropractor Help ? Back top top

Whiplash
Whiplash injuries need not be the result of car accidents. A slip or fall can give you a whiplash-type injury and sudden movement, especially if repetitive, may cause injury as well. Normally, the joints at the back of your neck glide over each other and are self-lubricated but a whiplash injury forces them together, damaging the surrounding area, which includes nerves, muscles, ligaments and discs.

Damage from a whiplash-type injury can give a variety of symptoms including: dizzyness - light headedness - neck pain – headaches - arm pain - fatigue - poor concentration.

A BCA chiropractor will carry out a full examination (which may include an X-ray) and take a thorough history before advising an appropriate treatment programme for you. Treatment for these kinds of injuries involves often gentle, specific adjustments to your neck. This will decrease pain and restore normal movement to the area, aiming to ensure that each joint is working at its best. Some chiropractors use rehabilitation techniques to retrain those receptors that may have been damaged through a whiplash injury, as well as doing supervised neck strengthening exercises.

They also support the treatment they offer with individual advice about the patient's lifestyle, work and exercise, in order to help in managing the condition and preventing a recurrence of the problem.

Wear and Tear
Degeneration of the joints in the body begins without your knowing – it happens to all of us. The general wear and tear of a lifetime results in joints laying down extra bone in an attempt to support a damaged area. In general, our bodies compensate for this and we feel little or no pain, but the slight loss of proper movement in a worn joint may cause nerve irritation and inflammation leading to pain.

Arthritis, spondylitis or rheumatics are names normally given to the pain and stiffness resulting from wear and tear to your joints. They can occur in any joint of your body, including your spinal vertebrae, but chiropractic treatment may often relieve the pain.

There are some types of arthritis - such as rheumatoid arthritis - that also involve periods of inflammation and destruction of the joints causing severe pain. Although chiropractors cannot treat the cause of this kind of arthritis, they may be able to help to relieve the disability that results from it once the inflammatory phase is over.

Other joint problems, caused by repeated trauma, that chiropractors treat include:
- shoulder pain
- tennis elbow
- golfer's elbow
- knee pain
- repetitive strain injury (RSI)

A BCA chiropractor will carry out a full examination (which may include an X-ray) and take a thorough history before advising an appropriate treatment programme for you. Treatment consists of specific adjustments done by hand to free stiff joints and reduce spinal nerve irritation. Your chiropractor may also recommend ice, heat or massage treatment amongst other things. They also support the treatment they offer with individual advice about the patient's lifestyle, work and exercise, in order to help in managing the condition and preventing a recurrence of the problem.

Sporting Injuries
Whether you are an amateur sports enthusiast or a top-flight professional, your body is prone to the same kinds of injuries. Repeated stresses can lead to a slight loss of proper movement in the bones of your spine (vertebrae) and joints, which in turn can interfere with the healthy working of your muscles and nerves. You may have ignored the pain and carried on with your sport for too long without treatment, and now find yourself with a chronic injury. It's not surprising that BCA chiropractors often see patients with:

- Hamstring and calf strains - Achilles tendon injuries - Groin and thigh sprains
- Lower back pain - Neck pain - Tennis elbow - Shoulder sprains (rotator cuff injuries)
- Tendonitis - Sciatica (often confused with hamstring pulls!)

Injury is not the only problem for sports enthusiasts and professionals. Many find that they reach a 'threshold' of ability, and cannot improve further, however hard they work and however much training they put in. This is why so many serious sportspeople consult BCA chiropractors who will work to improve health and well-being. Many BCA chiropractors have areas of special interest in sport related injuries.

A BCA chiropractor will carry out a full examination (which may include an X-ray) and take a thorough history before advising an appropriate treatment programme for you. Treatment consists of specific adjustments done by hand to free stiff joints and reduce spinal nerve irritation. Your chiropractor may also recommend ice, heat or massage treatment amongst other things. Treatment will normally be followed by a rehabilitation plan to strengthen the injured area, improve your flexability and prevent future flare-ups.

Chiropractic treatment aims to restore normal function to your joints and muscles as well as your nervous system, and may increase your control, co-ordination and muscle strength.

Whole Families
Chiropractic can benefit people of all ages, including small children and pregnant women.

Pregnancy can cause uncomfortable effects, including changes in posture due weight gain that cause pain in your back, buttocks, groin and legs. Postural changes may also influence the ligaments and muscles attached to the pelvis and in turn the positioning of the uterus and birth canal.

Although a natural process, birth is sometimes traumatic for both mother and baby and chiropractic may help you and your baby recover.

As children grow, chiropractic can help not only with the strains caused by the rough and tumble of life but also with some of the problems that children can suffer in their first years:
Colic – sleeping and feeding problems – frequent ear infections – asthma – prolonged crying.

Also bending and lifting children, particularly as they get older, can put increasing pressure on your spine and joints.

A BCA chiropractor will carry out a full examination and take a thorough history before advising an appropriate treatment programme for you or your children. Treatment consists of specific adjustments done by hand to free stiff joints and reduce spinal nerve irritation. Your chiropractor may also recommend ice, heat or massage treatment amongst other things.

Chiropractic is a natural, drug-free treatment and is effective for the whole family.

Servicing Your Spine
Why do you get your car serviced regularly, even when it is running well? To see that it goes on running well! Once a chiropractor has helped you back to health, a regular check-up can keep your body in working order.

Like a telephone network, your spinal cord delivers messages from your brain to your body through the nervous system. The vertebrae - the bones of your spine - provide protection for this vital part of your body. As you go through life, a loss of proper function (movement) in the vertebrae may interfere with the healthy working of your spine and the nerves that run through it. This may affect your body's natural ability to recover from injury and you may find yourself increasingly unwell, unable to shake off apparently minor aches, pains and even some illnesses.

Loss of joint movement could be due to the daily wear and tear of life or as a result of things such as sporting injuries, workplace discomfort, stress, poor posture, accident or pregnancy.

Don’t wait for problems to start, see a BCA chiropractor to keep your body in check.

A BCA chiropractor will carry out a full examination (which may include an X-ray) and take a thorough history before advising an appropriate treatment programme for you. Treatment consists of specific adjustments done by hand to free stiff joints and reduce spinal nerve irritation. Your chiropractor may also recommend ice, heat or massage treatment amongst other things. They also support the treatment they offer with individual advice about the patient's lifestyle, work and exercise, in order to help in managing the condition and preventing a recurrence of the problem.

Looking After Your Spine Back top top

STANDING: Stand squarely, don't stand in one place too long, avoid high heels, don't bend forward with straight knees

DRIVING:Sit back in seat , use a lumber support, don't have seat too far back so your forced to stretch to wheel   

SITTING:Place both feet flat on floor , your knees should be slightly higher than hips, don't slouch, don't sit too long

SLEEPING:Choose a firm mattress, don't sleep on your stomach, use a cervical pillow for your neck.

LIFTING:Keep your back straight, bend you knees to pick up an object, don't twist while lifting

Exercises

Bent leg sit-up~ lie on floor, knees bent, feet flat, arms crossed on stomach, raise upper body slowly half way , hold for 5 seconds repeat.  

Hip lifts~ as above instead of raising upper body, raise hips, without arching back, hold for 5 seconds repeat.   

Stretch~ lie on floor on back swing your arms to one side and your bent legs to the other, hold, repeat other side

The British Chiropractic Association Back top top
Founded over 80 years ago, we are the largest and longest-established association for chiropractors in the UK
 

Chiropractor Training
UK chiropractors treat many thousands of patients each week for a wide variety of conditions. They support their treatment with advice about their patients' work, diet and exercise.

In the UK there are over 2,000 practicing chiropractors and the profession is growing year on year. Nearly all chiropractors work as private health care providers, although some do provide services through the NHS.

Private practice enables chiropractors to choose to work where they want and allows the kind of flexibility of working hours that many professions cannot offer. Chiropractors can chose to work in partnership with other chiropractors or health professionals or indeed run their own private clinic.

Chiropractic is unique amongst health care professions in that there are internationally set standards of education, meaning that qualification from an internationally accredited education establishment truly furnishes you with a portable qualification to take across the world.*

In common with medical practitioners and dentists, all chiropractors are registered by law under the Chiropractors Act 1994 and the title ‘Chiropractor’ is protected under this legislation.

In the UK, the two courses offering full-time chiropractic education to international standards are at:

The Anglo European College of Chiropractic in Bournemouth:
01202 436200

The Welsh Institute of Chiropractic at the University of Glamorgan:
0800 716 925

*Individual countries may have additional specific requirements you need to fulfill before you can practice.
 

Disclaimer
Gelisy strives to be as accurate as possible all the information that is within this web site is not guaranteed to be completely accurate. We do not specifically recommend or endorse any of the treatments displayed on this web site. We do not offer a referral service and do not warranty, guarantee or specifically endorse any of the therapists or companies who advertise their service or products on this web site. Before embarking on any therapy treatment, skin care regime, nutritional supplements or fitness regime consult your doctor.