Chiropractic is a profession which specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions which are due to mechanical dysfunction of the joints and their effects on the nervous system.
Chiropractors use their hands to adjust the joints of your spine and limbs where signs of restriction in movement are found, improving mobility and relieving pain. Your body's own healing processes (which are normally recognised through the ability to heal bruises, cuts and broken bones) will then be able to get on with the task of improving your health. This treatment is known as 'adjustment' or 'manipulation'.
Poor, inadequate or incorrect function in the spine can cause irritation of the nerves and muscles that control our posture and movement. This spinal nerve stress (which may be caused by factors such as accident, poor diet, repetitive strain, lack of exercise, poor posture and anxiety) can lead to the symptoms of discomfort, pain and even disease which are a warning that your body is not functioning properly.
By manipulating joints, chiropractors stimulate the proprioceptors - the body's position sensors which provide feedback to the brain on where the joint is in relation to the rest of the body. This stimulation can affect the way your nervous system works. Depending on where the nerve irritation has occurred in the spine, the following symptoms may be shown:
This is because the irritation of the nerve in one area can sometimes lead to pain (known as 'referred' pain) in other parts of the body. Painful symptoms are a warning sign which should not be ignored; a chiropractor is trained to diagnose the cause, and treat it using manipulation.
Your chiropractor will begin your first consultation by taking a full case history. Then you will be given standard orthopaedic and neurological tests and the movement of your spine and joints will be checked.
If your chiropractor identifies an underlying condition for which other treatment is appropriate, you will be referred to your GP or another specialist. Chiropractic can, however, be very helpful in providing additional relief even for conditions such as these.
As well as using manipulation, your chiropractor may use ice or heat treatment, or other techniques, having first explained exactly how they work.
Chiropractic treatment is suitable for everyone, including new-born babies, the elderly, pregnant women and sports enthusiasts. Once you have obtained your maximum response your chiropractor will help you to maintain this response, by offering exercise, lifestyle advice and maintenance treatment.