Yes indeed and in more ways than one. The goal is to always relieve pain, improve function and educate patients on how to better manage their condition and/or exercises, ergonomic modifications and lifestyle advice to empower patients to take better control of their own health and well being.
Structure. As a chiropractor we always look at the body as a whole as the body works like a collective and no one part works on it’s own in isolation. So just because you have a sore right shoulder, that doesn’t mean that your injury is purely due to the shoulder, for completion we always consider the joints both above and below or the adjacent structures to that in question. So with the shoulder, we would check the elbow movement, the neck movement, rib movement, shoulder blade movement to ensure nothing is missed for completion and to be thorough.
When performing a postural observation standing we check to see where your weight is bearing, which glute is bearing more weight, is the right calf muscle so much tighter due to always bearing more weight over that leg? Perhaps one foot arch is flatter than the other which may simply be due to bearing more weight down that leg though of course there are always other factors at play. When standing does one shoulder sit much higher than the other, does the ribcage or the hips jut out to one side more than the other? Is there a correlation between what the patient is presenting with today and the way they hold themselves? Sometimes very much there is and sometimes it doesn’t play as much of a factor, but for completion it’s important, as it’s our job to identify potential postures one puts themselves in and give suggestions as to how to create more symmetry in their bodies, which arguably leave’s people less prone to injuries which are due to poor posture.
Function. When walking how does one move their arms, their legs, their hips, how far forward or back is one’s head? These are all important clues when considering the overall physical health and well-being of a patient. If a patient swings their right arm forward quite obviously more than their left, we have to think why is this the case? Are the muscles at the front of the right arm, shoulder, chest, neck tighter than the left, is the left side of their back and arm tighter than their respective right side? These are all clues in the bigger picture of one’s physical health and well being and opportunities to further optimise and fine tune the body.

Chiropractors use a wide range of treatments:
Spinal manipulative therapy Is manipulation of a restricted joint to help create greater movement and mobilise a joint back to its maximum potential.
Soft tissue techniques such as trigger point therapy, active release and massage are used for the recovery and rehabilitation of muscles and other soft tissues
Drop piece tables are used as a gentle adjustment technique. This technique incorporates the chiropractic drop piece table which is elevated and adjusted according to the patient’s weight. This technique is applied to specific joint misalignment and as the adjustment is delivered, the drop piece gives way allowing for gentle enhanced motion through an effected joint. A gentle technique which can be useful for those with certain spinal conditions where joint restrictions or replacements would not otherwise allow us to place patients into certain positions.
Cupping therapy originated from the traditional Chinese medicine technique of cupping. Cupping technique is basically used in mobilising blood flow to an area in a way that promotes healing to help free up both muscle and the overlying fascia. The process of our cupping therapy involves the use of suction on the skin to gently draw the skin tissue into the cup. Cups with oil and a bit of suction may also be moved along the skin to cover broader areas. Bruising can last upto 2 weeks of where the cups have been
The activator instrument is a gentle treatment approach. It is used where regular chiropractic adjustments may be contraindicated in certain joints due to for example such things as rheumatoid arthritis in the upper part of the neck or osteoporosis. The activator method helps restore joint alignment through a low-force adjustment. During the activator technique, adjustments are carried out using a spring-loaded handheld instrument that delivers a gentle, measured, consistent, low-force thrust to the affected joint with the aim of mobilising and freeing up the joint. The activator adjusting instrument is extremely fast and adjustments are carried out in comfort and with precision.
Dry Needling is used as a complementary technique for the gentle and effective treatment of muscle aches, pains and dysfunction from hyper-irritated muscle tissue. It serves as a quick relief for muscular pains, muscle spasm, muscle tightness, trigger points and is often used in conjunction with soft tissue work and mobilisation of the affected joints. This technique involves the use of acupuncture needles to release trigger points and tight muscle bands. The needle is inserted into the muscle fibres where it remains until the muscle begins to give signs that the muscle has relaxed in tension. It is a safe treatment technique when performed by a qualified practitioner. The dry needling helps in the relaxation of the muscle and promotes increased blood flow to the area being treated which then brings with it more nutrients to the area which promotes improved recovery times of healing. People who receive dry needling often feel more energised with a sense of relaxation and overall health and well being.

There are rare risks associated with proposed care which include but are not limited to muscle and joint soreness or strains, nausea and dizziness, fractures, disc injuries including disc encroachments/ruptures, causing nerve irritation and referred symptoms, strokes (or stroke like episodes) and an exacerbation and/or aggravation of an underlying condition. Such risks may result in outcomes such as referral, further tests, surgery, incapacity and the like. In very rare circumstances, some treatments of the neck may damage a blood vessel and lead to stroke or related symptoms (current statistics e.g. between 1 in 2 million to 1 in 5.85 million -Haldeman, et al Spine vol 24-8 1999). Other possible risks include strain/injury to a ligament or a disc in the neck (current statistics eg less than 1 in 139,000) and the low back (current statistics eg 1 in 62,000 Dvorak study in Principles & Practice of Chiropractic, Haldeman 2nd Ed.) For some patients especially with bone weakening diseases, a fracture of a bone although rare is possible.

Put simply, there is always room for improvement. The longevity of treatment a patient needs often comes down to their compliance with how well they apply postural awareness prompts given by their Chiropractor; adherence to exercise prescription, dietary and lifestyle advice etc.  A lot of people are under the belief that if they are not in pain, then everything is ok. Often patient complaints have been building up over a long period of time and whilst being pain free. It’s not until the body experiences a certain threshold of tension or trauma that we’re consciously made aware of it through pain. There are usually two types of patients; 1. Those who come in regularly every 2 – 8 weeks & stay in optimal condition much like our car that we would service at regular intervals to prevent breakdown. 2. Those who only come in with an acute injury which will require a series of intense treatments within the first few weeks to get them back up to acceptable function.

Diversified technique is the most widely utilised technique globally. It involves straight forward manipulative therapy of joints to restore alignment, repair joint dysfunction and promote proper movement of the joint.
Gonstead technique involves 5 components. X Rays, palpation, instrumentation, visualisation and symptomatology (case management). When all of these correlate, a specific type of adjustment can be made. Dr Gonstead discovered that 3 adjustments on the wrong vertebral segment can cause a subluxation; and so it is extremely vital to be specific in the diagnostic process.

Chiropractic care aims to reduce pain, free up and improve mobility in joints, strengthen and stabilise injured areas and maintain long term correction through take home physical exercise prescription, but also giving self awareness and mindfulness exercises around your various postures, be it seated, standing, specific work related postures and movements to that individual and how to hold yourself better throughout the day to minimise injuries occurring and reoccurring. The number of treatments required depends entirely on the individual’s condition. It’s based on how long the problem has been there, the severity of the injury, patient compliance with exercise prescription and adherence and commitment to postural modifications. We do not subscribe to a cookbook or cookie cutter approach. Treatment tends to be more intensive initially in order to free up restricted joints, then we can re-train the compensatory movements, joints, muscles and the nervous system to work correctly through better movement patterns. Almost all patients will see an improvement in their condition within 3 treatments, after which the majority of patients will be seen less frequently as they continue to improve. Once a problem has been corrected most patients will set an interval once every 4 to 6 weeks to ensure long term correction is maintained.

When should I be checked? Everyone can benefit from a chiropractic consultation. Chiropractic care aims to reduce pain, free up and improve mobility in joints, strengthen and stabilise injured areas and maintain long term correction through take home physical exercise prescription, but also giving self awareness and mindfulness exercises around your various postures, be it seated, standing, specific work related postures and movements to that individual and how to hold yourself better throughout the day to minimise injuries occurring and reoccurring.

Be sure to bring all MRI’s, CT’s and X Rays with their reports.

In short, for the purposes of the treatment, it won’t matter. However when performing for specific sporting events, it would be recommended to receive treatment prior to those events for optimal performance.

It’s based on how long the problem has been there, the severity of the injury, patient compliance with exercise prescription and adherence and commitment to postural modifications.

Almost all patients will see an improvement in their condition within 3 treatments, after which the majority of patients will be seen less frequently as they continue to improve. Once a problem has been corrected most patients will set an interval once every 4 to 6 weeks to ensure long term correction is maintained.

The body consists of approximately 70% water. Tissue repair after a treatment will require a slight increase in protein synthesis (the re building of tissues) & therefore by default also more water should be consumed. In very much the same way as after you’ve done a workout.

Directly after a chiropractic adjustment, endorphins are released which are the ‘feel good’ hormones so patients will often walk out feeling lighter than when they came in. The joint itself is exposed to a controlled force by the Chiropractor which can sometimes make a cracking or popping noise though this is not the aim, the aim is to promote better movement and freeing up of a joint be it with or without a noise.

Once a problem has been corrected most patients will set an interval once every 4 to 6 weeks to ensure long term correction is maintained. There is always room for improvement, how much treatment a patient needs often comes down to their compliance with how well they apply postural awareness prompts they’ve been given by the chiropractor, adherence to exercise prescription, dietary and lifestyle advice etc.

This is not necessary. Often a 15 minute walk can be useful to allow the body to work in a more optimal, well adjusted way after a chiropractic adjustment.

This is not necessary. Often a 15 minute walk can be useful to allow the body to work in a more optimal, well adjusted way after a chiropractic adjustment.

Directly after a chiropractic adjustment, endorphins are released which are the ‘feel good’ hormones so patients will often walk out feeling lighter than when they came in.

It’s based on how long the problem has been there, the severity of the injury, patient compliance with exercise prescription and adherence and commitment to postural modifications. We do not subscribe to a cookbook/cookie cutter approach. Treatment tends to be more intensive initially in order to free up restricted joints, then we can re-train the compensatory movements, joints, muscles and the nervous system to work correctly through better movement patterns. Almost all patients will see an improvement in their condition within 3 treatments, after which the majority of patients will be seen less frequently as they continue to improve.