Chiropractic

Complaint History

When you first meet your Chiropractor he will ask you questions about the history of your complaint, where you have the symptoms and when they are at their worst. Other information such as personal circumstances, health history and present lifestyle will also be required. This will help your Chiropractor decide what they feel is the most effective type of care they can provide for you.

Body Movement Analysis

Body Consultancy Chiropractors, as we have mentioned, treat you holistically. This means we will be taking into account the function of your body and its controlling nerves as a complex system. We will be assessing how you move very closely. It is necessary therefore that you undress to your underwear. We have changing facilities at the premises and will provide you with gowns and dressing gowns to wear over your underwear. Changing takes place away from any communal areas.

The fact that you have changed enables the Chiropractor to look at how you walk, how you stand, if you place your feet correctly, whether you're rounding your shoulders and so on. The purpose of this in depth physical examination is to help your chiropractor and you find the exact cause of your problem and reduce the chances of it happening again.

If, for religious or other reasons, you are unable to undress this should be discussed with the reception staff, and/or the Chiropractor before your appointment. Headgear of any kind does not normally present a problem.

If your Chiropractor diagnoses a problem that will not benefit from Chiropractic treatment, you will be referred elsewhere without delay.

Report of Findings

At the conclusion of your examination and case history, your Chiropractor will explain exactly what is wrong and how it is to be treated. He will also outline approximately how many treatments you may require. The nature and duration of the complaint obviously have a bearing on this estimation.

Blood, urine and other laboratory tests are sometimes required and these will be discussed with you at the time. Chiropractors are fully trained to take and read X-rays and may use these in conjunction with the other tests to help reach an accurate and safe diagnosis.

Treatment

It is common for your Chiropractor to find restriction and irritation in the joints and muscles of your body. The treatment usually consists of soft tissue work with machines, massage and stretching. Where appropriate, restricted joints will receive an adjustment or manipulation. These adjustments over a short course of treatment will return the joint and its surrounding structures to their normal working state. A popping sound sometimes occurs when a stiff joint is freed up though the adjustment itself is not painful. There can however be a feeling of soreness to the area afterwards.

At the conclusion of your short initial treatment plan you should be feeling very much better and symptom-free in most cases. It is important to remember that Chiropractic does not cure your problem permanently but it does restore the problem area of your body to its normal state of working. You will then be given advice to keep it that way.

Continuing Care

If the cause of your complaint is something like poor posture, your working environment or some other complication which would be harder to change permanently, then you may have to manage the problem.

This means it may be necessary to continue maintenance visits at regular intervals once the problem has been treated. This is similar to having your teeth checked regularly by your dentist. Your Chiropractor may also suggest exercises and possible changes in your lifestyle that can help you to keep fit, healthy and pain-free.