Chiropractic is a natural alternative, hands-on, drug-free approach to health. Chiropractic has become the third most used primary health care profession in the world after medicine and dentistry.  A chiropractor’s main concern is your spine and nervous system and how well both are functioning.

The spine is made up of 24 individual moveable vertebrae. A pair of spinal nerves exits between each vertebra. Spinal nerves originate from the spinal cord, which runs the length of the spine, and extends outward to form a complex network which ultimately supplies and influences every organ, tissue and cell in the body. It is a chiropractor’s task to evaluate the biomechanical structure of the spine, to ensure that each one of the individual vertebra are moving freely and are not displaced of fixed in any way. Any such displacement or jammed vertebra can cause the spinal nerve that exits from the intervertebral foramen to become irritated either through direct pressure or through indirect irritation. Therefore, any problem in any of the vertebral joints can affect the related part of your nervous system, which in turn can lead to such problems as pain in the back or neck as well as many other spinal problems.

It is a chiropractor’s task to evaluate and identify any problem that might exist within the spine and to correct any dysfunction that might present. A chiropractor is not limited to treatment of only the spine but can also treat a wide variety of conditions in peripheral joints.

• Babies and children who suffer from spinal problems as they grow older and their nervous system adapts.
• Pregnant women to minimize back ache.
• Office workers who often sit in front of a computer for extended periods of time. This often results in back and/ or neck problems because of poor posture and very little physical exercise.
• Factory workers performing repetitive activities.
• The elderly who have years of wear and tear on the body which can leave them more susceptible to different spinal problems.
• Athletes who are constantly striving to improve their performance and who often push their bodies to the limit to achieve their goals. These constant stresses can cause much strain and in later years many neuromusculoskeletal problems can develop.

Chiropractic care has been known to treat and help almost any condition that is nerve, muscle or joint related. Such neuromusculoskeletal conditions can range from:

• neck pain
• headaches (including migraines)
• jaw pain
• whiplash
• shoulder pain
• arm and elbow pain
• tingling in arms and hands
• back pain
• hip pain
• leg pain
• sciatica
• knee pain
• foot pain

Therefore, any condition that is related to any joint in the body can potentially be helped through chiropractic care.

• Physiotherapists
• Biokineticists
• General Practitioners
• Surgeons

• General Practitioners
• Sports Physicians
• Physiotherapists
• Biokineticists
• Neurosurgeons
• Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Podiatrists
• Psychiatrists
• Clinical Psychologists
• Audiologists
• Dentists.

The average amount of treatments is very difficult to say up front, but a general guide is about 3-4 treatments

• Adjustments and Mobilizations:

Highly specialised manipulative techniques are performed by hand and consist of a high velocity, low amplitude thrust being applied to a specific vertebra in the spine. Adjustments are safe and some patients can experience immediate relief as the normal joint motion is restored and the nerve is relieved from restrictive pressure and irritation.  However, some patients require a few treatments to correct the problem.

• Flexion Distraction:

A gentle technique for distraction of the spine with isolation of the specific vertebra involved. This serves to initiate movement back into the joint and stimulate lubrication and nourishment of the joint. Common conditions treated with this modality include: Failed back surgery, Disc bulges or herniations, Stenosis, Spondylosis (Degeneration), Facet joint syndromes and muscle spasms.

• Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy:

Mechanical pressure pulses that expand as a wave in the body. Shock waves are like sound waves, high amplitude pulses of mechanical energy. An electromagnetic coil generates the waves. General effects of Shockwave therapy include: Destruction of tissue, Tissue regeneration and repair, stimulation of formation of new blood vessels (Neovascularisation), Pain relief, Relaxation of muscles and calcific deposits reabsorption. Common conditions treated with Shockwave Therapy includes: Calcific tendonitis of the rotator cuff, Radial / Ulnar humeral epicondylitis (Tennis / Golfers elbow), Piriformis syndrome (Sciatica), Iliotibial Band Syndrome, Patellar femoral pain syndrome, Osgood Schlatter disease of the knee, Shin splints, Heel spurs, Achilles Tendinopathy, and Plantar fasciitis.

• Dry Needling:

This technique is used to treat myofascial trigger points (spasms) which forms when a muscle is overworked or injured.  A myofascial trigger point is a hyperirritable zone within a muscle which has its own pain referral pattern, is tender and taut with palpation, it has a high metabolism and is poorly vascularised. 

It is different from acupuncture. Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, whereas dry needling is a Western Medicine technique which requires a medical diagnosis. There is a clear scientific and physiological understanding of dry needling. A fine, flexible, and sterile needle are used, and no drugs are injected. You will feel a small pin-prick when the needle is inserted and you may also feel a muscle ache and a muscle twitch. Dry needling may cause an increase in pain for one to three days, followed by an improvement of overall pain.

• Ultrasound:

A form of mechanical energy where sound waves generate micro vibrations which influences tissues with high collagen content (ligaments, tendons, fascia, joint capsules, and scar tissue). Conditions treated by ultrasound therapy include: joint contractures, Adhesive Capsulitis, acute and chronic Inflammation, Sprains and strains, bursitis, and tendonitis.

• Interferential Current Therapy (IFC):

A type of electrotherapy where two medium frequency currents are caused to interact in the tissues to produce a low-frequency effect. This modality is used for pain syndromes, inflammation, muscle contraction and to increase healing.

• K-Tape:

Elastic tape used to protect and support damaged tissue, enhance awareness of the injured area, minimize and reduce swelling, relieve pain, enhance proprioceptive feedback of the joint and decrease movement to prevent further injury.