What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and the effects of these disorders on the functions of the nervous system and general health. There is an emphasis on manual treatments including spinal adjustment and other joint and soft tissue manipulation. (World Federation of Chiropractic, 2001).

By helping the musculoskeletal system work properly, chiropractors can play a major part in relieving disorders, and the pain or discomfort that goes with them. These can be the result of accidents, stress, lack of exercise, poor posture, illness and the everyday wear and tear that happens to all of us.

Chiropractors take a ‘holistic’ approach to your health and wellbeing. This means that they consider your symptoms in the context of your full medical history, your lifestyle and your personal circumstances. Chiropractors can provide a ‘package’ of care that is based on the best available evidence. Guidelines were published in May 2009 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (www.nice.org.uk/CG88) and broader European guidelines were published in 2004 (see www.backpaineurope.org ).

As well as physical manipulation, the full package of care includes advice about exercise, lifestyle, and activity.

Chiropractors will aim to: reassure you, ease your distress by controlling your pain, help you to prevent the pain happening so often, get you back to your normal activities. Don’t avoid activity simply as a way of avoiding the pain – hurt does not always mean harm.

Your chiropractor may be able to help you with appropriate treatment. (Information from GCC website, November 2009).