Chiropractic

Chiropractic is the newest group of manual therapists (therapist that use their hands), and its popularity is growing. As Osteopathy started in Europe, so did Chiropractic in the United States.

Initially, Physiotherapist would concentrate on muscles and Chiropractors would focus on joints. However, modern Chiropractors are now trained in every element of physiotherapy as well as joint techniques and radiology.

Before treating you, Chiropractors undergo up to 5 years of training and are Statutory Regulated Medical Professionals in the UK (in contrast, it takes three years to become a physiotherapist in the UK).

First, we listen.

What are your problems and how does it feel?

Next, we diagnose you through several tests, which, unlike other manual therapists, might include MRI scans and X-ray analysis as well as a physical examination.

We recommend, if possible, you bring a partner or loved one along to consult. We go into a lot of detail so we can create the perfect care plan for your problem.

In the more complicated cases of back and neck pain, we will give you an email report within hours. The report provides clarification so you can see the health of your spine. Particularly helpful when going home & get asked

“What did the Chiropractic Doctor say was wrong?”

After your Chiropractor has diagnosed you, we reduce your discomfort through a combination of manipulation (loosening of tight joints), massage (loosening of tight muscles) and stretch techniques.

After you are out of the crisis, we can then provide you with an exercise programme so you can rebuild your strength and stability. These are often delivered by email directly to your phone with links to video demos, so you never forget how it’s done.

In this combination of treatments, four core actions are happening to the body:

• Soften

• Stretch

• Straighten

• Strengthen

This approach ensures that your body health is covered in full.

These are not new concepts but only Chiropractic care done at the Wimbledon Chiropractic & Sports Injury Clinic combines them to get you the ultimate result.

First, we listen.

Listening is the start of us understanding your body and coronavirus doesn't stop this process. We will use tele-consults during the lockdown period to listen.

These are great as we can save you travel time and triage your symptoms to see if we can help.

What's more, the cost is very low (£15 - £20) and the process is easy.

You will be asked to download a smartphone app (Apple - Android) and take some pics of your posture before the consult. with this picture info and an easy chat about the symptoms, we can provide a reasonably accurate diagnosis and then provide either digital (email) tailored rehab based around your pictures. to give you a referral into the clinic to provide hands-on care using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), masks and gloves as  recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) PPE Guidelines

This is not as simple as the Physio compared to Chiro as both Osteopaths and Chiropractors help the most common causes of back pain, the joints. Hence we have split into the 3 main differences

EDUCATION: - 

The osteopaths and Chiropractors have equal training in terms of duration (4-5 years) and are also trained to a very high standard. However, one large element in their training is different: Chiropractors are also trained in X-ray analysis and many can take an x-ray on-site at the Chiropractic clinic.

This added analysis takes the guesswork out of complicated cases & allows your chiropractor to create specific objective care programmes (common observations on x-ray imaging within the clinic range from fractures – scoliosis – disc decay)

TREATMENT ENVIRONMENT: -

From a patients perspective, the osteopathy bench is often very different from the common Chiropractic bench. The chiropractic benches are largely designed in America and are ergonomically set up for ultimate comfort. Whereas most Osteopaths use a plinth (a flat bench with a hole cut into it).

TREATMENT TECHNIQUE: -

The releasing of the tight joints is also slightly different with the Chiropractors using a low-pressure technique known as HVLA manipulation which was backed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). HVLA or Chiropractic joint work was also shown in the UK BEAM trial, 2008 as a better technique for lower back pain than exercise.

• This is simple; Physiotherapists are trained in muscle techniques (massage, stretches and exercise).
• Chiropractors are trained in Joint techniques (manipulation and mobilisation) and muscle techniques (massage, stretches and exercise). Plus they also have the ability to take and diagnosis through X-ray analysis. A Chiropractors larger skill range is because they spend up to an extra 2 years in undergraduate education (Total of 5 years) before they see the public.

CONVENTIONAL CHIROPRACTIC: -

 Conventional Chiropractors focus on crisis management like decreasing muscular spasm, increasing range of motion, and reducing pain. This is how most chiropractors practice, and we believe most of them are great at what they do. It falls under the umbrella category of symptom relief/symptom management.

STRUCTURAL CHIROPRACTIC: - 

Think of your spine as the foundation for a building. If the foundation was off, would you expect the floors to creak, the walls to crack, the windows to shatter and walls to eventually break down?

You can spend time patching all the damage, but you would be doing so with the expectation that in a short time the problems will have to be…..?

….Repaired Again….and Again….

Suddenly instead of achieving a true correction, we’re relying on conventional chiropractic like a natural (and sometimes expensive) aspirin. Instead, Structural Chiropractic aims to first fix the crisis but then focus on the foundation, your spinal posture.

Patients that choose to work beyond a crisis to fix their spinal posture become abler and find larger independence from pain.