What is Chiropractic?

Thinking of visiting a Chiropractor and want to know more? Please see the information below.

What is it?

Chiropractic is a form of assessment, diagnosis and treatment for disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal (nerve, muscle and joint) systems.

Treatment

The main treatments of chiropractic manipulation have been shown consistently in research to be more effective than the treatments to which they have been compared. 3, 4, 5 Chiropractic intervention, including manipulation, is safe, effective and cost effective in reducing referral to secondary care. 6

Chiropractors mainly treat:

Back, neck and shoulder problems
Joint, posture and muscle problems
Leg pain and sciatica
Sports injuries

The main aims of treatment are:

Alleviation of distress and control of pain
Restoration of normal functioning and activity

Regulation

Chiropractic is a fully recognised and legislated profession, regulated by the General Chiropractic Council (GCC)
To register, chiropractors are required to complete an honours degree or undergraduate masters. Pre-registration training includes differential diagnosis/triage.
Chiropractic is a protected title.
To retain their GCC registration, chiropractors must submit evidence of their annual Continual Professional Development (CPD) activities.

Referral

As statutorily regulated health professionals, General Medical Council (GMC) guidance allows referral by GP’s to chiropractors. 7 The British Medical Association (BMA) has also published referral guidance for GPs. 8

Clinic Ethos

Our aim is to reduce pain and increase function with return to all activities of daily living, including work, exercise and hobbies as soon as possible. Patient education shifts the locus of control into the patients’ domain, and when patients understand why and how their symptoms occurred, we can best achieve maximum recovery and minimum recurrence.

At Younger Chiropractic Clinic (YCC) we only use evidence based techniques backed by research to assure the more effective and rapid results for our patients.
In addition to a tailored programme of manual therapy, we include home advice and pain management techniques for patients to employ from day 1. This is progressed to postural and ergonomic advice and strengthening and conditioning exercises as their treatment progresses.
100% of our patients undergo diagnostic triage to differentiate their complaints into serious pathology, nerve root pain, or functional musculoskeletal disorders.

Capacity

At Younger Chiropractic Clinic we have multiple chiropractors within our practice and are best placed to offer increased capacity, availability and flexibility to patients.
We can offer New Patient appointments within 24 hours and wherever possible we will offer a choice of appointment dates and times.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Being part of multipractitioner clinics we have an in-house system for CPD. This ensures we regularly review the latest research guidelines and recommendations in manual therapy and can discuss as a clinic how to apply the most effectively for our patients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Chiropractic is an effective, safe and regulated form of treatment proven to reduce patient referral to secondary care.
Our clinic offers the highest quality of care with a wide range of availability and flexibility to patients.
The clinic ethos is rapid and effective patient recovery, using evidence-based practice, combined with patient education and a shift in the locus of control to maximise recovery and minimise recurrence.

Thank you for taking the time to peruse this brief and we trust that the information has been both relevant and useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us with regards to any additional information.

References

Department of Health, 2006. Musculoskeletal Services Framework
NICE Guidelines, 2009. Low back pain
UK BEAM Trial Team 2001. The UK Back Pain, Exercise and Manipulation (BEAM) Randomised Trial: Effectiveness of Physical Treatments for Back Pain in Primary Care. BMJ; 329(7479); 1377
Meade TW, Dyer S et al 1990. Low Back Pain of Mechanical Origin: Randomised Comparison of Chiropractic and Hospital Outpatient Treatment, BMJ; 300: 1431-37
Meade TW, Dyer S et al 1995. Randomised Comparison of Chiropractic and Hospital Outpatient Management for Low Back Pain: Results from Extended follow up. BMJ; 311: 349-51.
UK BEAM Trial Team 2004, The UK Back Pain Exercise and Manipulation (BEAM) Randomised Trial: Cost-effectiveness of Physical Treatments for Back Pain in Primary Care, BMJ; 329(7479): 381.
General Medical Council, 2006. Good Medical Practice (para55)
British Medical Association, July 1999. Referrals to complementary therapists.