I often get asked what a chiropractor actually does. So I thought, why not write a blog about it! In this blog I’ll be explaining about the qualifications chiropractors need, explaining what a chiropractor does, what does it mean if something clicks and what we can help with.
In the United Kingdom, to become a chiropractor you must complete a 5 (sometimes 4) year degree or post graduate masters course recognised by the General Chiropractic Council (GCC). This usually involves 3/4 years of full time study and one year work experience, working under supervision.
Once you have qualified, to legally call yourself a chiropractor you must be registered with the GCC. Although not a legal requirement, I am also a Licentiate member of the Royal College of Chiropractors and a member of the British Chiropractic Association. I am also trained in British Medical Acupuncture and Rock Taping for sports injuries as well as paediatrics and pregnancy Chiropractic.
To put it simply, a chiropractor is a health care professional that specialises in bones, nerves and soft tissues such as muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Chiropractors use hands-on spinal and joint manipulation as well as other alternative manual treatments. Proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine will enable the body to function at its best and avoid and prevent injury and damage. Manipulation is used to restore mobility to joints restricted by tissue injury caused by a traumatic event, such as falling, or repetitive stress, such as sitting for sustained periods of time.
Chiropractic treatment is primarily used as a pain relief alternative for muscle and joint complaints and secondarily used as a way to maintain and prevent good posture and alignment.
Clicking or cracking is the technique used to release gas between the joints, it is not painful and patients often feel a huge sense of relief.
At Back in Shape Chiropractic, we use many different chiropractic adjusting methods. Some methods involve the spine making “popping” sounds and some involve much more gentle methods of mobilisation. If clients do not want to be clicked it’s not a problem, we are trained in a wide variety of techniques that do not involve popping sounds. We always work with each individual to determine the best method of treatment to achieve the best results for them.
There are many reasons to see a chiropractor but some of the most obvious would be if you experience:
In some cases I see patients who aren’t experiencing ‘pain’ but they know they don’t feel right. Pain is the bodies last resort to coping with pain, so it is better to have treatment as early as possible to avoid long term damage.
Treatment can completely vary from person to person and as chiropractors we work in a holistic way to not just treat symptoms but treat the body as a whole system to achieve the best and long lasting results for you.
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