What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a primary health care profession, it specialises in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and overall management of conditions that are caused by problems occurring in the joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves if the body. Chiropractic is now the third largest form of primary health care in the world - only to medicine and dentistry.

Chiropractors are highly trained and skilled in a comprehensive range of manual therapy techniques and will use a combination of techniques specifically for your condition.

Chiropractors traditionally use manipulation techniques to treat the joints and muscles within the body; manipulation is performed by the chiropractor using their hands that involves a short impulse to the joint, to induce movement and stretch. The body’s own healing processes, in which we normally recognise in its ability to heal bruises, cuts and broken bones, will then be able to improve and strengthen the area that is injured.

What to expect in the initial consultation
The first consultation will last and hour, during this time we will sit and go through a detailed case history of your complaint and also previous medical history. We will then move on the examination in which you may be asked to undress down to their underwear if the complaint involves the lower back or legs. Females can wear a clinic gown, but all patients can bring shorts and a loose fitting t shirt.

After the examination I will explain to you fully the working diagnosis and also if chiropractic care is suitable for your condition, feel free to ask any questions at any time about the condition or the management plan. If chiropractic care can help, treatment will commence and will start you on the road to recovery.

What to expect after treatment
Most patients leave the clinic reporting that treatment has a felt relief on the area of complaint. There are some patients that may suffer with post treatment soreness that is temporary lasting 24 hours, due to the problematic area being treated, especially if it has never been treated previously. In future treatment sessions you will find that the soreness does not appear and feel much better as the injury is resolving itself.

What can Chiropractic treat?
Many conditions associated with the neuro-musculoskeletal system, respond well to chiropractic care, these include:

• Lower Back pain with associated leg pain.
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Whiplash and headaches
• Muscular and Postural aches and Sports injuries
• Upper and Lower extremity injuries ( Shoulder injuries/Tennis elbow/Knee Complaints )

Lower back pain
Back pain can affect anyone at any age, it is most common between the ages of 35 – 55, acute back pain is symptoms lasting less than 6 weeks, whereas chronic back pain is present and troubling over 3 months. Commonly the pain is linked to the movements or lack of movements between the vertebra, joints ligaments and muscles. This is termed MECHANICAL lower back pain.

Chronic pain occurs in the lower back as a result of repetitive actions, that only use a small range of motion in the joints, sitting, driving the car, being at work, house chores, this causes the capsule around the joint to stiffen and shrink, losing the lubrication around the joint causes achiness and pinching, this may only occur intermittently or when you only do more than you normally would do such as gardening.

Leg pain can also be associated with back pain, which is usually due to Irritation and compression of the nerves that exit the spinal column in the lower back; this can result in pain, pins and needles, numbness, a burning sensation or muscular weakness or any combination of these symptoms.

Chronic pain occurs in the lower back as a result of repetitive actions, that only use a small range of motion in the joints, sitting, driving the car, being at work, house chores, this causes the capsule around the joint to stiffen and shrink, losing the lubrication around the joint causes achiness and pinching, this may only occur intermittently or when you only do more than you normally would do such as gardening.

Neck pain
Pain in the neck area can be caused by many factors, poor work posture, stress and tension, repetitive tasks, with the neck held awkwardly while gardening or performing DIY jobs, sleeping uncomfortably or even the jarring effect while playing sports or exercising

These actions mentioned above place strain into the muscles, ligaments, discs and joints of the neck, which can result in pain in the base of the skull, central line of the neck, the top of the shoulders or down between the shoulder blades and into the arms. Pains coming from these areas can refer pain up into the skull creating headaches that can re occur for as long as the neck is injured.

Chiropractic can help ease off the tension through the muscles and joints, loosening off the areas through massage, mobilizations and manipulation to the neck and shoulders.

Another type of neck problem can refer pain down the arm; your arm might feel numb or weak or have 'pins and needles'. The nerves from the neck run down the length of the arm, they can, like in the lower back can get squashed by surrounding muscles that have become tight and locked, during the chiropractic examination, the cause of nerve compression will be determined and subsequently treatment directed to the cause.

Once the exact location of nerve irritation has been identified, chiropractic treatment can then get on with the job of getting you out of pain and on the road to recovery.

Whiplash
Whiplash is commonly talked about after a car crash, its characterised by a sprain to most commonly the neck and shoulders. Whiplash is a description of how an injury has occurred to the body but may also be caused by sports injuries, falls or assaults.

Whiplash injury is characterised by the forward and backward (flexion and extension) movement of the joints within the neck and spine, it can also occur through quick twisting (rotation) of a joint. This cause of pain is either immediately after the accident occurring or the reaction can also be delayed in some patients, until the next day or even longer.

The nature of pain following a whiplash injury can range from neck pain (sharp/ catching or dull ache) and stiffness, headache at the back of the head, thoracic and lower back pain. Some pins and needles can also be present in the arms or legs. 

How Can Chiropractic Help?
Chiropractic care will help by easing the strain out of the soft tissues, by massage and gentle stretching of the muscles and ligaments affected. Depending on the severity of the whiplash injury, small mobilizations will be tailored to the affected joints to gain motion back into the stiff neck and shoulders. Neck and thoracic spine adjustments may also help with reliving the symptoms of whiplash, the approach is very gentle and all within your comfort zone.

Contact the clinic on 0117 962 0008 or 07970 831361 for queries you have regarding chiropractic, or email at cbarber@bristol-wells-chiropractor.co.uk

For more information and online booking – visit the website at www.bristol-wells-chiropractor.co.uk

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