Faq

According to Wikipedia,  https://www.wikipedia.org . the free encyclopedia, Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine. A Chiropractor is a person who went to University to learn Chiropractic. A Chiropractor may diagnose and treat many conditions relating to muscles, joints, and nerves of the body. He may give what is called an “adjustment” to the body.

However, in the UK Chiropractors are not regarded as practising alternative medicine, but as primary care practitioners due to the high level of academic training they receive on their 4-5 year University Degree Chiropractic Training Course. They are also trained to read X-Rays, MRI and CT as well as radiography (which is the skill of taking X-Rays). If your GP sends you for an X-Ray, Chiropractors can go to hospital and interpret your X-Rays to give you a more accurate plan of treatment.

In the United Kingdom Chiropractic is a regulated primary healthcare profession. They are regulated by the General Chiropractic Council and no-one can call themselves a Chiropractor unless they are registered with this association. In fact, if someone calls themselves a Chiropractor and they are not registered, they are committing a criminal offence. Always make sure your Chiropractor is registered if they are practising in the UK. Just check online at https://www.gcc-uk.org/registration/the-Chiropractic-register/registration-search.aspx .

Chiropractic was developed over 100 years ago by Daniel D Palmer in Iowa, USA and is practised in many countries all over the world.

Chiropractors are trained to diagnose, treat, manage and prevent disorders of the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, and muscles), as well as the effects these disorders can have on the nervous system and general health. They have a special interest in neck and back pain, but when they assess patients, they take into account your entire physical, emotional and social well-being.

Chiropractic care focuses on the restoration of spinal alignment. The most common kind of Chiropractic treatment is referred to as spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) or a Chiropractic adjustment. In this type of work, Chiropractic doctors apply controlled force in a very specific way to restore mobility in the joints.

 

Sometimes the patient will hear a popping noise as the spine is adjusted, but this is no cause for alarm. Small pockets of air trapped in the joints cause this popping noise, similar to what one might hear when cracking the knuckles.

 

Chiropractic treatment is a hands-on gentle treatment and Chiropractors do not use drugs. If you need pain relieving medication they will refer you to your GP.

Chiropractors use a range of techniques to reduce pain, improve function and increase mobility, including hands-on manipulation of the spine.

 

As well as manual treatment, Chiropractors are able to offer a package of care which includes advice on self-help, therapeutic exercises and lifestyle changes.

 

Chiropractic treatment mainly involves safe, often gentle, specific spinal manipulation to free joints in the spine or other areas of the body that are not moving properly. Apart from manipulation, Chiropractors use a variety of techniques including ice, heat, Activator, Blocking, Drop Tables and exercise. They are also trained to give you advice about posture, lifestyle and diet.  Everything is explained to you before an adjustment is carried out.

We are very proud to say we are an Award Winning Chiropractic Clinic.  In fact we have 2 Award Winning Chiropractic Clinics: one in Bournemouth and one in Fordingbridge.  Two of our Chiropractors Janis and Martin Laking are Fellows of the Royal College of Chiropractors (Paediatrics), which is the highest academic level you can attain. Our other Chiropractors are also members of this organisation. We choose to be part of this organisation to adopt the Royal College of Chiropractors (RCC) high standards of care to patients.

 

The RCC is a registered charity promoting professional excellence, quality and safety in Chiropractic. They are an apolitical professional membership body of over 2800 members. The organisation promotes and supports high standards of education, practice and research, enabling Chiropractors to provide, and to be recognised for providing, high quality care for patients. https://rcc-uk.org/

 

We have been recognised for providing high quality care to our patients and have received our award continuously since 2009 (Bournemouth Clinic) and 2010 (Fordingbridge Clinic) https://rcc-uk.org/patient-partnership-quality-mark-ppqm/ which is awarded every 2 years.  Rest assured you are in safe hands with us.

You will, on arrival, check in where the receptionist will introduce herself and make you familiar with our clinic. She will then give you a questionnaire for you to fill in about your health and any problems you are currently experiencing. The form will ask for your written consent before the Chiropractor can proceed to treat you. You will watch a DVD about what to expect on your first visit. Following the short DVD you will be taken to a changing room to put on a gown ready for your consultation with the Chiropractor.

 

The Chiropractor will discuss your health form and proceed to the examination, only if you consent to do so. At all times the Chiropractor will keep you informed of what they are doing. At the end of the examination the Chiropractor will be able to tell you what’s wrong with you, if they can help you, how many treatments you will need and the cost of your treatments. At this stage if the Chiropractor can treat you they will need your consent before they can proceed to do so. We like to keep our patients informed at every stage of their consultation, to be involved and to ask questions.

Chiropractic is safe and gentle. There may be minor soreness for a few days which is alleviated by applying ice wrapped up in a towel or by applying ice gel to the affected part. Treatments are close together to be able to offer you advice and review any soreness you might be experiencing and to reassure you along the way.

 

You will be given advice to follow after your first appointment, and it is important that you take responsibility and follow this advice before your next appointment to maximise your recovery.

Yes, we have. The Clinic was established in 1996, and we have 5 Chiropractors working with us who are very experienced and busy. We have completed thousands of treatments and seen many different complaints and conditions. Our mission is should we find we cannot help you then we will refer you to someone who can. You will see satisfied patients leaving 5*reviews on our website, google and Facebook page.

Absolutely you can. We offer a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your case and options available to you. If you decide you wish to proceed further, then you will need to book in for a 45 minute appointment at a time convenient to you.

They are similar professions, as both treat problems associated with muscles and joints. Chiropractors tend to use movements known as adjustments which are shallow and quick to free stiff spinal joints. Osteopaths tend to use more stretching and massage of the tissues before they perform what is known as a “long lever adjustment.”  A good Osteopath and a good Chiropractor can get you right, it might just be personal choice or who is in your area near you.

No. We correct nerve function by treating the spine and the joints of your body. This means any joint you have which is not articulating properly, or is painful, in your body be it your elbow, knee, foot, hip, hand, wrist or foot is within the remit of a Chiropractor.

Sometimes we can’t treat you, but don’t worry we will refer you to someone who can.

Two of our Chiropractors are Fellows of the Royal College of Chiropractors (Paediatric Faculty) which means they have had extra training and completed a further degree in Chiropractic Paediatrics. At our Clinic there is no age limit.  From the very young to the elderly.

Having Chiropractic care when you are pregnant is very safe.  We are all qualified to treat pregnant women with back or neck pain.  The treatment is modified to take into account the changes you experience when you are pregnant.

Yes we do.  Our clinic is open Monday-Friday until 7pm and on Saturday mornings.