What is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is treatment concerned with the diagnosis, management and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system (spine).
A chiropractor focuses on diagnosis and treatment, with an emphasis on treatment through manual adjustment and/or manipulation of the spine.
It’s worth noting that not all chiropractic sessions involve adjustments and “cracking”. Special low force techniques can also be used to heal and repair.
Does it hurt?
For most patients, chiropractic adjustments are painless.
Some patients who are new to treatment may involuntarily stiffen or resist. This can cause a small amount of discomfort until they relax. In addition, mild discomfort may be felt if the patient has had a recent trauma, such as whiplash, due to inflammation. However, many patients report a feeling of relief after their adjustment or improved mobility.
Our practitioners take their time to ensure you’re comfortable and work at a pace that’s right for you.
Is it safe?
All of our practitioners are fully trained, qualified and registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
Will medicare cover my payment?
If you’ve got a condition that’s been present more than 6 months, it’s possible.
Medicare covers costs for patients that are referred by their GP’s on a ‘Chronic Disease Management Plan.’ For more details, click here.
How to prepare for a chiropractic session?
Bring along any scans and lab work that are relevant to your condition. This will assist your practitioner in their assessment and treatment plan for you. Plan to wear or at least bring loose comfortable clothing with you. Visit the bathroom so you don’t have to go mid treatment.
At the chiropractic appointment
Your practitioner will go through a detailed consultation with you. This is your opportunity to discuss your concerns, health history and treatment goals.
As part of the consultation, you will receive a full posture analysis to help identify areas in need of correction.
Your treatment may begin with soft tissue work (similar to massage) to loosen any tightness. This is followed by adjustments to problem areas. If cupping is needed it will be included here. We often combine multiple treatment modalities for the best results.
To promote continuity of results, you may be provided with a rehab and exercise program for you to continue at home.
Please note: this is a standardised treatment, and may not be appropriate for your specific concern. Please call us if you would like more information regarding your treatment prior to your consultation.
Chiropractic and acupuncture
Rather than separating these treatments, using chiropractic and acupuncture together in one session can be greatly beneficial.
Chiropractic works to correct misalignments based within the nervous system. This treatment allows the central nervous system to send messages throughout the body to promote healing. On the other hand, acupuncture works to remove blockages that may interfere with the body’s internal balance.
By combining these treatments, they work together to remove the blockages from your body which may improve energy flow, speed up healing, and promote balance in the body.
Acupuncture also helps to release and relax tight muscles. This aids the chiropractic part, so when adjustments are performed they are gentler, smoother, more effective and may last longer.
Using these techniques together is safe, and something we often highly recommend.
Chiropractic and other treatment techniques
Chiropractic can be used as a treatment on its own, or in combination with other treatment techniques. In addition to acupuncture, other treatments we combine include soft tissue work and cupping.
Soft tissue work is a fancy name for massaging tense and tight muscles to release them. It’s useful for helping patients to relax and aims to give the body more flexibility so the adjustments can happen easily.
If muscles are really tight and stubborn, cupping can be added to help further loosen up knots and adhesions that have formed in the muscles and fascia. It can be thought of as the opposite to a massage; rather than pressing down for relief, cupping gives relief by lifting upwards and stretching the muscle out. It’s really quite relaxing!
After your chiropractic session
You’re encouraged to drink water and take part in some gentle exercise. This will help flush the toxins (that have just been released) out of your system, and help hold your body in the correct position that it’s been adjusted into.
Your practitioner may provide you with a rehab and exercise program. Ensure you follow the directions you’ve been provided, as this will increase your chance of a faster recovery rate.
Benefits of chiropractic and what it may treat
Whether its chiropractic alone, or combined with other treatments, chiropractic has shown to have positive effects on:
- Acute or chronic back pain
- Neck pain
- Pain and dysfunction in arms and/or legs
- Poor mobility
- Bad posture
- Nerve pain
- Sacroilliac pain
- Tension headaches
- Migraine headaches
- Osteoarthritis
- Herniated disc (disc bulge)
- Piriformis syndrome
- Frozen shoudler
- Sciatica
- Pelvic tilt
- Whiplash
Find an appointment time that works for you. Click here to book now…
If you would like to talk to a qualified practitioner about chiropractic, please call (02) 9659 6099 or send us an email at enquiries@theacupunctureroom.com.au.