What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is the gentle, effective treatment for back & neck pain, sports injuries and more. At NW3 Chiropractic we provide gentle, effective Chiropractic treatment tailoured to each individual’s needs. Our treatments usually incorporate a variety of methods, including soft tissue techniques, stretches and spinal adjustments (specific joint manipulation).
Q:”What is the difference between a Chiropractor and an Osteopath?”
A: The closest answer is usually “There is more difference between the professional than the profession”. The biggest difference other than that is that Chiropractors graduate with a Masters which includes a Government-approved licence to take X-Rays, while Osteopaths do not. Chiropractors may be more interested in imaging of affected joints, if the imaging is likely to affect the way the patient is treated.
All major organs of the body receive innervation from the spinal nerves and therefore may suffer from interference to spinal nerve signals. When a joint is misaligned or not moving as it should, it can cause anything from no pain to mild or even severe pain and muscle spasms. At worst it may cause irritation to the extremely sensitive nerves leaving the spine, causing pain and problems anywhere in the body, for example sciatica or arm pain.
As chiropractors, we aim to gently remove interference to your nervous system. When vertebrae in your spine move out of their optimal, neutral position, chiropractic aims to ‘re-align’ the bones to their natural, symmetrical position. Our treatment goal is to allow full and proper nerve supply to organs of the body including muscle, heart, lung, reproductive organs and many more.
Chiropractors take an integrated and holistic approach to the health needs of their patients, considering physical, psychological and social factors. They provide care and support by reducing pain and disability and by restoring normal function to people with neuro-musculoskeletal disorders.
Chiropractors spend five to seven years of full time university study to become qualified and chiropractic is now the fastest growing independent health care profession in the United Kingdom, regulated by the General Chiropractic Council (GCC).
The GCC’s definition of chiropractic
‘Chiropractic is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health. There is an emphasis on manual treatments including spinal manipulation or adjustment (World Federation of Chiropractic, 1999).’
Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician often referred to as the father of medicine, advised; “Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases.” Hippocrates (460 BC – 370 BC) The actual profession of chiropractic dates back to 1895. However, some of the earliest healers in the history of the world understood the relationship between health and the condition of the spine.
