Some people grow up experiencing the benefits of chiropractic care. Others only begin to consider it later in life, maybe when persistent back pain starts to interfere with daily life.
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ToggleWhat does a chiropractor do?
Chiropractors are university-trained healthcare professionals, who treat problems relating to your musculoskeletal system and nervous system.
We do that in a range of ways, including:
- Advising you on how to build a healthy lifestyle
- Teaching you how to improve your posture
- Providing advice on desk ergonomics
- Chiropractic adjustments/spinal manipulation.
We also encourage you to listen to your body. Too often, mainstream medicine simply seeks to suppress your body’s attempts to get your attention.
In contrast, chiropractic encourages you to stop and pay attention. We trust your body’s innate wisdom and we listen to it. Then we focus our efforts on the source of your pain.
And that may not be where you think it is. Many conditions create something called ‘referred pain’ where pain is experienced in one part of the body but actually stems from somewhere else. Often that’s the spine.
When should you see a chiropractor?
Some people see regular visits to their chiropractor as part of their overall health and wellness routine. In this sense, chiropractic is a preventive healthcare discipline that seeks to maintain good health.
Others come when they experience joint pain or stiffness or other health concerns, including:
- Back pain – a 2018 study found that military personnel with lower back pain who had 6 weeks of chiropractic treatment experienced less pain, functioned better and relied less on pain medications than their peers who treated their back pain in other ways
- Neck pain – spinal manipulation has been shown to be effective for some types of neck pain
- Scoliosis – a small study found that chiropractic care improved pain, Cobb angle and disability both immediately and for the next 24 months
- Headaches & migraines – chiropractic care may improve migraines and cervicogenic headaches
- Osteoarthritis – chiropractic care may improve your joint alignment and ease pain associated with osteoarthritis (however, it can’t replace lost cartilage!).
How do chiropractors know where to adjust?
A chiropractic adjustment involves applying a short, sudden force to your joint to release tension or improve range of motion.
But how do we know where to apply that force? Well, it’s primarily through training (we’re all degree-qualified in this) and experience, which enable us to identify the right ‘clues’.
We’ll assess factors like your posture, joint mobility and balance. We’ll also check how the nerves that come from your spine are firing your muscles and reflexes.
With all that information, we know where best to adjust your spine for maximum benefit. It also helps us to decide if your problem is best solved by a chiropractor. If we find joint dysfunction that is irritating the spine, nerves or muscles – we’re the people for the job! If not, we’ll help to refer you to someone best suited to manage your case.
Chiropractic care in Gisborne and surrounds
Over our 30 years in practice, Gisborne-based Liberty Health and Happiness has become one of the leading chiropractic, counselling and allied health centres in Australia.
From the very beginning, our focus is on you. We begin with a thorough review of your health history then move on to a physical examination of your spine and nervous system. We may request X-rays or other tests.
Once we’ve gathered all the required information, we’ll explain our findings and our recommended treatment plan. We’ll offer you a range of options in terms or how we can help you, and then it’s up to you to let us know how you would like to continue.
Is there something that your pain is getting in the way of or making harder at the moment? Would you like to feel and function at your best? Please make an appointment today.
Disclaimer
All information is general and not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Liberty Health and Happiness can consult with you to confirm if a particular treatment is right for you.
References
- Healthdirect, Chiropractors and chiropractic treatment, [Accessed 1 February 2024]
- Harvard Health, Should you see a chiropractor for lower back pain?, [Accessed 1 February 2024]
- Lefebvre R, Peterson D, Haas M. Evidence-Based Practice and Chiropractic Care. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2012 Dec 28;18(1):75-79. doi: 10.1177/2156587212458435. PMID: 23875117; PMCID: PMC3716373. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716373/#:~:text=Neck%20Pain,pain%20when%20combined%20with%20exercise., [Accessed 1 February 2024]
- Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, Marcoux H, Potter B, Ruegg R, Shaw L, Watkin R, White E. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2011 Jun;34(5):274-89. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2011.04.008. PMID: 21640251. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21640251/, [Accessed 1 February 2024]
- WebMD, Chiropractic care for joint problems: What to know, [Accessed 1 February 2024
- Arthritis Foundation, Chiropractic care for arthritis, [Accessed 1 February 2024]