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Chiropractic is a health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints and muscles), 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 adjustment and other joint and soft-tissue manipulation.

Chiropractors have a specialist interest in neck and back pain but when they assess their patient, they take their entire physical, emotional and social wellbeing into account.

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

They may also offer advice on diet, exercise and lifestyle, and rehabilitation programmes that involve exercises to do in your own time.

Chiropractors’ patients include the young, older people, manual workers, office professionals, pregnant women, children and sports people. Patients seek treatment for a wide variety of conditions, including back pain, neck pain, joint pains, headaches caused by neck problems, and prevention of migraine and conditions arising from sports injury.

There are many different approaches and techniques used by chiropractors, because of this the treatment approach taken by one chiropractor might be significantly different from that of another. However, all chiropractors will need to take a patient history and receive your informed consent before treatment.

Most patients visit a chiropractor of their own accord, but some may be referred by a doctor. Chiropractors are trained to recognise when chiropractic will not help a medical condition, and will refer a patient to a GP when necessary. Most chiropractors work in the private sector, either alone or in a group practice.

Often patients report a feeling of increased mobility and a sense of increased well-being immediately after treatment. However, not all cases are the same and you may find there is a small exacerbation of your condition before you start to feel better. In cases where chiropractic can help it is usual to start feeling improvement within the first few weeks.

Tiny receptors in your neck make sure that when it is stretched very quickly, an immediate muscle spasm will sometime protect it from harm. However, if the neck is stretched more slowly, the receptors don’t recognise that there is a problem, and the protective mechanism doesn’t kick in, leaving you open to injury.

Chiropractors practise in two main ways: one is to minimise the recurrence of your pain through ‘supportive care’. The practitioner may recommend a check-up every two to six months depending on your original complaint and your lifestyle. The other approach is known as ‘wellness care’. Here, the chiropractor may wish to check you more frequently, as well as exploring with you further ways you can enhance your well-being.

Chiropractic has far fewer risks than many other treatments for your problem. Serious side effects are extremely uncommon. Research shows that chiropractic is one of the safest and most effective forms of treatment available. Your chiropractor will, of course be happy to discuss all your concerns regarding treatment.

This is very much dependant on each individual case. A simple strain for example would be quicker to treat than a more complicated condition that has been present for many years. Whatever your individual situation happens to be, your chiropractor will sit with you during your report of findings and discuss this with you.

Arthritis or degenerated joints are sometimes the result of the surrounding joints not doing their fair share of work, so that the load is not managed equally. Chiropractic aims to restore your normal joint function spreading the load and taking excessive strain away from degenerated joints. Your chiropractors can also give you advice on exercise for maintaining joint function.

In most cases the answer is yes. Of course, it depends on the case concerned. However, any questions you have will be answered by your chiropractor. Your chiropractor is trained to recognise when treatment is indicated and when it isn’t. Previous spinal surgery is not necessarily a contraindication to treatment.

Although in the acute stage a soft collar may be worn for a short time, collars should not be relied upon. If you become reliant on a collar, the muscles of your neck will become weaker as the collar is doing their job. It is important, therefore, to have an active treatment plan that involves your chiropractor, ergonomic advice and possibly an exercise programme to help support the muscles and joints of your neck.

All chiropractors in England have to be registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) to practice legally. In addition to this Lichfield Chiropractic Clinic Chiropractors are members of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) and the College of Chiropractors (CoC).