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Gentle and effective
treatment for the whole body
What is Chiropractic and
How Does it Work?
Chiropractic is a
straight-forward method of adjusting the bones of your body to improve the
alignment of your skeleton and through this process help the nervous
system to work more efficiently. The purpose of chiropractic care is to
realign and rebalance your body to relieve pain and discomfort and
increase mobility.
Your spinal column is made
up of 24 moveable vertebrae, plus the sacrum, and the coccyx. It houses
the spinal cord through which nerve information is transmitted from the
brain to the rest of your body. When the spinal column is correctly
aligned, nerve information is passed accurately. However, if part of your
spine becomes misaligned, then nerve function can become impaired.
A misalignment of the joints
can occur for many reasons; some of the most common are incorrect lifting,
car or sporting accidents, falls, stress, and poor posture. This can lead
to pain, discomfort (such as numbness or pins and needles), or restricted
mobility.
Chiropractors are highly
trained to correct these misalignments by using quick, dexterous and
accurate adjustments which are generally comfortable for you to receive.
Can Chiropractic Help
You?
The gentle nature of the
McTimoney chiropractic technique makes it especially suitable for people
of all ages including pregnant women and the elderly. The following
conditions often benefit from treatment:
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Back, neck and shoulder
pain
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Pain, discomfort and
stiffness in joints
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Migraine
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Muscular aches
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Sports Injuries
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Arthritic pain
What to Expect from Your
First Treatment
Your chiropractor will first
take a case history regarding your general health as well as details of
your symptoms. This will help in assessing and analysing your particular
problem. They will then examine you and make appropriate adjustments where
necessary. Chiropractors have a very finely tuned sense of touch, which
enables them to detect misaligned joints. Upon locating a problem, your
chiropractor will use one of a number of light, swift and precise
techniques, to adjust a joint.
If your chiropractor
discovers or suspects a condition which requires medical intervention,
they will refer you to your GP. You may be referred for an MRI scan or
X-ray, if clinically necessary, in order to fully assess your condition.
How Many Sessions Will
You Need?
The number of sessions
needed varies depending on:
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Your age
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The nature of the problems
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How long you have had the
problems
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Your level of fitness
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Your work and hobbies
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How well you follow the
aftercare and lifestyle advice given by your chiropractor
Typically most patients need
between two and six sessions (your chiropractor will advise), initially at
weekly intervals, then gradually more widely spaced out, by which time a
noticeable change should have occurred, though chiropractic care can
continue for longer. Once the problem has been resolved, regular check-ups
are recommended to keep your body functioning well.
Responses and Reactions
to Treatment
During a course of
chiropractic care most patients feel physical changes as the body
re-aligns. These may include a brief period of stiffness or tiredness,
especially after the first session when your body is adapting to its new
posture.
Your chiropractor will also
give you aftercare and lifestyle advice to help you get the most out of
your chiropractic care.
The McTimoney Method
The McTimoney method of
chiropractic was developed by the late John McTimoney over 30 years ago
and is taught only at the McTimoney College of Chiropractic in Abingdon,
near Oxford. It is well known for being a gentle, precise, whole body
approach to chiropractic care. UK members of the McTimoney Chiropractic
Association are registered with the General Chiropractic Council and
undertake annual professional training to update their knowledge and
skills. McTimoney Chiropractic has been found to be helpful for thousands
of people and nearly 150,000 new patients consult a McTimoney Chiropractor
each year. Over 8,000 people are cared for by McTimoney Chiropractors each
working day.
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