Gentle and effective treatment for the whole body
Can Chiropractic Help You?
The gentle (i.e. low-force) 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:
- Back, neck and shoulder pain
- Pain, discomfort and stiffness in joints
- Migraine
- Muscular aches
- Sports Injuries
- 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 analyzing your particular problem. They will then examine you and make appropriate adjustments where necessary. Chiropractors have a very finely tuned sense of touch. Upon locating a problem, your chiropractor will use one of a number of light, swift and precise techniques, to adjust a joint. As well as adjustments (manipulations) chiropractors may also use mobilizations and soft-tissue techniques as well as give advice about posture and exercise.
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:
- Your age
- The nature of the problems
- How long you have had the problems
- Your level of fitness
- Your work and hobbies
- How well you follow the aftercare and lifestyle advice given by your chiropractor
For persistent low back pain, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends considering a course of manual therapy, including spinal manipulation, of up to 9 sessions over a12 week period.
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 responds to treatment. These may include a brief period of stiffness or tiredness, especially after the first session when your body is in the process of adapting.
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 who began to teach in 1972 and is now taught at the McTimoney College of Chiropractic in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It is well known for being a gentle, precise, whole body approach to chiropractic care and is characterized by quick, dexterous adjustments which are generally comfortable to receive. 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.
Latest News on Chiropractic
- Middle-Aged Female Back Pain Sufferers Commonly Use CAM July 30, 2012
Middle-aged women with back pain are commonly using both conventional and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), Australian study findings show.
“The results reinforce the need for effective and ongoing communication between patients, conventional and CAM practitioners to ensure the creation and maintenance of treatment plans for back pain sufferers,” say Emma Kirby (University of Queensland) and colleagues.
They found that the most commonly used CAM was massage therapy, followed by chiropractic therapy.
- Equine Alternative Medicine Gaining Steam in Vet Schools October 8, 2011
Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM), such as massage therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, and chiropractic, is gaining popularity among horse owners, yet not all equine practitioners feel confident providing these services. Why? According to researchers from Washington State University’s (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, lack of education appears to be a major contributing factor. That being said, the study also found that alternative medicine coursework in equine veterinary education has increased about 30% in the past decade.
- Affordable Holistic Medicine Can Lower Health Costs July 18, 2011
The National Center for Biotechnology Information recently published a story showing CAM therapies (complementary and alternative medicine) that may be considered cost-effective compared to usual care for various conditions: acupuncture for migraine, manual therapy for neck pain, spa therapy for Parkinson’s and more.
According to the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine, studies done in Psychosomatic Medicine and The American Journal of Managed Care show the cost benefits of alternative treatment. The studies found that the practice of Transcendental Meditation lowered health insurance utilization, hospital inpatient days, hospital admissions and hospital outpatient visits for all categories of disease studied.
Read more at: http://www.personalliberty.com/news/affordable-holistic-medicine-can-lower-health-costs-800546311/
- Don’t Dismiss These Treatments as Placebos June 20, 2011
Evidence is growing, based on carefully controlled studies, that certain non-pharmacological complementary interventions may be useful adjuncts to conventional care. For example, the pain of osteoarthritis can be lessened by acupuncture; tai chi may be helpful in reducing the pain of fibromyalgia; and massage and manipulative therapies may contribute to the relief of chronic back pain and related functional impairments. Furthermore, evidence from basic research points to ways in which such interventions use the body’s own pathways known to be involved in response to pain.
Should we dismiss any benefits as mere placebo effects? Or should we explore the possibility, increasingly suggested by the science, that some complementary interventions provide powerful tools for studying the contributions of attention, touch, time, and reassurance, which are now in short supply in our health care system?Read more at: http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/06/dont-dismiss-these-treatments-as-placebos/240461/
- Complementary help can ease cat’s pain May 15, 2011
A good example is omega-3 fatty acids. Research has shown that they can have a significant anti-inflammatory effect on arthritic joints in dogs, and there’s a good chance that cats may benefit as well. Older cats with creaky joints can also get pain relief from a product called Adequan. It is easily injected beneath the skin and can be done by a pet owner at home.
Pets with pain issues can also be helped with physiotherapy, which may include acupuncture, chiropractic, stretching, massage and low-level laser. A veterinarian who is trained in these therapies can determine which ones will work best for each individual pet and administer them as needed.
Read more at: http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/entertainment/article/1404390
