Chiropractic Treatment

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The term chiropractor refers to all medical practitioners who specialise in musculoskeletal issues. Most chiropractors believe that the health of the spine and the associated nervous system can influence the overall health of the entire body. Treatment from a chiropractor usually involves no medication and is more routed around basic lifestyle changes and other natural treatment alternatives.

Chiropractors use a holistic approach to healthcare and the needs of their patients, and always consider psychological and social factors as well as the physical. Treatments such as spine manipulation or adjustment are usually used in a technique that involves gentle and controlled movements of the vertebrae and spine which will take you a little further than your normal range but no so far as to cause damage. This kind of procedure is highly effective in improving mobility and alleviating the pain caused by certain back issues.

Chiropractors provide care for people of all age ranges and can give helpful and in depth advice on exercise, diet, pain management, sports rehabilitation and preventative measures. As it stands, just over a quarter of doctors surgeries are able to provide chiropractic treatment at their surgery or are able to make referrals to NHS chiropractors.

During the 1990s many clinical trials were undertaken to assess the effectiveness of treatment for back pain. Results showed that chiropractic treatment was almost more effective than outpatient treatment and patients who received chiropractic care were more satisfied than those who had hospital outpatient care.

History

The very beginning of chiropractic history is considered to be 1895, when Daniel David Palmer performed the first known chiropractic adjustment on partially deaf janitor Harvey Lillard. Lillard had reported normal hearing for most of his life, up until recently when he had bent over and heard a pop in his back, subsequently finding himself hard of hearing.

Palmer examined Lillard's back only to find his vertebrae slightly out of place and simply assumed that popping it back in to the correct position would return the janitors hearing to normal. After doing so, Lillard did in fact find that his hearing had returned to how it was before his back had popped.

Over the next few months Palmer had patients coming to him left right and centre with every conceivable problem imaginable, from epilepsy to stomach troubles, each of the ailments responded very well to the 'adjustments' he made which were later coined chiropractic. Palmer soon realised that the spinal adjustments he was making were eliminating the nerve interference which were causing the patients complaints.

Palmers School Of Chiropractic was highly successful and come 1898 he began to accept his first students. Among them was his son, who eventually succeeded his father in 1906 and took control of the business. Over time Palmers son gradually began to accept and introduce new forms of technology such as the X-ray.

The 20th century saw the growth and development of the profession worldwide, gaining recognition and respect for the place it has taken in the primary care environment.

What do we know?

Although research to assess the effectiveness of chiropractic is ongoing, there has been a number of clinical trials looking into chiropractic when used specifically for lower back pain. Most studies showed there was a positive benefit to treatment with six in eight studies producing a similar level of effectiveness. One study in particular found greater improvements in the chiropractic group than in groups receiving placebo treatment. A further trial found patients showed greater relief from a chiropractic clinic than they did from outpatient hospital treatment.

Professional Bodies

General Chiropractic Council (GCC) 

This is the body established by parliament to regulate and develop the chiropractic profession.

It's a criminal offence for anyone to call themselves a chiropractor if they're not registered with GCC. To register with the GCC practitioners must hold a qualification recognised by the GCC and foreign applicants who hold an equivalent qualification must also take a competency test.

What to expect

What does the teacher do?

When you meet with a chiropractor they will usually begin by taking a detailed medical history including information about past injuries or surgeries and also about your lifestyle. They will then conduct a physical examination which will mainly focus on the spine and posture and there is a chance they may request an x-ray. Once this has been done they will interpret the x-ray and may carry out a series of standard medical tests such as taking your blood pressure.

Once the initial consultation has been conducted the chiropractor will then establish an appropriate treatment plan for the patient based on the previous assessments made. The range of techniques they decide to use will be tailored to treat the patients needs and could include performing soft tissue therapies such as massage, making adjustments to the joints of the spine and advising patients on rehabilitation exercises to make sure long term health is maintained.

Some chiropractors may also choose to give you home work such as daily stretching to improve mobility or certain lifestyle recommendations. All of these will be things you can continue on your own to stay in good health after your treatment plan has ceased.

Please note that chiropractic is not recommended for patients who have inflammatory spine conditions or for those who have recently experienced a fracture or severe osteoporosis. It is important that you give your chiropractor as much information as possible to allow them to determine whether it is a suitable treatment for you. This also includes any medications you may be taking as some are found to contradict treatment.

How many sessions will I need?

The duration of treatments will generally range between 15- 30 minutes with prices ranging from around £30-80 for a 30 minute session. Some chiropractors may offer discounted rates for concessions and details of this can be found on individual profiles.

After your initial consultation your chiropractor will form a treatment plan. The number of sessions you will need is dependant on the severity of your condition, though most conditions are treated within 4-12 sessions.

How can it help me?

Chiropractic is most popular for its treatment of musculoskeletal disorders such as spine and posture problems or joint issues, as well as muscle problems such as sciatica and sports injuries.

What training and qualifications does a Chiropractor need?

Similarly to both medical practitioners and dentists, the chiropractic profession is regulated by UK law. The Chiropractors Act 1994 provides statutory regulation for the profession and also protects the title 'chiropractor' under legislation.

General Chiropractic Council (GCC)

This is the statutory regulator, which was established by parliament to regulate and develop the chiropractic profession. The GCC describes it's three main duties as:

• Protecting the public by establishing and operating a scheme of statutory regulation for chiropractors.

• To set the standards of chiropractic education, conduct and practice.

• To ensure the development of the profession of chiropractic, using a model of continuous improvement in practice.

The title 'chiropractor' has long since been protected by law and it is a criminal offence for anyone in the UK to use the title or to imply they are a chiropractor unless they are registered with the GCC.

When the GCC receive an application from a professional who would like to register, it is their responsibility to ensure the applicant has a chiropractic qualification, are of good character and are physically and mentally fit. They must also set and monitor standards of education and training, set standards of practice and conduct and deal with any complaints about conduct or practice of chiropractors.

The GCC have certain criteria which they require their applicants to meet and have agreed the Degree Recognition Criteria with the current UK providers of chiropractic education.

Currently the GCC recognised chiropractic degrees are as follows:

• Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (AECC) Master of Chiropractic (Mchiro)2003 – 2008/2013 – 2017.

• McTimoney College of Chiropractic Bsc(Hons) Chiropractic 2006 – 2011 Master of Chiropractic (Mchiro)2011 – 2016 (5 year programme) Master of Chiropractic (Mchiro)2013 – 2016 (4 year programme).

• University of Glamorgan Bsc(Hons)Chiropractic 2005 – 2010 Master of Chiropractic (Mchiro)2009 - 2014.

The criteria featured above are reviewed on a regular basis and are intended to ensure that graduates meet the requirements of the GCC's Code of Practice and Standard of Proficiency for the Competent and Safe Practice of Chiropractic.

There are a number of other chiropractic professional associations which professionals can choose to register with if they wish. The aim of these organisations is generally to promote the therapy and maintain high standards of practice, education and training within the profession. They also act as a useful source of information for those interested in chiropractic.

Below is a list of additional professional associations for Chiropractors. Please note this information is subject to change and for more information about accreditation visit the professional bodies' websites below.

The British Chiropractic Association (BCA)

The British Chiropractic Association supports the developments of chiropractic research projects and encourages professionals to apply for a listing on their register of qualified Chiropractors. To be eligible for registration applicants must be registered with the General Chiropractic Council and will have undergone a minimum four-year full-time internationally-accredited undergraduate course.

Chiropractors accepted for membership are graduates from colleges accredited by the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) and recognised by the BCA; these will also have European Council of Chiropractic Education (ECCE) accreditation.

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