What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractors are qualified health practitioners who have completed a minimum of five years university education. They use manual therapy to adjust your spine as well as other joints of the body to treat various muscle and skeletal conditions. Muscles, tendons and ligaments are connected to bones which make up joints, if either of them aren’t working properly, the body loses the ability to function properly and pain can present.
How does a chiropractor diagnose conditions?
Chiropractors have many methods of figuring out what’s going on with your body, including manual clinical examination, diagnostic imaging (e.g. x-rays or MRIs) and a thorough history (talking to you about what’s been troubling you). Based on our findings, we will recommend a specific treatment plan tailor-made for you which may include recommended exercises, nutritional and lifestyle advice.
What about that sound my bones make when I’m being adjusted?
A big part of chiropractic treatment is adjustments to the bones in your body. As explained earlier, ligaments, tendons and muscles are connected to the bone and if a bone is out of alignment, this will affect your nervous system which can negatively affect your muscles, sensation, joint range of movement, and balance. While being adjusted, you may hear a popping noise. Don’t be alarmed, this is totally normal and simply put is the sound of gas escaping the joints that are being worked on. These adjustments are generally not painful and have been clinically proven to be safe and effective.
Sometimes, chiropractic might not be appropriate for your condition, in which case we will refer you to another health care professional who is better suited to help you.
What conditions can a chiropractor help with?
Chiropractors can help with many musculoskeletal conditions, here are a few:
· back pain & neck pain
· headaches
· sports injuries
· injuries resulting from overuse
· whiplash
· strains and sprains
· arthritis
· restriction of movement (back, shoulders, neck or extremities)
Shock Wave Therapy
What is shock wave therapy?
Shock wave therapy or Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) utilises a device that generates shock waves (acoustic pressure pulses) generated by an air compressor. The compressed air accelerates a projectile in a handpiece, which hits an applicator. The kinetic energy of the projectile is converted to mechanical energy, which is transmitted via the applicator and absorbed by the body. Following a thorough assessment and diagnosis by a trained professional the handpiece is strategically placed on the body of a recipient and treatment commences. The treatment generally takes 5-10 minutes, however, this can vary depending on the number or size of the area to be treated.
Will shock wave therapy help me?
Most patients that seek out shock wave therapy have tried several other treatment modalities without lasting effects. Research on shock wave therapy indicate up to 80% of patients with tendinopathies (painful degenerated tendons) improve or eliminate their condition.
Does the treatment hurt?
The treatment tends to cause some level of discomfort; however, this can be decreased by having the practitioner lower the pressure output of the machine. Generally, the discomfort lasts less than a minute per treatment area, due to the local analgesic effect of the shock waves.
How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments varies from person to person, and for different conditions. Generally, the longer the condition has been present, the greater the number of treatment sessions required to resolve the condition. Younger adults, and those with fewer other medical conditions tend to respond quicker and more favourably.
How often will I need the treatment?
Most musculoskeletal conditions require 3-5 treatments, which are normally done at a frequency of once a week. However, your practitioner may deem that you require a higher frequency (2-3x/wk) or greater number of total treatments to resolve your specific condition. Your practitioner will discuss this with you if this is required.
Will I feel any pain after the treatment?
This is a difficult question to answer because results vary. Some patients feel a significant decrease in their pain immediately after a treatment (majority). Some patients feel no different for a few days, then notice an improvement. Then there are some (minority) that feel increased levels of pain for a few days after a treatment; improvements generally follow this transient period. It should be noted that this post-treatment pain can be minimised if the practitioner adjusts certain settings on the machine.
Are there any restrictions after the treatment?
It is generally recommended that patients avoid any vigorous physical activities especially involving the treated region, the same day as a treatment, however, it is not contraindicated.
Contraindications:
Air filled tissues: lung, gut, heart
Pregnant women
Local tumours / cancers
Bleeding disorders (haemophilia)
Patients taking prescription blood thinners (Warfarin)
Local cortisone injections (Ok 6 wks post injection)
Patients under the age of 18 (except Osgood Schlatter’s)
Pre-ruptured tendons
Indications:
· Tension Headaches
· Trigger point pain
· Osteoarthritis
· Tendinopathy/Tendinitis (Jumper’s knee, Golfer’s elbow, Swimmer’s shoulder, Tennis elbow)
· Medial tibial stress syndrome
· Heel spurs
· Lymphedema
· Calcifications
· Fracture non-union
· Osgood Schlatter’s
· Wound management