Chiropractic is a regulated primary healthcare profession. Chiropractors are trained to diagnose, treat, manage and prevent disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system (nerves, bones, joints, and muscles) They have a specialist interest in neck and back pain, but when they assess patients, they take their entire physical, emotional and social wellbeing into account.
At our clinic our main focus is being evidence based and patient centered meaning we will always treat your individual goals, needs and circumstances as the highest priority in recommending treatment methods and plans to suit you. We believe this should always be a shared decision making process at all times.
Our Chiropractors use a range of techniques to reduce pain, improve function and increase mobility, including hands-on manipulation of the spine. As well as manual therapy, chiropractors are able to offer a package of care which includes advice on self-help, therapeutic exercises and lifestyle changes.
Chiropractic treatment mainly involves safe, often gentle, specific spinal manipulation called adjustments to free joints in the spine or other areas of the body that are not moving properly and have become sensitised or inflamed due to loading or injury. Apart from manipulation, chiropractors may use a variety of techniques including soft tissue techniques, active release techniques, myofascial release, stretches, ice/heat, ultrasound, dry needling (western medical acupuncture), exercise prescription as well as advice about posture and lifestyle in a multimodal approach.
Although chiropractors are best known for treating back and neck pain, which they do very well, patients also consult chiropractors regarding a range of other, related conditions.
The chiropractic manipulative ‘adjustment’ is made to restore normal joint movement. It is often accompanied with the sound of an audible release of the joint. This is due to a vacuum being formed when the joint surfaces separate and then release. This is one of the ways that chiropractors help to relieve painful joints. The treatment improves overall joint function, reduces inflammation and muscle spasm thereby relieving any aches and pains.
Regular chiropractic check-up appointments will help to maintain the movement of the joints and how the muscles and ligaments of these joints work. This will help to avoid recurrent episodes of discomfort and stiffness.
Back, Neck and Shoulder Pains
80% of the population suffer back pain at some point in their lives and it is one of the leading causes of time off work, loss of productivity and forcing people to miss out on their favourite recreations as well as activities of daily living.
Many studies have concluded that manual therapies commonly used by chiropractors are generally effective for the treatment of lower back pain as well as for treatment of lumbar disc injury (bulge), for radiculopathy (sciatica) and neck pain, among other conditions.
Posture Problems
Research has suggested that remaining seated for too long is bad for your health, regardless of how much exercise you do. In addition to causing repetitive stress and strain on your ligaments, soft tissues, joints and discs, studies have linked excessive sitting with being overweight and obese, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, just to name a few.
Prolonged sitting is thought to slow the metabolism, which affects the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and break down body fat. Many adults in the UK spend more than seven hours a day sitting or lying, and this typically increases with age to 10 hours or more.
Chiropractic treatment and advice on exercise and postural correction can help limit the effects of a sedentary profession!
Headaches
The causes and triggers of heachaches are wide and varied but one common cause is referred pain from the neck and upper back. A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Centre in the USA found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and achieved at least similar and in many cases better pain relief than use of medication.
Your chiropractor may in these cases liase with your GP to perform any appropriate tests to rule out other sources of headaches to assist diagnosis of headaches originating from the neck before proceeding with treatment.
Hip & Knee Injuries
Chiropractors don’t only treat backs! We are also trained and experiences in treating peripheral injuries in both the lower and upper limb and have a range of techniques to suit many conditions.
Sports Injuries
Whether you’re an elite athlete, a weekend warrior or someone is bit bit over competitive in Wednesday night football we love sports and we love helping people getting back to the sports and activities they love as quicky as possible AND make them perform at their best!
Pain Management
At Greenwich Chiropractic we place a high importance on educating patients on their condition and the underlying causes of it so people can best understand what is happening and how to best manage the problem. Following this, prescribing home exercises and self management advice in conjunction with manual therapy allows the patient to take control of their condition.
Whiplash Injury
NICE guidelines recommend manual therapy as mobilisation can provide short-term relief of pain and facilitate early mobility and recovery.
