LONDON CHIROPRACTIC
Phone: 07795 161 646
A health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on the nervous system and general health. There is an emphasis on manual treatments including spinal adjustment and other joint and soft tissue manipulation (World Federation of Chiropractic).
When you arrive, you will first fill out an intake form with your personal details (name, address, etc.) and few questions about your problem. Then you will go into the consulting room where Dr Carver will take a detailed history of your presenting complaint(s). He will also ask about past problems or illnesses. Even though past history might seem irrelevant to you, it is important as there may be something related you are unaware of or it may alter the type of treatment provided.
After the history, a thorough examination will be performed. This will include any orthopaedic, neurologic and chiropractic tests pertinent to your case. The tests are relatively easy and there is nothing to worry about. Every action is taken to ensure your comfort.
The history and examination will provide Dr Carver with the information to make a diagnosis and treatment plan. You will be given a detailed explanation of both before any treatment is given. Usually, your firs treatment will take place on that day. Some reasons for not treating on the first visit are the need for further tests such as X-rays or if there is too much inflammation, in which case Dr Carver will make recommendations for you and to return in a few days.
This is determined by taking the history and examination. Everyone is individual and responds differently. Some things to consider are the nature of the problem, what caused it, how long you've had it, your age, lifestyle and stress levels.
To receive optimal benefits from your chiropractic treatment it is important to follow the treatment plan provided, perform all exercises given, make any lifestyle changes recommended and keep a positive attitude.
Health is the “state of optimal physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (Saunders). Importantly, this means that when your symptoms are gone you aren’t necessarily in a state of health. For example, in approximately 30% of heart attacks, the first symptom identified or known is death.
When applied to chiropractic, this means that getting you out of pain is one goal of the chiropractor, but is far from the only goal.
Our bodies are placed under varying amounts of stress everyday of our life, which, overtime, can begin to affect its performance. If a body is no longer able to deal with stress in a proper manner it becomes susceptible to disease and injury. Stress can be broken down into three different types.
All of the three types of stress produce a physiological and/or physical affect on our body, either by direct action on muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints or through its stimulation of the nervous system. Stress is a cause of altered (either decreased or increased) motion of our joints. The spine is a particularly vulnerable area due to its biomechanics and relationship with the nervous system. A chiropractor calls altered spinal joint motion the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC). The VSC will irritate the nerves that leave the spine travelling to all parts of the body. This means that the nervous system, which controls all aspects of our body, is compromised. The body is now in a dysfunctional or unhealthy state making it more susceptible to stress, injury and disease.
Chiropractic theory believes that altered joint motion leads to improper nervous system function. Therefore, correcting spinal joint motion promotes proper nerve function allowing the body to move towards a state of health.
There are three phases of chiropractic care. Whichever phase you decide to take your care to, is up to you.
The amount of treatment is individual to every patient. Your age, lifestyle, general health, genetics, stress levels, prior injuries, amount of degeneration, the severity, nature and length of time the problem has been there must all be taken into consideration.
The phases of care:
However far you decide to take your treatment is always up to you. The chiropractor is there to provide the treatment and guide you through your care.
No. Chiropractors are trained to treat and rehabilitate many parts of the body. They work on shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, the jaw, etc. Some patients may experience systemic benefit as well through the relationship of the spinal nerves and organs they supply. The most important thing is to identify the cause of the problem and try to correct it. Some problems may need a multi-disciplinary approach in which case the chiropractor will work alongside other practitioners.
Of course, treatment for other problems will always involve treatment of the spine. There are two main reasons for this:
Spinal problems can lead to problems elsewhere and vice versa. The body must be looked at as a whole.
Chiropractic care is safe for the pregnant or child/infant patient. When pregnant, the increased body weight, increased demand on the body and hormonal changes are all a source of stress. Chiropractic treatment will help to keep the body functioning as best as possible. It can help reduce the symptoms of such things as low back pain or sciatica associated with pregnancy. There is also evidence that women receiving chiropractic care during the pregnancy may experience easier child birth. It is also beneficial for the unborn child, as an optimally functioning mother is more able to meet the demands of pregnancy.
Children of all ages can benefit from chiropractic care. We start seeing a dentist once we have teeth. We’re born with a spine, so why not take care of it from the start. Besides preventing problems later in life, chiropractic care has been known to help with cases such as infancy colic and many more.
In most cases chiropractic treatment is safe post spinal surgery. In fact, this is all the more reason you should see a chiropractor. Spinal surgery is a stress and in most cases will permanently alter the motion of the joints were it was performed. This will lead to compensational changes elsewhere starting the degenerative process. Chiropractic treatment can help to minimize the compensational changes and keep your body functioning as best as possible.
If the history and examination suggest yours is not a chiropractic case, Dr Carver will make recommendations or the necessary referral to get you the appropriate care. He may also suggest co-treatment with chiropractic and some other practitioner.
The chiropractic paradigm consists of three main parts:
1. Purpose
The purpose of chiropractic is to optimize the body’s health.
2. Principle
The major principle of chiropractic is that the body’s natural or innate ability to heal itself is controlled by the nervous system.
3. Practice
In chiropractic practice, we first establish a diagnosis in order to then facilitate proper neurological and biomechanical function of the body through appropriate chiropractic treatment. This is to ultimately promote optimal health of the body.