The word “Chiropractic” is taken from two Greek words and literally means “manual practice”; or, in other words, treatment by manipulation. Chiropractic is an independent branch of medicine that specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the joints, particularly those of the spine.

Chiropractors are mainly involved in the treatment of common musculo-skeletal complaints. These problems include the most common types of aches and pains: such as backache, neck pain and headache. About half of all patients who consult a chiropractor do so because of lower back pain.

The General Chiropractic Council (GCC) holds a register of all qualified Chiropractors.  It is a criminal offence for to call yourself a chiropractor without being registered with the GCC.  All chiropractors registered with the GCC will have spent between 4 and 5 years studying full time for a BSc. or MSc. in Chiropractic.  To maintain registration with the GCC, chiropractors have to demonstrate ongoing continued professional development (CPD) every year. Some qualified chiropractors choose to be registered with the British Chiropractic Association (BCA), although this is a choice and not  a requirement.

During the first consultation a full case history is taken. As well as asking details about the issue most troubling you, your chiropractor will also want to know something of your past medical history. We  will then carry out a full examination of the area that is giving you trouble and other areas that may contribute to this problem. Your examination will vary according to your particular problem.  Occasionally we may need to contact your GP (with your permission) if more information is required.  In addition sometimes more specialised tests such as MRI, X-ray or ultrasound examinations are required before a diagnosis can be achieved.

The purpose of this first visit will be to see if there is a good chance of helping you. Treatment will vary according to the problem but usually involves specific manipulation (adjustment) of the spine amongst other things

The number of visits varies considerably. Results of a survey have shown that a patient with low-back pain attends a chiropractor, on average, for six treatments. However this number varies considerably and may be greater in persistent pain cases, or less in others.

The response varies from patient to patient. Some feel immediate improvement whilst  others have to be treated a number of times before they start to feel better. Improvement may be temporary at first but becomes longer lasting with subsequent treatment. Sometimes improvement may be felt immediately after treatment, more frequently, not until the next day or sometimes not for several days. It is not unusual to have a reaction to treatment, especially following the first treatment, usually within the first day or so. This may be felt as soreness, stiffness or aching and sometimes, even increased pain. Patients seldom get better at a constant rate, so it is not unusual for a patient who has been getting better to suffer a temporary relapse before treatment continues again.

Most clients at Lowford Clinic, visit due to personal recommendation from friends or family members, however some are recommended to visit the clinic by their GP or consultant.  There is no requirement for you to visit your GP prior to visiting Lowford Clinic.  We sometimes need to work in unison with your GP and in these instances we will write to your GP to ask for their assistance.  We only do this with your express permission though.

This is a tricky question to answer since there is a great deal of overlap in Chiropractic, Physiotherapy and Osteopathy.  This situation is further complicated by the fact that each professional may have subtle differences in the way they treat.  Broadly speaking all of these professions work with a combination of hands on treatment and advice including lifestyle modification and exercise prescription.  Chiropractors and Osteopaths generally use joint manipulation (often associated with a “crack”), whereas Physiotherapists use different types of manipulation.  The outcomes of all treatment types for most conditions is broadly the same.