F.A.Q.

Chiropractic is about more than a sore back or a headache.
Chiropractic uses safe and gentle, scientific methods for the relief of pain, spinal misalignment and nerve irritation.
It is also effective in addressing many sports related injuries, like sprains and strains.
If prevention sounds like a better idea, chiropractic also helps to keep your body functioning at its best.

What is Chiropractic?
What is an Adjustment?
Is Chiropractic treatment safe?
Is Chiropractic safe during pregnancy?
Is Chiropractic safe for kids and babies?
How long will it take?
What is the ‘popping or cracking’ sound I hear?
Should I be ‘cracking’ my own neck or back?
What is the difference between me seeing a Chiro or a Physio or even a Masseuse?
Should I continue treatment if the pain is gone?
Is Chiropractic treatment covered on private health insurance?
Common Signs & Symptoms for seeing a Chiropractor

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is an all-natural, non-invasive health care choice based on the premise that good health depends upon a fully functional nervous system.
Your nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) controls and co-ordinates every cell, tissue and organ in your body.
Improper motion or misalignment of these moving bones and joints can interfere with this vital exchange by irritating nerves and affecting the function of connected organs and tissues (what chiropractors call subluxations), a common problem with potentially serious repercussions to your health.

“ A HEALTHY SPINE = A HEALTHY NERVOUS SYSTEM = A HEALTHY YOU! ”

Subluxations unbalance your body, promote fatigue, lower your resistance to disease and depress your body's ability to heal itself. Chiropractors locate subluxations using various orthopaedic and neurological tests, postural assessment, range of motion (flexibility) and often x-rays.
Once found they are corrected by way of a Chiropractic Adjustment.

What is an Adjustment?

Chiropractors correct subluxations by applying a gentle and specific force or pressure to your spine known as an adjustment.
Usually done by hand or sometimes with the aid of industry specific instruments, these adjustments help realign twisted and misaligned bones and joints.
Often muscles and other soft tissue structures are affected and will require treatment so stretches, massage and many other rehab techniques will be used to help adjustments hold longer.

Is Chiropractic treatment safe?

Yes! Contrary to some beliefs it has been found by a government study in New Zealand that a program of Chiropractic Treatment is 250 times safer than taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs. The adjustments were found to be ‘remarkably safe’, avoiding harmful drugs and risky surgery.
Chiropractic has an excellent track record in this arena.

Source: A Risk Assessment of Cervical Manipulation vs NSAIDs for the Treatment of Neck Pain. Vaughan Dabbs, DC and William J Lauretti, DC. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1995; 18(8):530-6

Is Chiropractic safe during pregnancy?

Absolutely! Chiropractic treatment is very safe for the pregnant mother and her unborn child.
More than 50% of women experience back pain during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester due to the additional weight and increase in stress on the framework of the body.
Adjusting techniques and treatments are all tailored to the comfort of the pregnant mother and the varying stages of her pregnancy.
Maintaining a healthy spine and nervous system can make pregnancy easier and less stressful.
Chiropractic treatment is a valuable component of a healthy pregnancy and can be used safely throughout.

Is Chiropractic safe for kids and babies?

Yes. Modifications are made to accommodate for children, with Paediatric adjustments generally involving the use of one finger to gently move individual joints through their normal range, overcoming restrictions of movement with great care.
The pressure is no more than that you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato.
Children generally respond very quickly to Chiropractic, and will usually require a less intense treatment frequency and maintenance program.
Preliminary studies suggest that colic, unusual crying; poor appetite, ear infections or erratic sleeping habits can be signs of spinal distress and that Chiropractic has a proven track record in helping with these problems.

How long will it take?

The number of adjustments varies with each patient and his or her individual health goals.
Many patients sense progress within a week or two of frequent visits. Visits become less frequent as your spine stabilises.
In chronic cases, complete healing can take months or even years.

What is the ‘popping or cracking’ sound I hear?

There is a vacuum that exists in most joints in the body and during an adjustment, this pressure is overcome and small bubbles of gas are created in the synovial fluid between the joints.
These bubbles can cause the audible 'pop' that can often accompany an adjustment, similar to the pop you hear when you take the cork out of a champagne bottle.
This sound is not caused by bones grating against each other or by something being torn.
The effect of this happening is to help normalise the functions of the joints and muscles and to ease or remove pain.
In essence joints are then resting comfortably on a ‘bed of bubbles’.

Should I be ‘cracking’ my own neck or back?

No. It can provide some relief in the short term, but in the long run, you risk damaging your ligaments and nerves.
Chiropractic doctors are the only health professionals in the world who have a minimum of 5 years university training and countless years of ongoing postgraduate studies to detect & correct joint restrictions.

What is the difference between me seeing a Chiro or a Physio or even a Masseuse?

Both Physiotherapy and Massage Therapy are generally directed towards treating and relieving pain in the muscles and can often miss any underlying issues or the cause of the problem.
You may feel better temporarily but the pain or discomfort will soon return as what seems like ‘muscle pain’ is more the result of a stressed or misaligned joint (subluxation) in the body.
As these bones are subluxated they put pressure on surrounding nerve endings irritating local tissues and muscles.
As they remain dysfunctional they further aggravate the muscles attached to these bones and joints creating more muscle pain.
A good Chiropractor will look at both the muscles and the bones.

Should I continue treatment if the pain is gone?

This is why maintenance care is important. Going through the initial rehab and taking time and effort to heal yourself will all be wasted if you do not maintain those good adjustments.
Over time it may be necessary that you only need to come every 4-6 weeks or more, just to ensure you are holding the good adjustments, just as it is important to have regular check-ups at the dentist, or to be regular with your exercise for fitness.

Remember the old saying: ‘As the twig is bent, so grows the tree’

Is Chiropractic treatment covered on private health insurance?

Most private health funds give benefits for Chiropractic treatment and the amounts paid will depend on the type of cover you have and also the level of cover – you can contact your insurer who will explain the actual benefits and methods of claim for your individual policy.
If your Health Fund is a member of HICAPS we can reimburse your benefit on the spot at the clinic.

Common Signs & Symptoms for seeing a Chiropractor

  • You have headaches, back aches, sore or tender spots in muscles or joints.
  • You have a constant stressful feeling and tension in muscles and joints.
  • You can't twist or turn your head or hips to either side easily and equally.
  • You have to "crack" your neck, back, or other joints a lot
  • You are often fatigued.
  • You have poor concentration.
  • Your heels wear out unevenly.
  • You can't take a satisfying deep breath.
  • Your jaw "clicks".
  • You have low resistance to disease.
  • Your foot flares out when walking.
  • You have poor posture.
  • You feel stiffness in your back and neck.
  • You just don't feel 100%!