New patients are not sure what to expect regarding their first appointment with a chiropractor. The chiropractor will start by asking you about your medical history and the reason for making an appointment in the first place. This will be followed by a physical examination. Imaging or lab tests may be required to confirm a diagnosis. Taking the above into consideration, the chiropractor will then reach a diagnosis and advise you whether chiropractic treatment is necessary. As part of this process, the chiropractor will explain your condition to you and recommend a treatment plan. Where the chiropractor feels that your condition may be better treated by another health practitioner, he/she will proceed to make the relevant referral.  

A health care professional that focuses on the spine and other joints of the body and their connection to the nervous system, therefore the diagnosis and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorders. Chiropractors specialise in spinal health and general well-being, and this is so incredibly important as 80 – 90% of people will experience lower back pain at least once in their lifetime.

Chiropractic means ‘done by hand’, we focus on the prevention, diagnosis and conservative care of spine related disorders and other painful joint and muscular issues, using a hands-on and drug-free approach to health. A Chiropractors main concern is your spine and nervous system and how well both are functioning. It works on the premise that good health is partially dependant on the normal functioning of the spine and nervous system. Chiropractors use the adjustment to restore joint function and support the nervous system, we also provide soft tissue therapies, lifestyle recommendations, fitness and nutritional advice.

A safe, specific, controlled force applied to a joint to restore proper function and mobility. Accidents, falls, stress or over-exertion can negatively impact your spine and other joints. These changes also impact the tissues, the nervous system and other parts of the body. The Chiropractic adjustment is essential to decrease pain, increase movement and improve performance. We spend years perfecting this technique and these adjustments are safe and highly effective at restoring joint motion.

This popping or cracking sound that is heard is merely due to the gas and fluid within the joint shifting. The sound has nothing to do with the quality of the adjustment. Watch this cool video on exactly what happens!

Everyday actions such as a fall or accident, poor posture, lifting a heavy object or even stress can cause any of your movable vertebrae to lose it normal range of motion. The joint becomes fixed or restricted, this leads to irritation of the joint, and may result in spasm of the surrounding muscle and irritation of the nerve. The nerves function may be altered. Depending on the function of the nerve and the extent of nerve irritation it can generate symptoms of pain in the area of the joint or elsewhere in the body, numbness, tingling, pins and needles and even weakness.

If you have ever suffered with back pain, you will know the debilitating impact this can have on your overall physical health. Everyday movements become increasingly difficult, which restrict your everyday activities and in turn this massively affects your overall quality of life, things like: putting on your shoes and socks, picking something up off the floor, participating in sports and exercise and even picking up your kids and grandkids. All of these simple things that we take for granted can be affected, which is why it is so important to look after your spine.

Chiropractic care is a non-invasive treatment, therefore virtually anyone can benefit from it including:

Babies and children suffering with spinal issues due to childbirth, falls or accidents. Issues occurring as they grow older and are reaching their developmental milestones, such as lifting their heads, sitting up, crawling and walking.

Pregnant women to minimise back pain and ensure easier delivery.

Factory workers who lift heavy objects and perform repetitive activities.

Office workers who sit in front of computers for extended periods with poor posture, poor desk set up and little or no exercise.

Elderly with wear and tear osteoarthritis who have limited mobility, disc issues and nerve impingement.

Athletes who are constant pushing their bodies to the limit, this constant stress can cause muscle strains and other repetitive injuries.

Chiropractors focus on the biomechanics and functioning of the spine as well as the upper and lower limb, therefore any condition that is related to a joint in the body can potentially be treated with Chiropractic care such as:

Neck pain.

Headaches (including migraines).

Whiplash.

Shoulder, elbow, arm and wrist pain.

Hip, leg, knee, calf, ankle and foot pain.

Sciatic pain.

Back pain.

Sports related injuries.

Take a complete medical history, including your past medical history, family history and other conditions you may have suffered with previously.

Ask specific questions related to your pain such as: location, type, mechanism of injury etc.

Complete physical exam to assess your condition including: posture analysis, ROM testing, reflexes, orthopaedic and neurological tests.

This will give your Chiropractor a greater knowledge of the cause of the problem.

X-rays or lab tests may also be required but is not always necessary.

Your Chiropractor will also determine whether your particular problem is within his/her scope of practice of whether referral is necessary.

If you’re Chiropractor determines that your case may be treated through Chiropractic care, depending on the Chiropractor they will use a range of different soft-tissue treatment techniques and spinal manipulative therapy or adjustments. Some patients experience immediate relief, and other require a few treatments in order to correct a problem. This all depends on each individual patient, as no two patients are the same and no two patients will respond exactly the same to treatment. It also depends on the type of injury and period of time the injury has been present, and any degenerative issues that may be present. You have to be patient as your body starts to realign itself and learns to adapt to the changes that are happening. It is not a quick fix as the Chiropractor is determining the source of the problem and trying to correct it, rather than taking a pain killer or anti-inflammatory which will mask the symptoms but not always address the underlying problem.

Many people who have not experienced Chiropractic care are either sceptical or afraid of being adjusted or ‘cracked’. As with every other medical intervention, Chiropractic care does have its own set of risks. This can include aggravation of an inflammatory condition, neuromusculoskeletal sprain/strain, osseous dislocation or fracture and very rarely a vertebral artery syndrome. These potential risks should be considered when making your decision to receive Chiropractic care, however, it is important to know that you have a greater risk of being struck by lightning which is a 1 in 100 000 chance, than suffering from a complication of a spinal manipulation which is 1 in 1 million.

The same price or less than other types of health case and can be claimed back from your medical aid savings.