What is Chiropractic?
What is Chiropractic?
CHIROPRACTIC CARE IS CURRENTLY OFFERED THROUGH TOTAL LIFESTYLE CHIROPRACTIC, BUNDABERG WEST
Simply put, Chiropractors are registered and regulated, essential health care professionals that focus on the diagnosis, prevention, and conservative management of neuromusculoskeletal disorders, especially related to the spine, and the effects of these disorders on general health. The word ‘chiropractic’ is derived from Greek methodology and means ‘done by hand’. Although chiropractors utilize mainly their hands for their adjusting techniques, there are some low-force tools/instruments that can be used to achieve similar results as an adjustment done by hands.
Chiropractors study an additional 5-6 years through a government regulated university and go through extensive theoretical and practical training on becoming experts in specific spinal adjustments, manual therapy and low-force intervention. Chiropractors are well-educated to modify spinal manual therapy to suit the age and presenting condition of a patient, to deliver safe and effective care to any age, from infants and young children right through to the elderly.
The principle behind chiropractic is to restore normal movement and function to the joints of the spine, reducing inflammation around the joints, and decreasing pressure or irritation on the delicate spinal nerves, thereby not only improving mobility and flexibility, and relieving symptoms of discomfort and stiffness, but also optimizing overall body and nervous system function.
Want to learn the lingo? A vertebral subluxation is essentially the reverse of what you just read above: it is one or more joints in your spine that does not move correctly or adequately, causing inflammation, which results in pressure or irritation on the spinal nerves, potentially causing a range of widespread symptoms.
Sometimes these vertebral subluxations are also referred to as joint restrictions. On that note, please remember, only eggs get cracked, while spines get adjusted or manipulated. The sounds (pops) you might hear, is literally just gas bubbles between the joint spaces; as the joint is adjusted/manipulated (sudden compression or movement), the gasses between the joints shift around, and some of the gas bubbles burst/pop. It is the popping of the gas bubbles that causes the actual sounds. Although it sounds scary, it is actually a very safe and low risk modality.
The Australian Chiropractic Association (ACA) reports that over 300,000 Australians visit a chiropractor every week.
And 99.7% of the nearly 27,000 parents who took the time to respond to the Safe Care Victoria survey…
RESPONDED POSITIVELY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE OF CHIROPRACTIC WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND NO EVIDENCE OF HARM WAS FOUND!
Your first appointment – What to expect
Firstly, I’d like to congratulate you for taking the first step towards a healthier spine and a happier life. Whether this will be your very first adjustment, or your 101st, we want to make your first appointment at Rise Beyond Health a pleasant and memorable experience, and we want you to walk away feeling educated, empowered, and transformed.
For the initial appointment, there is paperwork to be completed, and this can be done online, in your own time and in the comfort of your own home. The information contained within these forms are strictly confidential, and also vital to us in making a diagnosis and the appropriate recommendations for you, and assisting you in your health journey.
After submission of your paperwork, it is important to arrive a few minutes early for your appointment. Please come dressed in comfortable attire, preferably shorts and a T-shirt.
The chiropractor will take you into a consult room and go through a comprehensive history, guided by the paperwork you have already filled in, after which you will undergo an in-depth chiropractic and neurological examination. This examination requires some bending and movement, but your chiropractor will explain exactly what to do and what to expect.
Sometimes, specific chiropractic x-rays are necessary. This can only be decided upon after completion of the examination, once we have the full picture of your condition, to establish if its clinically required.
After this initial appointment, (consult, examination, and possible x-rays), which can take up to 45-60 minutes, your chiropractor will take time to analyze all the information and results and formulate a specific and individualized care plan with alternative recommendations for your specific condition.
Your Report of Findings
This appointment is where your chiropractor will sit with you and go through all your examination results and your x-ray findings if it was required. Your chiropractor will explain some key details around good spinal structure and posture, and make specific recommendations for you, which may include exercise, nutrition, and/or lifestyle advise. You will be made aware of any possibility of side effects or risk factors pertaining to your specific case.
After all the formalities are over, and your chiropractor has obtained written consent to proceed with treatment, your chiropractor will deliver your first spinal adjustments, if appropriate. Certain other techniques and/or modalities may be utilized alongside manual adjustment techniques, which will be explained to you in detail where necessary.
Progress and/or Re-examinations
These are repeats of your initial examination and done at regular intervals to monitor your progress and ensure you are tracking as planned. Sometimes, completely new tests or further investigations or specialised testing may be required, and you will be notified of these when the situation arises.
Follow up appointments
These are provided as standard or long consults, depending on your specific requirements, preferences, or health goals. If you are unsure, do not hesitate to ask your chiropractor or any of our friendly staff.
A range of modalities are available as stand-alone treatments as well. Please refer to our Services page for further information on these, including pricing.