What is Chiropractic? What is Chiropractic?

About Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that focuses on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, with special emphasis on the spine. It emphasises manual therapy including spinal manipulation and other joint and soft tissue manipulation, and includes exercises, and health and lifestyle councelling.
 
Chiropractors are well recognized for relieving chronic (long term) and acute (sudden onset) pain affecting the Back and Neck. However due to our musculoskeletal specialization our scope of practice encompasses treatment for many other conditions such as:
  • General aches and pains of the joints
  • Muscle spasms and cramp
  • Lumbago
  • Headaches arising from the neck
  • Musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck leading to:
    • Frozen Shoulder
    • Shoulder or Elbow Pain
    • Tennis Elbow
  • Migraine Prevention
  • Lifestyle advice for tension and inability to relax
Chiropractors use their hands to gently but specifically manipulate joints and mobilise the muscles and ligaments of your spine and limbs where signs of restriction in movement are found, helping to improve your mobility and relieve pain. These procedures are just some of the many therapies we use to treat or manage the wide range of conditions for which people seek our advice and care.
 
Chiropractic treatment is suitable for everyone, including newborn babies, the elderly, pregnant women and sports enthusiasts. Once you are on the road to recovery we want to keep you there! Your chiropractor will help you to maintain your own health, and keep your body working as it should, by offering exercise and lifestyle advice for you to follow in the future.

X-Ray/MRI Scan

After the initial consultation and examination, your chiropractor may offer treatment almost immediately. However, it may be delayed for a day or two if she/he needs to order x-rays or obtain further information from your GP (blood test results, for example) and, where appropriate, refer you for an MRI / CT scan.
 
X-rays can tell us a lot about the structure of the spine as well as the amount and distribution of normal "wear and tear". They can also exclude other pathological processes, and of course show things such as fractures. In the right circumstances x-rays are a valuable tool.
 
MRI scans prove very useful in the identification of problems in the spine, particularly of the soft tissue structures around the spine. At Southsea Chiropractic Clinic we have quick, direct access to local x-ray and MRI facilities.
 
Any imaging will only be requested where clinically justified, in line with current legislation and guidelines.