A Standard Treatment
However many times you have visited the clinic, you will always receive an examination before any treatment. This is a full body procedure, focusing on any areas of concern, and includes postural analysis, joint assessment of the spine and any other joints of concern, and looking for patterns of muscle imbalance.
The treatment is also full body, but focuses on areas in need. If you are receiving an adjustment this will be done first, followed by massage and stretching if needed. The reason for adjusting first is this allows more precision. Once an area is loosened with massage it can be difficult to be as specific with the adjustment. But note each case is unique and sometimes massaging a joint first before adjusting works better. If you are receiving mobilisations then massage, then mobilisations, and possibly stretching are performed in a flowing manner that is comfortable and relaxing.
If exercise or rehabilitation is required this will either be prescribed at the end of a treatment of sometimes is a consultation by itself.
Technique Types
Adjustment
Chiropractors use adjustments where there is joint restriction, and are safe to do so. All the joints in the body have specific movements; the joints in your neck for example are designed to rotate so you can turn your head. However, the low back does not like rotation so the joints in this part of the spine limit this movement. Chiropractors are very good at finding joint restrictions that limit the movement a joint, and applying an appropriate adjustment to restore the natural movement of that joint.
Why worry about losing movement in a joint? Joints usually contain pain sensitive nerves, and when they lose movement the joint can upset these pain sensitive nerves. Over time if untreated, they can degenerate permanently becoming fixated causing chronic problems.
The adjustment restores joint movement; release pressure from pain sensitive nerves, and restore blood flow to an area better than any other treatment modality.
Adjustments are very safe, and involve a very quick thrust in a direction the joint naturally wants to move into, often the patient feels an instant relief or satisfaction. It is very common for a patient that has had an adjustment for the first time to say ‘wow that was the spot, I can move again’.
Rehabilitation
Chiropractors pride themselves on being specific, and rehabilitation when given is no exception. Quite often a specific exercise is suggested for you, this can be done at home in your own time, and often is something that can help prevent dysfunction of joints and muscles.
Exercise
Not specific like rehabilitation, but more for people wanting safe exercise to have general strength in an area, with the benefits of toning up and losing weight. I have been involved in exercise my whole life, and attended many seminars on training. I can show you how to exercise in a way that will not overload any areas of concern you may have.
Mobilisation
Mobilisation is gentler than the adjustment, and used for patients that adjustments are contra indicated. The most common reason a patient might have mobilisations rather than adjustments would be the patient that has very weak bones due to mineral deficiency, or perhaps a patient with very high blood pressure.
Some people just do not like the sound of an adjustment, so mobilisations for these people are used. While mobilisations do work, it takes longer to restore the joint to its natural state and usually this means more visits are needed.
Massage
Massage is another great tool for restoring movement, blood flow, relaxing the pain sensitive nerves, and in combination with an adjustment or mobilization can get amazing results. The massage you will receive at Chatswood Village Chiropractic is not like a 1 hour massage, which is recommended on occasion.
Over the years I have developed a method of finding patterns of tightness, hardness, or torsion in muscles, and a way of effectively restoring muscle health. You do not need to undress at all as all the massage is performed with you clothed and through a towel.
Stretching
Stretching can either be done by the chiropractor during a treatment, or given as a home exercise to improve elasticity of muscles or tendons.
