If you require mental health crisis support, please contact your local mental health services, your GP, or telephone 111 or the emergency services.

Chiropractic Therapy

What is chiropractic therapy?

Chiropractic therapy emphasises diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine, under the belief that these disorders affect general health via the nervous system. The main chiropractic treatment technique involves spinal manipulation, posture adjustments and manual therapy of the joints and soft tissues. Treatment may also include nutritional supplements, exercises and lifestyle advice.

A persons spine with someone pressing near their shoulders.

History

Chiropractic therapy was founded by D.D. Palmer in the 1890s and his son B.J. Palmer continued his work and expanded I tin the early 20th century. It is made up of two main groups of practitioners, referred to as ‘straights’ and ‘mixers’. ‘Straights’ (now the minority) emphasise vitalism, (the idea that life is based on a non-material, mystical force beyond physical or chemical processes) and believe spinal misalignments to be the cause of all disease. ‘Mixers’ (now the majority) also believe in vitalism, but they are more open to mainstream views and conventional medical techniques such as exercise, massage and ice therapy, which they integrate into their practice.

Opinions differ as to the of effectiveness chiropractic treatment. Many controlled clinical studies of spinal manipulation have been conducted but their results often disagree. Chiropractic care in general is safe when employed appropriately by a skilled and experienced practitioner. Some people should seek advice from their GP before commencing any chiropractic therapies. For example, if you have rheumatoid arthritis, hyper-mobile joint disorders and osteoporosis