What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a drugless and non-surgical form of health care that aims to treat causes rather than symptoms. The term 'chiropractic' literally translated means 'done by hand' and chiropractic restores health by adjustments of the spine and other joints of the body using the hand. The basic principle of chiropractic is that disturbances of the nervous system, resulting from subluxation of the bones of the spine and other parts of the body, are a primary or contributory factor in the pathological process of many common human and animal ailments.

There are many chiropractic approaches and techniques used around the world, often named after their originator. The McTimoney method of chiropractic is typified by a whole body assessment and swift, light force adjustments, which makes it a comfortable treatment to receive. The subtlety of the adjustment demands great sensitivity and mechanical skill, and once mastered the technique is extremely effective.

Chiropractors consider that the body benefits from having periodic chiropractic treatments on a preventative basis so that incipient problems may be avoided.

Many people wonder what the differences are between the various manipulative approaches. In general terms, physiotherapy works on the soft tissue between the vertebrae and other joints and does not usually involve spinal manipulation; osteopathy tends to apply long lever techniques if the spine is manipulated, whilst chiropractic applies short levers in a precise adjustment of the individual vertebrae.