correct alignment of your spine and to ensure that your body’s nerve supply works efficiently.
Through these subtle adjustments, chiropractic treatment can relieve pain and discomfort, increase
mobility and provide a route to better health.
Your spinal column is made up of 24 moveable vertebrae, the sacrum, and the coccyx. This column
also houses the spinal cord through which nerve information is transmitted to the rest of your
body. Whilst the spinal column maintains correct alignment, nerve information is passed accurately.
However, if any part of your spinal column becomes misaligned then a nerve may become impinged,
compressed or stretched, distorting the information that passes along it. This can lead to pain,
discomfort, or restricted mobility. A misalignment of the vertebrae or bones can occur for many
reasons, some of the most common are incorrect lifting, car or sporting accidents, childbirth, falls,
stress, and poor posture.
Chiropractors use only their hands to make adjustments to the bones of your body. The key to the
success of the adjustments is in the speed, dexterity and accuracy with which they air performed.
Patients report a wide range of improvements. These range from relief from migraines, neck and
shoulder problems, tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome which are affected by the nerves
coming from the top of the spine, to relief from lower back pain which is relieved by adjustments to
the lower spine. These improvements occur because the body is no longer receiving incorrect nerve
information.
Can Chiropractic help you?
The gentle nature of the McTimoney chiropractic technique makes it especially suitable for people
of all ages including young babies, pregnant women and the elderly. The following conditions often
benefit from treatment:
• Back, neck and shoulder pain
• Pain, discomfort and stiffness in joints and bones
• Migraine and tension headaches
• Muscular aches and pains
• Sciatica
• Whiplash injury
• Sports injuries
What to expect from your First Treatment
Your chiropractor will first take a full case history regarding your general health background as well
as details of your symptoms. This will help in assessing and analysing your particular problem. They
will then thoroughly examine all the joints in your body, literally from head to toe, using only their
hands and make the appropriate adjustments where necessary. McTimoney chiropractors have a
very finely tuned sense of touch, developed in four years of training, which enables them to feel for
misalignments of the vertebrae and bones. Upon feeling a problem, your chiropractor will use one of
a number of light, swift and dextrous movements, unique to McTimoney chiropractic, to adjust the
bone.
If your chiropractor discovers or suspects a problem, which requires medical investigation or an x-
ray, they will refer you to your GP. Wherever possible your McTimoney chiropractor will work in co-
operation with your GP and, with your consent, a letter may be sent to your doctor informing them
of your treatment.
How many Sessions will you need?
The number of sessions needed varies considerably depending on:
- Your age - you generally heal more slowly as you get older
- The nature of the problem - a simple backache will often clear more quickly than a more severe condition.
- How long you have had the problem - generally, yesterday’s injury will resolve faster than one of 20 years’ standing.
Typically most patients need between two and six sessions (your chiropractor will advise), initially at
weekly intervals, then gradually more widely spaced out, by which time a noticeable change should
have occurred, though chiropractic care can continue for longer.
Once the problem has been resolved, regular check-ups are recommended to keep your body
functioning well
Responses and Reactions to Treatment
During a course of treatment most patients feel physical changes as the body re-aligns. These may
include a brief period of stiffness or tiredness, but more often a feeling of well-being and relief from
stress.
Prevention is Better Than Cure
Chiropractic is also a preventative therapy and when used in this way greatly improves bodily health
and well being, avoiding long spells of discomfort. Regular check-ups are recommended to ensure
that your body maintains a healthy balance in all aspects of its daily functioning.
