You’re never too old or too young for chiropractic care to improve the way your body is functioning and reap the rewards! We work with people wanting to improve performance, ease aches and pains, recover from injuries, with women during pregnancy and preparing for childbirth, or as a support for your general health and wellbeing.
Is chiropractic safe?
Chiropractic is widely recognised as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. Research (and our clinical experience) has shown the risks associated with chiropractic are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours. Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, works to improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension. Then there are the very rare risks of infrequent strain/injury to a ligament or disc in the neck (less than 1 in 139,000) or the low back (1 in 62,000) There is also an extremely rare risk of stroke associated with adjustments of the neck which all published studies agree is extremely low, research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal puts it to one in 5.85 million adjustments. Neck manipulation is a remarkably safe procedure. If you are visiting your Doctor of Chiropractic with upper-neck pain or headache, be very specific about your symptoms. This will help your Doctor of Chiropractic to offer the safest and most effective treatment, even if it involves referral to another health care provider. It is important for patients to understand the risks associated with some of the most common treatments for musculoskeletal pain — prescription and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — as these treatments may carry risks significantly greater than those of chiropractic manipulation. According to a study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology, approximately one-third of all hospitalisations and deaths related to gastrointestinal bleeding can be attributed to the use of aspirin or NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen.
why see us?
Chiropractic is a wonderful non-invasive way to support your body’s natural healing ability. We aim to deliver the greatest patient benefit with the least intervention, both diagnostic and therapeutic – we will refer you to the right person if we are unable to help
Am i too old?
You are never too old to benefit from improved function. We use a variety of different methods so that we can choose techniques that are appropriate for your body. If you have a condition like osteoporosis or arthritis we can easily adapt our treatments so that they suit your body.
How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?
We use a variety of techniques to address different areas – muscles, joints, fascia, cranial etc. A chiropractic adjustment of the spine or extremity joints refers to a precise application of force to a specific joint to restore function at that joint. An adjustment is a refined movement that uses skill and precision to restore movement rather than strength. An adjustment is often accompanied by a 'popping' sound as gas is released from the joint, there are some methods that can be used that do not create the popping sound.
does it hurt?
People mostly find having chiropractic care an enjoyable and relaxing experience. We use a variety of techniques and appreciate hearing from you if you have any reservations about receiving care – this way we can happily tailor our care to specifically suit your needs. Most people are familiar with the idea of chiropractors ‘cracking’ joints. With some adjustments you may sometimes hear or feel a popping sound from your spinal joints. Gas is simply releasing from the joint as the movement is being restored. We incorporate a variety of other techniques (chiropractic and other) to address the body in the most effective way – including instruments, pelvic ‘blocks’, and soft tissue work. Some muscle release techniques are more ‘intense’ while some are more gentle, different bodies and complaints respond to different treatment & once again we will adapt our treatment to your individual needs. Special techniques are used for adjusting infants and children. Whatever the technique, we always use safe, effective methods
What techniques do you use?
Tim and Roisin work similarly, but also have different backgrounds that incorporate a variety of different chiropractic and other bodywork approaches. Between us we have experience working with – Manual adjsutments of the Spine and Extremities, Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT), Thompson technique (drop table), Cranial work, Fascial release, Myofascial Release, Webster technique (pregnancy), Network Spinal Analysis (NSA), and Movement therapy based on natural movement concepts and yoga.
do you only work with the spine?
No. The way we address the body is by looking at how the whole body is working. Sometimes the symptoms are specific to the area that’s causing the problem, but sometimes the problem is stemming from another area of your body. From head to toe we will look at what’s happening and how each area of your body is interacting with each other.
what conditions do you treat?
We assess and treat the neuromusculoskeletal system. If your symptoms are being caused by dysfunction in the nervous system or musculoskeletal system then you are likely to find chiropractic care delivers fantastic results by addressing the cause of your symptoms and restoring function so that your body can work properly and efficiently. Conditions like sciatica, back pain, facet syndrome, piriformis syndrome, hip pain, plantar fasciitis, headaches, neck pain, frozen shoulders, numbness and tingling in arms/legs etc are just a few of the things we frequently see benefit from chiropractic care in our practice. Chiropractic care can also help the body to function better in other areas and research is beginning to emerge in many different areas (to support our clinical experience) seeing changes in body function like breathing, pelvic floor function, brain stimulation etc.
will i need x-rays
We do not routinely X-Ray clients before/during treatment. A decision to have X-Rays taken is based on your presentation and clinical history. X-Rays can be clinically indicated to either rule-out certain conditions or to provide a guide for further treatment. If imaging is necessary or advised this will be discussed with you and you will be referred for X-Rays (or other imaging) before commencing treatment.
What education do chiropractors have?
A chiropractic degree involves extensive study of the human body to become a primary care practitioner. Most chiropractic degrees consist of 5-6 years of tertiary study to obtain either a bachelor/masters degree and graduate as a doctor of chiropractic. As a primary health care practitioner study includes pathology and diagnosis - meaning your chiropractor is able to diagnose and refer as necessary. The New Zealand Chiropractic Board is the national registration board and continued professional development is mandatory to be a registered Chiropractor. Tim and Roisin both value and enjoy continually seeking knowledge, information and experience
Do you see children/babies?
Yes we are able to assess and work with children and babies. We use gentle methods that will cause no pain to baby or child, and can often offer advice on simple things to do at home with your bub. Our approach for babies is based on ensuring that baby is developing age appropriate and that there is no tension within the nervous system that is impacting this. Chiropractic Care is often able to help with common infant/childhood problems like difficulty to latch, constipation, ear aches / infections, lowered immunity, motor development (lifting head, rolling, crawling etc).
Do I need a referral?
No. We are trained as Primary Care Providers, meaning our education incorporates the tools and knowledge necessary to assess, diagnose and refer if necessary. We are able to submit an ACC claim from our office if you are eleigible for ACC subsidy.
will my treatment be covered by acc?
We are able to submit an ACC claim on your behalf if your injury is the result of an accident (no referral is needed). Once your claim is approved your treatment cost will be partially covered by ACC.
All insurance companies and policies have different cover. It is best to check with your insurance company whether your policy covers Chiropractic Care.