Chiropractor: In a nutshell- Laymans Explanation

Nuts are small and compact, like this article

In this series “In a nutshell- Layman’s Explanation”, we will be looking at various modalities of health practitioners such as chiropractors or physical therapists and what they do. Why? I’ve been to all of them and if you’re starting to crack like me, at some point you might find yourself wondering, ‘Who do I go to? Why can’t I just do Pilates and get a massage?’

So today, let’s look at chiropractors.

What do chiropractors do?

Chiropractors focus on treating the entire body by manually manipulating muscles and bones, with a focus on the spine. These treatments are called adjustments and may include stretching, pressure, or a quick thrust from the hand or (my favourite): an activator, to realign a joint.

Chiropractors aim to improve the way your spine moves so your body can function more efficiently.

What qualifies them?

In Australia, chiropractors need to complete five years of training at a university. This may be made up of a five-year Bachelor of Chiropractic or, it may consist of a three-year Bachelor degree followed by a two-year post-graduate Master’s degree. After this, they must pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners test and get a state-issued license.

Don’t chiropractors hurt you? Shouldn’t you avoid them?

A good chiropractor should not hurt you however, that’s not to say an adjustment won’t cause you to temporarily feel pain, shock or force. After all, it is manipulating your body- back to health. But after, you should feel relief. The manipulation chiropractors do is minor.  However, if your muscles have been stuck in a certain position due to misalignment for some time, you may feel pain after as the muscles adjust.

And don’t be fooled. Nowadays, chiropractors often branch out. They may always call themselves chiropractors but I’ve been so some who act like osteopaths or physios. Once you start getting into the realm of movement practice or health, it’s a rabbit hole.

For example, I started in dance and before I knew it, I was seeing a chiropractor more often than my quarterly. Then, I was learning how to relieve my injuries from seasoned dancers to save myself time and money. Next I was taking Pilates for strength and to make up required class hours---then I was learning to be a teacher and once I had covid, I found myself figuring out how to do gentle Pilates for myself and now I teach it to others. Then I started being asked about how to fix other aliments- hence this article.

Movement and health practitioners want to help their clients and need to learn the latest best practices. So, you may find your chiropractor also has a qualification in acupuncture or something similar. A solid Pilates instructor may have a background in dance, be a physical therapist or a personal trainer also.

Advocating for yourself

If there is something you are uncomfortable with, you can always express this to a chiropractor. A good chiropractor will listen to your needs and if they can’t accommodate your request, they may recommend someone who can.

When do I need to consider seeing a chiropractor?

-After an injury or fall

-If a physio recommends you

-Back pain that radiates

-Neck pain

- If your Pilates instructor recommends you.

When I taught group classes in gym, I would often have people come up to me after with various ailments and reasons why they couldn’t do certain movements, hoping for an assessment. Yes, Pilates teachers can assess the body and there are physio-Pilates teachers out there. As a dancer and Pilates instructor, it is my job to know where my job ends and someone else’s begins. I have often recommended students to a chiropractor, osteopath, physio or recommended acupuncture if they don’t like manipulation. You will see this sentence repeated in other articles.

How to combat any pain after?

I recommend a hot shower and muscle relief cream after. If the pain is particularly bad, using paracetamol or Nurofen short term for a day or two can help.

Is one appointment enough?

Usually no. Some people who have Medicare or insurance will do maintenance checkups twice a year. Dancers or sports persons may go every month or bimonthly.

What should I expect from a first appointment?

An assessment. Chiropractors will always order x-rays or another type of scan. Sometimes they have inhouse scans. If you’ve seen other practitioners before and have a documented history and recent scans, they may do adjustments on your first appointment. If they are concerned, they may only do gentle muscle manipulation or physical assessment via touch. My own father was finally convinced after 20 years to go to our family chiropractor. The chiropractor put him on a table for an assessment and after one look said no manipulation or other touch would happen until he’d had a full set of scans. A few weeks later, he was scheduled for emergency spinal surgery which thankfully, was successful. Now that’s a good chiropractor….and a persistent wife who finally got my father to see someone.

In conclusion Chiropractors are a great way to check out your spinal health and get your body moving overall. If you’ve got some neck pain, go find one today. Make sure to read the reviews first!