What type of care do chiropractors do?

We have probably all heard of the words ‘adjustment’ and ‘manipulation’ and have the classic marmite response to the popping and clicking sounds that an adjustment makes. Some of us actively seek it out as we find it so satisfying, others find it scary or cringey. But did you know that’s only one small part of the many different types of treatment that chiropractors offer? Read more to find out what else we can do!

Acupuncture

That’s right! Most of our chiropractors are trained in medical acupuncture, also known as dry needling. Dry needling is an excellent form of gentle care and can treat a variety of muscular conditions such as tendinitis or muscle strains, as well as relieve the pain in more acute conditions such as a slipped disc or frozen shoulder. We often will use dry needling alongside a full treatment.  

Trigger point therapy

You know when you’re getting a sports massage and they hold those sore spots for several seconds? That is known as trigger point therapy, and a lot of chiropractors will do this in the treatment along with other treatment modalities. How trigger point therapy works is it helps to relax and ease muscle tension which both eases pain and will make the rest of the treatment more effective.

Activator Therapy

You know of this if you have seen or had it – but we also use a tool called an activator. Which is a small hand sized tool which has a cushioned end that moves quickly with an impulse. We can adjust joints using this tool. It is gentler than our typical adjustments and doesn’t make a clicking or popping sound either – however the mechanism and outcome is the same: moving the joints to relieve inflammation around the nerves and reduce pain and tension.

Flexion distraction

This technique is a real fan favourite – and very effective for managing acute lower back pain. We place parts of the bench up so your lower spine is open and flexed, then we use our hands to increase the stretch and lightly traction your lower back. Again, we will almost always use this alongside other treatment modalities.

Traction

Another favourite of mine, traction is the technique where we lightly pull and open joints. We can do this on the neck, shoulders, lower back, hips, and ankles. The pressure is light enough, so it doesn’t feel too stretchy, but strong enough to really feel and benefit from the release in pressure on the joints. This is great for patients who suffer from conditions such as migraines and fibromyalgia.

Mobilisation

Mobilisation is an extremely effective technique which we can use on almost every joint in the spine and the body. Chiropractors will specifically mobilise stiff joints in your spine which are very difficult to move yourself. This mobilisation not only helps to loosen the joints and reduce pain and stiffness, but they also increase synovial fluid around the joint which helps keep the joint lubricated and prevents injury and wear and tear! It’s an all-rounder and we use it in most of our treatments.

Diversified Adjustments

These adjustments are what we are known best for, and it is a technique where we use our hands to adjust specific joints in the body. By doing this we do several different things – such as reducing inflammation, increasing mobility, and reducing pain as mentioned above with the other techniques we offer. It is not the be all and end all, but if you are fit and healthy it is often a technique that will really benefit you! 

Now you can see that we are not all about the pops and clicks and we have a vast array of techniques that we use in our treatments with our patients every day. If you are suffering and want to seek help, then book in for a consultation with us and we can see how we can help you! Call us on 01202 604707 or email admin@wimbornewellnesscentre.co.uk to book in.