Your Questions

How can Chiropractic help me?

Chiropractic is suitable for all ages and stages of life. Chiropractors use a variety of techniques designed to improve the function of a range of joints, helping to relieve pain and muscle spasm. Care is tailored to your specific needs, and your chiropractor will use the techniques best suited to you and your symptoms.

Most people see a chiropractor for backache, neck pain and headaches that arise from the back or neck. However chiropractors are trained to diagnose, treat and prevent mechanical problems associated with joints, bones and muscles related to the back.

There is strong evidence that chiropractic is effective for a wide range of conditions. Conditions currently accepted that chiropractic is effective for, based on research studies include:

  • Joint pains including leg, arm, elbow, shoulder,hip and knee pain
  • Aches and pains from osteoarthritis
  • Muscle spasms and cramp
  • Low back pain
  • Mechanical Neck pain
  • Headache arising from the neck
  • Frozen shoulder, shoulder or elbow pain, or tennis elbow arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck
  • Prevention of migraine
  • Tension and inability to relax (with lifestyle advice)

At Chiropractic Plus we aim to not only provide pain relief, but also work to correct underlying causes of pain, strengthen the back, and encourage check-ups to help you prevent recurrences of old problems, or future problems from arising. The majority of our new patients come to us on personal recommendation, and we strive to provide the highest standard of care and help you be your best.

You can book an appointment by giving us a call or filling out our enquiry form. If you would like to talk to the front desk reception team, or would like to speak to one of our chiropractors, then please call Haxby (01904 766966) or Pocklington (01759 303289).

What is Chiropractic and how does it work?

Chiropractic was founded in the 1890’s by D Palmer in the USA and then came to the UK in the 1920’s. Chiropractic is now the 3rd largest healthcare profession worldwide after medicine and dentistry.

The term chiropractor was coined from two Greek words : "cheiros" (by means of the hand) and "praktikos" (practical) together meaning “done by hand”. Chiropractic is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system related to the back and spine.

Chiropractors use a range of hands-on techniques, which are safe and often gentle, which aim to help free the joints in the spine that are not moving properly. Your chiropractor may incorporate massage, give exercise and use needles as part of your care as well as giving help with lifestyle and posture. Chiropractors are also able to arrange for scans and x-rays which help to reveal structure and alignment of the spine, and also to look out for other problems associated with the spine.

Chiropractic offers 3 stages of care, first of all helping with pain relief, followed by fixing underlying problems associated with the musculoskeletal system and finally keeping you well to try to prevent any recurrences as best we can.

How are Chiropractors regulated?

In the UK, chiropractic is a protected title. Like medicine and dentistry, it is a criminal offence to describe oneself as a chiropractor without being registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC). The GCC is the regulatory governing body for chiropractors, established since 1999, and is similar to the General Medical Council for Doctors

All our chiropractors are registered with the General Chiropractic Council. To register with the General Chiropractic Council all chiropractors have to undergo a minimum of 4 years full-time study to degree level and it is a statutory requirement that all members undergo a minimum of 30 hours continuing professional development (CPD) every year to ensure they are fit to practice.

The General Chiropractic Council has three roles:

  • To protect the public by establishing and operating a scheme of statutory regulation for chiropractors, similar to the arrangements that cover other health professionals.
  • To set the standards of chiropractic education, conduct and practice.
  • To ensure the development of the profession of chiropractic, using a model of continuous improvement in practice.

At Chiropractic Plus, this includes having a complaints procedure for patients. In the event of any unresolved complaint, patients may also contact the GCC, or go direct to the GCC.

As well as membership with the GCC, we also adhere to the high standards set by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA). All the chiropractors at Chiropractic Plus are members of the BCA, which has been a professional association since 1925.

All chiropractors at our clinics are members of the Royal College of Chiropractors (RCC), the professional post-graduate college. Additionally, Carol Latto is a long-standing fellow of the RCC. Through our RCC membership we have achieved two Quality Marks for patient partnership and clinical management. We are the only clinics in all of Yorkshire to hold these two awards.

What can I expect on my first visit?

Your first visit to a chiropractor will include a thorough consultation, physical examination relevant to your problem and your first treatment* and will last between 40-45 minutes. During your consultation, you will be asked lots of questions about your general health and your chiropractor will perform a thorough physical examination. They will tell you, in clear, simple language, what is wrong with you, what can be done to help. The number of sessions you need will be dictated by your condition and its severity, there is no one type of treatment that to suit all.

* occasionally your chiropractor may need to arrange further investigations, such as MRI scans, x-rays or onward referral rather than progress to treatment.

Chiropractors take a hands-on approach to find practical solutions to your problems. You will be asked to undress down to your underwear for examination and treatment, with gowns provided for you to wear.

Chiropractic treatment involves a wide range of safe and gentle spinal manipulation techniques, as well as other skills including mobilisation, soft tissue therapies, massage, and acupuncture (dry needling). Treatment is designed to improve the function of a range of joints, related to the back and spine, that are not moving properly. Treatment involves a short thrust to a joint, which often results in an audible “pop” and may bring relief of symptoms. Treatment is usually painless, unless an area is inflamed (swollen). If this is the case, your chiropractor will alter the treatment accordingly.

The popping or cracking sound that is sometimes heard when a joint is being manipulated is perfectly normal and is caused by gas rushing in to fill the partial vacuum created when the joints are slightly separated. This is painless and totally harmless.

After your treatment you may feel temporary aches and pains for a day or two before you start to feel better. It is important that you talk to your chiropractor if you feel at all worried either during or after treatment.

Your chiropractor may also recommend lifestyle and dietary changes that may be beneficial, as well as advice on exercise and posture and ways to help you to prevent problems from recurring in the future.

What happens after the first visit?

During your first visit to the chiropractor, you will be given a report detailing their findings, explaining your diagnosis, and what we can do help care for your problem. With your involvement and consent we will then agree a treatment plan. Your on-going care will be tailored to suit you, based on your age and the nature of your problem(s).

It is very difficult to say how long your course of treatment will last and how frequently you will need to be seen. As a general rule, most people require between 4-6 visits over the course of a month to relieve pain and get moving again, though it may take another month or more, with less frequent visits, to continue correcting underlying problems with continued hands on care and exercise programmes to stretch and strengthen muscles. For some, check-ups perhaps once every few months or once a year seem to help keep problems at bay and keep you active and enjoying what you want to do in life. We aim to get you as well as we can, and keep it that way!

I’m in pain now, what can I do?

Book an urgent chiropractic consultation: At C+ with a team of three chiropractors working between two locations Monday to Saturday, we aim to see you urgently when you are in pain and need help. The sooner we see you the better, so that we can help ease the pain, and any spasm, identify underlying problems, and start you off on your road to recovery. We can also arrange for one of our chiropractors to call you back for more immediate advice until you are seen.

Stay calm In most cases of severe back pain and spasms there could be a simple underlying mechanical problem. Severe pain is usually due to simple protective muscle spasm, and temporary inflammation in joints and muscles. Severe pain and spasm that arises quickly very rarely indicates severe injury, disease or damage. Your chiropractor will be able to diagnose what type of mechanical back problem you have, and advise you accordingly on the best treatment options for your particular complaint.

Use ice, not heat When pain is recent (acute) there is inflammation at the site of the injury. Ice acts as an anti-inflammatory, helping to clear the inflammatory build up and calming the associated pain. Heat can increase inflammation, which adds to the swelling and pain of an acute problem.

When applying an ice-pack there are a few very important rules to follow:

  • only apply for 15 minutes at a time
  • cover the ice pack with a tea-towel or similar
  • wait at least 2 hours before applying an ice-pack again
  • do not ice an area with broken skin, or if you have poor circulation in that area
  • If you have cold gel you could try using that instead of ice.

Stay gently active, with short rest spells Pain can be a warning sign, so listen to your pain and avoid doing things that are extremely painful. Try to stay as mobile as you can, taking regular small rest breaks. Finding a comfortable position to rest in can be difficult. It is not normally helpful to lie on a hard floor flat on your back. Instead try lying on the bed on your side with both knees bent up and a pillow between your legs. Alternatively try lying on your back, feet flat and knees bent a little.

Don’t struggle on alone Tell family, friends or neighbours if you are experiencing severe and incapacitating back pain. Keep in touch with them, and get as much help with painful activities as possible. If you are worried about getting stuck, keep a phone on you, so you can call for help if necessary.

Take medicines with advice Chiropractors do not prescribe medications, so if you are using or considering using painkillers or anti-inflammatories, we recommend seeking advice from a pharmacist first, as all medications have side-effects. As chiropractors we understand that using medications can be necessary for some painful conditions, but recommend that you do not take them to allow yourself to continue doing something that is very painful.

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