What Is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a form of complimentary health care that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment & ongoing prevention of neuromusculoskeletal disorders and their effects on a persons overall wellbeing. Simply put, Chiropractors manage problems that arise from joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves. Chiropractors are qualifed University graduates who have fantastic knowledge about the human body, biomechanics, physiology and injury treatment. If you’ve visited a Chiropractor before you may have noticed that not all Chiropractors are the same and this can often create difficulty for people when they’re searching for a practitioner too see.
Vitality Chiropractic Australia is proud to be recognized as a truly professional, experienced and multi-modal clinic. We continue to provide our many customers with an array of treatment styles so we can best cater for the local communities needs & wants. These techniques may include:
- Manual Chiropractic joint manipulative therapy (Diversified & Gonstead).
- Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic technique.
- Activator methods.
- Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT).
- Sports & extremity adjusting.
- Soft tissue therapy including massage & dry needling.
- Physiological therapeutics such as Ultrasound & TENS.
What Does A Chiropractor Really Do?
We’re frequently asked questions by our many clients and we think this is because Chiropractic treatment has traditionally been very poorly explained. Most of us have experienced back or neck pain at some point in our lives, so lets use this as an example.
- When a spinal or extremity joint is injured it’s movement may become restricted. In Chiropractic we refer to this as joint fixation.
- This process sends pain signals to the brain telling it that something is wrong and causes compensatory changes in surrounding soft tissues including muscle, ligament, tendon and fascia.
- You may then experience signs or symptoms such as muscle tightness, generalized stiffness, swelling & referred nerve pain.
- Multi-modal Chiropractors then apply various treatment techniques in order to reduce symptoms which someone my be suffering from and rehabilitate their problem.
Conditions Managed By Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors are one of the most sought after practitioners around the world for effective and prompt injury treatment. If you’ve never seen a Chiropractor before you may be wondering what types of problems do people choose to see Chiropractors for. Below you’ll discover a brief list of the most common clinical problems that we encounter on a regular basis. For a most comprehensive list we encourage you to please visit the ‘Conditions’ section of our website.
- Neck pain, general back pain & muscle stiffness.
- Poor posture including conditions such as proximal & distal cross syndrome.
- Particular types of Headaches & Migraines.
- Facial pain disorders including Trigeminal Neuralgia.
- Nerve pain related problems including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & Sciatica.
- Pelvic and hip joint problems.
- Degenerative conditions such as Osteoarthritis.
- Sports injuries ranging from Achilles tendinopathy, Rotator cuff syndrome, Golfer’s elbow, Tennis elbow & Plantar fasciitis.
Chiropractic Techniques At Vitality Chiropractic Australia
Not all Chiropractors are the same. There are hundreds of Chiropractic techniques practiced around the world every day. This can make choosing the right therapist for you an extremely difficult task. Below you will see the techniques that our Chiropractors at Vitality Chiropractic Australia are qualified in.
Diversified Manual Adjusting
Diversified is considered one of the most generic and commonly used manual techniques in Chiropractic. Chances are if you have visited a Chiropractor in the past and have experienced a manual adjustment it was a Diversified technique. Manual adjustments of the spine and extremities are delivered in order to promote proper spinal alignment, enhance joint movement and reduce pain. Diversified manual adjusting is particularly effective for problems including general back and neck pain, headaches, joint sprains, sports injuries and poor posture.
Gonstead Manual Adjusting
Gonstead technique is another form of manual adjusting however is largely based on specific x-ray analysis to determine areas of the spine which require particular focus. Perhaps the biggest difference between Diversified and Gonstead techniques is the position in which the patient is placed (referred to as the setup) for the adjustment to take place. Gonstead technique involves the use of a knee-chest table as well as a Gonstead chair. Gonstead technique achieves fantastic results when it is appropriate in particular circumstances including disc injuries, chronic pain cases, pinched nerves and much more.
Atlas Orthogonal Technique (AO)
Atlas Orthogonal is a specific upper cervical technique designed to improve the function between the base of the skull, atlas (top bone in the neck) and the axis (second bone in the neck). Atlas Orthogonal involves the use of specific x-ray analysis to determine this relationship in order to determine if this is the cause of a patient’s problem. Atlas Orthogonal is perhaps the most gentle (there is no cracking, pulling, jerking or twisting of the neck) of all Chiropractic techniques to date and involves the use of a spring loaded instrument to adjust the upper neck. Many clients seeking Atlas Orthogonal treatment have tried countless therapies, medications, drugs and even surgeries for no or minimal improvement. After doing hours of research, they often stumble across websites demonstrating the benefits of Atlas Orthogonal. Atlas Orthogonal is particularly effective for individuals suffering chronic neck pain, neck clicking/grinding, headaches, vertigo, sinus problems, migraines, trigeminal neuralgia and dizziness. Learn more about Atlas Orthogonal here or find additional Atlas Orthogonal information from a patient’s perspective by clicking here.
Chiropractic Bio-Physics (CBP)
Arguably the most researched Chiropractic technique known to Chiropractors, CBP places great emphasis on optimal posture and therefore proper spinal alignment. CBP practitioners are able to provide clients with a corrective or rehabilitative approach to their management as opposed to treating symptoms when required. Specific spinal radiographic analysis is necessary to establishing a baseline measure of spinal alignment and posture so that specific individualized treatment and advice can be recommended. CBP is a fantastic technique for those with chronic postural abnormalities or individuals who have not responded to Chiropractic techniques in the past.
Webster Technique (Pregnancy)
Webster technique is a pregnancy specific technique that focuses on maintaining proper sacrum and pelvic function, alignment and wellbeing. During pregnancy the body goes through rapid and continual changes, particularly noted in the pattern of gait (walking) and centre of gravity. These changes result in enhanced stress upon the lumbopelvic spine. Webster technique is a gentle technique that releases stress in these areas by targeting the ligaments that support the pelvis. Webster technique is effective for assisting common problems faced during pregnancy such as lower back pain, pelvic dysfunction and Sciatica.
Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT)
Sacro-occipital technique is an extremely gentle therapy that focuses on the relationship between the sacrum (triangular bone in the centre of the pelvis) and the occiput (base of the skull). These two structures work in tandem to assist with normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid around the spinal cord. If this flow is hindered, problems may arise around the body. Traditional to the Sacro-occipital technique is the use of pelvic blocks that create a torsional force upon the pelvis and sacrum to effectively improve alignment, normal movement and therefore allow normal cerebrospinal fluid flow.
Sports Extremity Adjusting & Soft Tissue Release
Sports Chiropractic techniques not only focus on the spine, but also assess the overall function of the extremities (hips, knees, ankles, feet, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers) as well as the surrounding muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia. Sports Chiropractic adjusting & mobilisation incorporates specific exercise advice to assist with inhibiting overactive muscles, facilitating improvements in underactive muscles while also improving strength, stability and flexibility. Sports Chiropractic techniques are great for individuals suffering common problems including tennis and golfer’s elbow, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff stress, shoulder instability and shin splints.
Paediatric & Children Techniques
Having your child checked by a Chiropractor is a fantastic start to promoting a lifetime of proper spine and nervous system development. Techniques that are used on newborns, infants and children vary depending on their age and preference of the child. Safe to say, these techniques are extremely different to techniques that are used on adults with fully matured musculoskeletal structures. Techniques that are often used include soft tissue massage, Activator methods, cranial release and manual adjustments (when appropriate).