Emersons Green Chiropractic Clinic

What is chiropractic

Chiropractic is not a treatment, it is a profession, whose practitioners undergo a minimum of four years full-time university training, followed by ongoing postgraduate study to deliver a comprehensive health package.

Chiropractic is now the third largest form of primary health care in the world - third only to medicine and dentistry. Such is the acceptance now of the benefits of the chiropractic approach, that the majority of health insurance companies cover chiropractic treatment for all muscular and joint conditions. And the Royal College of General Practitioners and The Clinical Standards Advisory Group recommend spinal manipulation for lower back pain.

So how and why does chiropractic treatment work? "Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that the nervous system controls the function of virtually every tissue, cell, organ and system of the body," explains Bristol chiropractor Doug Ingrams. "In the majority of the cases the treatment is aimed at removing nerve compression and irritation, which most commonly has been brought on by abnormal alignment or dysfunction of the spinal joints. Chiropractors use specific manipulation of these joints to restore their normal function. The result is increase in mobility, decrease in any pain or discomfort and removal of irritation of the nerves with a wide range of health benefits."

Spinal dysfunction and misalignment can be brought on by accidents, physical and mental stress, poor diet, lack of exercise and repetitive movements. Loss of normal function of the spinal bones can cause compression, irritation and inflammation of the joints and nerves that exit from between the spinal vertebrae. These spinal nerves supply every part of your body which goes some way to explaining the extent to which spinal problems can affect the function of muscles, joints and organs.

As Doug Ingrams points out: "Chiropractic can help relieve pain, dysfunction and discomfort from practically every part of the body by releasing the inherent power of the body to heal itself. Not only does it offer hands-on pain management, but it can also promote optimum health and give a general sense of well-being as the body balances itself through treatment.