What type of patients does a Chiropractor see?
(approx 2-4 min read)
Who can see a Chiropractor?
Everyone will benefit from having an assessment of their biomechanics. Chiropractors treat the whole body and a wide range of ages, from severe pain concerns to help with posture, relaxation and sports performance.
There are treatment options available for everyone, ranging from very gentle to more firm pressure although we always ensure the work is specific to the problem at hand. Most of our treatment is done with the patient laying either face down (prone) or face up (supine) on the bench. If you prefer, there are other options that mean treatment can be done seated.
It is always worth either coming in for a consultation or asking us some more information if you've still got questions.
Location
Most of our patients come from South Woodham Ferrers, Burnham, Southminster, Maldon, Chelmsford, Wickford, Benfleet, Rayleigh and Basildon. From the West, as the clinic is only 12 minutes off the a127 we do also have many patients coming from Grays, Cranham, Upminster, Brentwood, Warley and sometimes London. From the North, we are 7 minutes from the a130 so have patients from Dunmow, Tiptree and Witham. We are located in South Woodham Ferrers town centre between Asda, the police station and Brickfields dentist.
Accessibility
The clinic has a small step at the front entrance however there is wheelchair ramp access available if you can provide advanced notice. All the doors in the clinic are wheelchair friendly.
You will be required to fill out some intake forms consisting of your personal details, medical history and case history. If you prefer, you may request a larger font or alternatively you can go through the form with your chiropractor verbally.
The clinic also has a toilet for patient use. It is not large enough to fit a wheelchair in.
Some patients can take a little while on and off the bench however this is not normally a problem with some assistance, and people get better with practice. The bench is height adjustable, and the headrest can be lifted or dropped down to ensure the spine is comfortable and in good alignment when we are treating. Seated treatment is also an option if preferred.
If you experience any PTSD, anxiety or other mental health issues then you’ll normally be asked if there’s any triggers we need to be aware of when treating or talking to you and these will be respected with no further questions.
What jobs do people do?
We see people from all walks of life however the most common are trades and desk based. Generally the trades including builders, electricians, painters, floor-layers put a lot of heavy repetitive strain on their body. The seated professionals including sales, analysts, HR and drivers generally get a different set of issues but this time from being sat still for hours on end. Ideally we would be better balanced in our lifestyles
Busy bee?
We offer evening availability so are open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays evenings until 7.30, and open on Saturdays 8.30-1. Some patients have a regular schedule and like to have the whole schedule prebooked, however some patients have unpredictable schedules. For these cases, we have an app that allows you to book your own adjustments until the very last minute, or lets you reschedule with 24 hours notice.
All new patients can book an appointment online using the website by clicking the link here. Pre-existing patients can book their adjustments via the app. We do recommend pre-booking where possible as the popular adjustment times are often filled up in advance.
Do Chiropractors just treat backs?
Chiropractors are known for backs but do treat the entire body, from headaches to shoulder pain, knee pain and ankle pain. You can visit a list of the most common ailments here.
There are a range of techniques available including diversified style spinal manipulation, spinal mobilisation, sports taping, exercise prescription, dry needling/medical acupuncture, cranial therapy, visceral therapy, fascial unwinding, deep tissue work and lifestyle advice.
What age do Chiropractors treat?
Almost all ages are welcome! 3 years and all the rest of the way through life are catered to in clinic. Very young spines and older spines need a different approach based on any joint laxity, joint fusion, arthritis or bone density concerns however there are treatment options available for this. Most of our patients are 25-65 and bad backs are happening younger and younger due to sedentary lifestyles, so it is not uncommon to see people who are still school age present with headaches and migraines.
If you are looking for a paediatric chiropractor for your newborn we are happy to refer you on as currently we do not offer paediatric care under the age of 3 in the clinic.
Sports background or injury?
It is especially important in sports to keep the body optimised and aligned, however most of the time we wait for the injury to occur before getting a sportsperson seen to. At the clinic, we see a range of sports professionals from gymnasts, fighters, rugby players to swimmers and runners with both sports related injury but also for preventative care, ensuring they are in tip top condition.
Medical History?
You can receive Chiropractic care if you have a history of cancer, high blood pressure, lymph node removal, nerve damage, spinal surgery, bone density (osteoporosis/osteopenia), joint replacements and arthritis although please disclose this information so that we can choose the right techniques for you. There are variations in treatment that are suitable, as not all treatment techniques will be. It can often be very useful for pain management in these cases.
If you do have a history of other major surgery, such as uterus removal (hysterectomy), gall bladder removal (cholecystectomy) or kidney removal (nephrectomy) then please inform your chiropractor and we may be able to help with tension in the scar tissue, or to take it into consideration when treating you.
Any other surgery does need to be disclosed as there may be connections through the body you may not have considered, or compensations your body has made.
Can you see a Chiropractor if you have hypermobility?
Yes you can, although certain techniques may be adapted to reduce the stretch on the spinal ligaments. We will also discuss home exercises and lifestyle advice to help stabilise the hypermobile areas whilst releasing the tension in the areas that are compensating, without putting excess pressure on the joints. We can also help with the associated pains you may feel from flat feet (pes planus), shin splints (tibialis anterior syndrome), snapping hip syndrome and
Our lead Chiropractor Dr Jess Kenney also has hypermobility so is quite used to working around it.
Can Chiropractic help with Fibromyalgia?
Chiropractic can help with pain management and provide symptom relief of Fibromyalgia symptoms. Although we do not 'cure' it, we can help significantly with pain management and also discuss lifestyle factors that may be contributing. Fibromyalgia tends to respond very well do dry needling/medical acupuncture but there can be variance in whether your body prefers lighter or firmer pressure, and this can vary depending on whether you are in the middle of a flare so please communicate this with your Chiropractor.
