There is never an clear answer to this question prior to an examination and thorough check up. Usually you will get recommendations on your initial visit about what chiropractic care is needed and what approach will be used unless there are further examinations required such as X-ray reports.
Depending on the person chiropractic care may be for symptomatic issues only.
There are also those who choose to improve their overall function an wellbeing which progresses further over time. Usually after achieving results such as enhanced functional wellbeing many decide to incorporate chiropractic care as ongoing management or wellness care.
Both Chiropractic Care and Massage therapy are great ways of relieving tension throughout the body and apply various different techniques to achieve specific patient goals and outcomes.
Depending on what you are more comfortable with our Chiropractors on your first visit will perform a thorough examination to find out how the body is moving within the joints and how restricted certain movements are. Chiropractors also use different orthopaedic tests which help justify whether or not further imaging is required such as X-ray and if there needs to be certain interventions or other health practitioners to help create positive changes for better health. Chiropractors usually perform spinal adjustments using either their hands, chiropractic activators or drop tables to areas of restriction although that does not mean they don’t focus on the muscle tissue. Chiropractors also use trigger point therapy to decrease pressure in tight muscles and also have the ability to use oils to help massage through areas where muscles are tight and sore.
Some Areas Of Concern Chiropractors Deal With Include:
Unlike Chiropractors, massage therapists use an approach of focussing solely on the muscle and this is great when that is the main concern. There can be times where joints may be causing pressure on other areas of the body causing referral patterns and decreasing muscle tension will not make any changes long term for problems like this.
If you are someone who is getting massages already and is only finding temporary pain relief, chiropractic care may be beneficial! Contact our team of chiropractors to get examined today at either our Westmeadows or Broadmeadows Chiropractic Clinics.
Our westmeadows and broadmeadows clinics offer chiropractic services which also include modalities such as dry needling, cupping, sports taping, trigger point therapy, Stretching and exercise prescription.
Our Westmeadows chiropractic practice also accepts referrals from GP’s for chiropractic services. If you are given a CDM or EPC plan you are eligible for up to 5 chiropractic visits per year!
What Can You Expect On Your First Visit To Our Clinic?
First Visit or First Treatment at either of our westmeadows or broadmeadows health clinics includes a case history, posture scan, movement analysis, pain assessment, orthopaedic testing and a full body treatment. Referral for X-ray imaging (if required) is bulk-billed through Medicare.
Our Westmeadows Clinic
Our Westmeadows Clinic is spacious and easily accessible by car, bus and train. Onsite Parking is available with wheelchair accessibility and is within 10km of Melbourne CBD
What Can Our Team Do To Help?
Depending on the severity of the injury or area of concern our practitioners in our Broadmeadows, Westmeadows and Fawkner Clinics will treat accordingly to your complaint. Treatments that may be provided but are not limited to include:
Spinal manipulation, Activator Methods, Drop Piece, SOT and other adjustive techniques can help alleviate joints that have restriction such as spinal segments and joints (LeFebvre, Peterson & Haas, 2012)
PNF/PIR/prescribed stretching – Stretching has shown to reduce pain, improve functionality of the wrist and hand also maintains strength and improves patients in both long and short-term outcomes.
Remedial Massage, Trigger point therapy or use of handheld massager – Have shown to decrease pain/tenderness, enhance both range of motion and quality of life and influence flexibility (Shah et al., 2015) (Imtiyaz, Veqar & Shareef, 2014)
Advice on daily living activities/diet – This enables advice on how to change to make healthy actions into habits and may offer a valuable alternative with potential for long-term impact. (Gardner, Lally & Wardle, 2012)
Prescribed exercises – produce more beneficial outcomes in terms of increased strength, improved function and reduced pain scores. (Fernandes, Pedrinelli & Hernandez, 2015)
Dry Needling or Cupping to the surrounding musculature to help decrease tension and inflammation around the area of the hand and forearm.
In Short No, X-Rays are not necessary to get before seeing a chiropractor. This is because our team of chiropractors perform an assessment which includes a thorough history, orthopaedic testing and mobility stress tests to ensure that there are no significant red flags that may justify the need for an X-Ray.
Indications for an X-ray Include
To diagnose recent trauma which may have been a cause of fracture or dislocation at any age and anyone over the age of 50 who has suffered from a minor fall or slip with uncommon pain.
Diagnose degeneration/arthritic conditions or structural changes that may be causing pain and restriction.
To see changes with spinal deformities over time to ensure they are not getting worse such as scoliosis/kyphosis or other spinal degenerative changes.
X-rays are a great tool to help guide a particular treatment that is needed for the patients success. 8 times out of 10 it is likely that with or without X-rays the chiropractors treatment will not change and this will be based on patients goals and what they have assessed on examination. Our team of chiropractors are able to refer out for any X-rays that are indicated.
Contraindications for an X-ray
To identify problems with soft tissues. Unfortunately X-rays can only visualise issues related to bones and joints and not with muscular problems.
To find out whether or not areas of no concern have problems.
If the patient is pregnant
X-ray referrals without any clinical evidence or reasoning
It is common that with most general complaints not to need X-rays. Also with the initial assessment our practitioners find that with most patients they will have certain anomalies where things dont add up before a referral is needed for an X-ray. The reason why chiropractors and other allied health professionals don’t send patients out readily for X-rays is because of the exposure to radiation and it is best to avoid it if possible!
Inflammation is something we usually see in our joints and is something that we all like to avoid! Unfortunately sugar is something that fires up our bodies inflammatory system in various ways. We all want to be functioning as best as we can so it is ideal to restrict your sugar intake. It is common to have a sugar craving for sweets and there can be healthier substitutes that allow for better energy and overall performance when it comes to bodily functions.
These snacks can include things such as fruit or nuts which are a great way to avoid ramping up your sugar intake and avoiding those high GI foods that cause us to crash. There are also other types of foods such as yogurts and nuts which are also great snacking foods but beware as they are also high in calories and should be limited.
Exercise is also a great way to decrease sugar cravings as the body tends to crave healthier foods to refuel and rebuild.
By substituting or limiting sugar in your diet the following benefits can be seen in various research articles:
Teachers are constantly dealing with a stressful environment day in day out and that means the body begins to deteriorate under these demanding social and physical pressures. Whilst some of the time it can be tempting to do extra work related chores sometimes it is best to take a break and find yourself some stress relief to combat this stressful environment.
Below are some ways in which teachers can relax or even rejuvenate themselves to get through those crazy classroom periods and busy weeks of work.
Enjoy Yourself! — Giving yourself the time to think and relax during the workweek is essential for longevity in any work environment. Having a hobby such as playing netball or tennis or something as simple as watching TV and taking the time to unwind is a great way of having that time to yourself.
Walking or exercise — Exercise is a great way to get the body moving as well as decreasing tension throughout the body. It is proven that exercise brings up endorphins that give the body those good feelings that people always look for. Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous, as long as it is enjoyable and consistent. Yoga and Pilates is a great way of adding some form of mobility throughout your day and if that is to time consuming a general walk goes a long way when it comes to taking a break. The key to all this is as simple as getting the body moving and finding that task or hobby that gets you up and running.
Sleep— Staying up late to finish work or even plan things for the class tomorrow morning is not always ideal. Being sleep deprived can diminish your productivity and limit your capacity to do things throughout the day. The amount of sleep you should be having is about 6-8 hours each night in order for the body to recover physically and mentally.
Deep Breathing— Relaxation is key and deep breathing is a great way of achieving this. The aim of this is to take a deep breath in and hold it for 3 seconds and then slowly exhale. By repeating this a couple of times it can help to reduce current stress.
Chiropractic Care— Chiropractic Care is great when it comes to stress. Being able to reduce tension in affected areas of the body and identifying areas of restriction to create improves are just some ways in which chiro care can help. Headaches and migraines as well as low back pain from desk work or ongoing neck pain are just some of the complaints our team of chiropractors work on to improve overall health and wellbeing of patients.
The Melbourne Chiropractor Westmeadows provides specialised therapeutic techniques to help with all types of musculoskeletal problems. Our team of chiropractors strives to decrease pain, increase function and create solutions to your problems which will be long term. Our team strives to get patients back on their feet as quick as possible with ongoing support if it is essential.
Our westmeadows and broadmeadows clinics offer chiropractic services which also include modalities such as dry needling, cupping, sports taping, trigger point therapy, Stretching and exercise prescription.
Our Westmeadows chiropractic practice also accepts referrals from GP’s for chiropractic services. If you are given a CDM or EPC plan you are eligible for up to 5 chiropractic visits per year!
What Can You Expect On Your First Visit To Our Clinic?
First Visit or First Treatment at either of our westmeadows or broadmeadows health clinics includes a case history, posture scan, movement analysis, pain assessment, orthopaedic testing and a full body treatment. Referral for X-ray imaging (if required) is bulk-billed through Medicare.
Our Westmeadows Clinic
Our Westmeadows Clinic is spacious and easily accessible by car, bus and train. Onsite Parking is available with wheelchair accessibility and is within 10km of Melbourne CBD
What Can Our Team Do To Help?
Depending on the severity of the injury or area of concern our practitioners in our Broadmeadows, Westmeadows and Fawkner Clinics will treat accordingly to your complaint. Treatments that may be provided but are not limited to include:
Spinal manipulation, Activator Methods, Drop Piece, SOT and other adjustive techniques can help alleviate joints that have restriction such as spinal segments and joints (LeFebvre, Peterson & Haas, 2012)
PNF/PIR/prescribed stretching – Stretching has shown to reduce pain, improve functionality of the wrist and hand also maintains strength and improves patients in both long and short-term outcomes.
Remedial Massage, Trigger point therapy or use of handheld massager – Have shown to decrease pain/tenderness, enhance both range of motion and quality of life and influence flexibility (Shah et al., 2015) (Imtiyaz, Veqar & Shareef, 2014)
Advice on daily living activities/diet – This enables advice on how to change to make healthy actions into habits and may offer a valuable alternative with potential for long-term impact. (Gardner, Lally & Wardle, 2012)
Prescribed exercises – produce more beneficial outcomes in terms of increased strength, improved function and reduced pain scores. (Fernandes, Pedrinelli & Hernandez, 2015)
Dry Needling or Cupping to the surrounding musculature to help decrease tension and inflammation around the area of the hand and forearm.
Self care is commonly spoken about as it involves giving time to yourself to create healthier habits and relationships within your day to day life. Sometimes it can be difficult to find things that motivate us or even give us a sense of a healthier outlook on life. Below are some reasons why Chiropractic care is a great addition to your routine to boost your mental and physical health.
Chiropractic Care Is Great For Pain!
Our chiropractors are most commonly come in for symptomatic care, meaning due to things such as low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches or even sporting injuries just to name a few. Usually the reason behind pain can be due to spinal dysfunction, nerve irritation or muscular tension/imbalances. Our chiropractors help to correct these issues by performing chiropractic adjustments and various soft tissue techniques to alleviate the pain associated within the area.
Chiropractic Care Is Great For Preventing Pain!
Chiropractic care is great for preventing reoccurring aches and pains that can stop you in your tracks. The goal of chiropractic during this phase is to manage areas which are beginning to freeze up and to jump on top of any joint restrictions before its to late. It is important to note that consistent care can help prevent those symptoms and pain cycles from recurring. Preventative care is the key to real health, and chiropractic care is a great place to start.
Chiropractic Care Improves Us Physically and Mentally!
The biggest changes after chiropractic care is the sense of feeling better after treatment. They may feel lighter, more mobile and healthier overall. When you upkeep your bodies musculoskeletal system and you are keeping on top of joint restriction and muscle tension the body allows you to perform at its best.
Women experience a variety of musculoskeletal problems throughout their lives, ranging from hormonal cramps to back pain during pregnancy. Chiropractic care may be the key to alleviate these issues. Here are a few problems that chiropractic care may benefit women!
Osteoarthritis
A disorder that results in degeneration of joint cartilage and bone, osteoarthritis is primarily seen in people over 50 usually more common in females. This is usually due to a fluctuation in oestrogen during menopause. It usually causes hip, knee, and finger joint pain and stiffness. Chiropractic Care can help reduce pain of osteoarthritis in females. Joints can become damaged due to changes in posture and repetitive strain to joints because of the way you sit, stand, or walk. By fixing bad habits and making the right changes combined with chiropractic care may help decrease arthritic symptoms.
Lower Back Pain and Cramping
Lower back pain and cramping and can be caused by various factors such as endometriosis and other complications associated with menstruation. Some women are limited in their movements as they are unable to move due to pain. This means that pain, cramping and other associated factors such as headaches and migraines could be a problem. Chiropractic care is a way to decrease this pain and get back to a normal lifestyle. Cramping can be reduced by adjusting the spine and using soft tissue therapy methods to decrease tension within the affected muscle.
Pregnancy
As a mother grows, her centre of gravity moves forward and her body has to adjust to her baby’s changes. When this occurs an increased back curve is observed increasing strain within the area of the spine. A pregnant woman’s ligaments also change as they begin to loosen and relax as she reaches labour and delivery. This commonly results in pregnant women being in discomfort and pain. Pregnancy chiropractic care can help ease discomfort and pain that comes with pregnancy such as neck pain, headaches or low back pain just to name a few.
Note* If you are currently suffering from any problematic concerns such as neck or back pain, are wondering what we do on your first chiropractic session or would like to make a booking, you can always contact us to find out more! Online bookings available 7 days a week Saturdays and Sundays @ https://themelbournechiropractor.com.au/book-now
Chiropractic care is not a magic pill or a miracle drug. Instead, it is a cumulative therapy where each session creates changes to enhance the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors use their hands or various other tools such as an activator or drop table to promote healing without the use of medications or surgery. It usually takes a couple of sessions to make some serious changes although usually after the first session there is some difference felt from when you would have first come in. However trying to be completely pain free in a single visit can be very unrealistic unless you have been seeing chiropractors or other health professionals for maintenance over a period of time.
This is why there are 3 types of care associated with chiropractic care!
Initial Intensive Care
Most patients have musculoskeletal complaints that are causing them significant discomfort and interfering with their usual way of life. Therefore, 90% of these patients are in the “Initial Intensive Care” phase. As chiropractors, we are initially trying to reverse a pattern of the spine being misaligned to provide quick pain relief. The problem has probably been there for a significant amount of time. These patients are generally seen about 2 times a week to start until the pain level has gone down to a liveable level.
Rehab/Strengthening Care
During the Rehab and Strengthening Care phase the patient feels considerably better. This phase continues the healing and creates changes to the spine that will prevent further injury from happening. Therapies during this phase are generally changed from acute care to working different muscle groups, changing bad postures, rehabilitating areas of weakness and other areas of the musculoskeletal system. These patients are typically seen once a week until satisfactory results are seen by both the chiropractor and the patient.
Wellness Care
This is the preventative care phase where the chiropractor aims to get the patient feeling their best continuously and consistently. Wellness care can be anywhere from once a week to once a month. It depends on various factors such as age, fitness levels, activities performed and overall health goals.
At The Melbourne Chiropractor our goal is to patients restore our patient musculoskeletal systems to where they are able to perform at their best.
