More and more, evidence supports early referral and assessment of musculoskeletal pain patients to an appropriately qualified musculoskeletal clinician such as a chiropractor. Chiropractors are not only trained to treat musculoskeletal pain patients, they are also trained to facilitate health promotion and lifestyle advice, rehabilitation and patient education.

Consumers usually seek chiropractic care for back pain, neck pain and headaches, as well as for general health and wellbeing.

Painful joint and back problems can be caused by work, accidents, sports injuries, household chores, and even the stress of daily living.

Chiropractic care may help if you are experiencing aching joints or muscle pain that is affecting your ability to get through the day, or preventing you from doing your favourite activities. It can also help maintain healthy spine and joint function, even if you do not have painful symptoms.

People commonly visit a chiropractor for help with:

• back pain
• neck pain
• headache
• whiplash
• strains and sprains from daily activities
• overuse injuries
• work and sports-related injuries
• arthritis
• restricted movement in the back, shoulders, neck or limbs.

A chiropractic adjustment is the application of a specific force in a precise direction, applied skilfully to a spinal joint that is fixated, “locked up”, or not moving as it should. This can help improve or restore motion to the joint, helping the spine to gradually regain more normal motion and function.

There are many ways to adjust the spine. Usually, the chiropractor’s hands or a specially designed instrument delivers a brief and highly-accurate thrust. Some adjusting methods are quick, whereas others require a slow, constant or indirect pressure.

Restoring better spinal function can help improve mobility, vitality, and endurance.

The chiropractor is likely to discuss your current health problem, along with your overall medical history. They may perform an examination and you might be offered spinal manipulation.

Chiropractors are not limited to strictly spinal conditions. There is a misconception that chiropractors are just experts on back and neck problems, when in fact many chiropractors are also experts in treating sports injuries and people that suffer from arm leg and foot pain. We love seeing our patients get back to their best and resume their normal life without pain.  Injuries we commonly help are:

• rotator cuff injury
• elbow (tennis/golfer’s elbow) injuries
• bursitis
• hamstring, thigh and calf strains
• knee pain
• plantar fasciitis.

Regular treatment is important for maintaining optimal spinal health.

All chiropractors must be registered with the Chiropractic Board of Australia and meet the Board’s registration standards, in order to practise in Australia.

Under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory, a person cannot call them self a chiropractor (or hold them self out to be a chiropractor) or undertake manipulation of the cervical spine if they are not registered with the Chiropractic Board of Australia.

You do not need a referral to see a chiropractor. Contact PHR Chiropractic today.

Acupuncture is an ancient medical practice, originating in China more than 2,000 years ago. It uses metal needles to stimulate points in the body, often with the addition of manual manipulation, heat or electrical stimulation. Some practitioners use lasers instead of needles to stimulate the acupuncture points.

While acupuncture does appear to help in the treatment of some conditions, the theory of acupuncture is not able to be explained by current medical science. It is considered a complementary therapy.

Like acupuncture, dry needling is a technique that involves puncturing the skin with fine needles to relieve pain. Dry needling targets trigger points in muscles to relieve pain and muscle tightness, while acupuncture stimulates nerves and aims to affect energy and organ systems.

Dry needling is most often performed by chiropractors.