What is Chiropractic

The word 'Chiropractic' is derived from the Greek words 'cheiro' meaning 'hand' and 'practos' meaning 'to use'. It was founded in 1895 by Daniel Palmer who adjusted the spine of a janitor after an accident caused him to lose his hearing. The intervention by Palmer restored the janitor's hearing and chiropractic was born. Chiropractic is now defined as 'the art and science and manipulation of the spine and limb joints'.

What Happens When I see a Chiropractor for the First Time? Back to Top

Your first visit to Castle Chiropractic Clinic will take approximately 60 minutes. You will first be asked to fill out a form detailing your personal details and general past medical history. This will provide us with information about any past accidents, illnesses etc. that may be relevant to your presenting complaint.

A thorough case history about your complaint will then be taken by one of our Doctors of Chiropractic to establish the cause and progression of the problem and also to find out if there may be any complicating factors involved. You will then be asked to consent to a physical examination.

The Chiropractic examination process consists largely of orthopaedic and neurological testing which will ultimately lead to a working diagnosis of your complaint. In some cases further testing such as x-ray may be necessary before an accurate diagnosis can be made.

The final part of the initial consultation process is the 'Report of Findings'. This is where the diagnosis is explained and the management plan is set out. This will include the type of treatment, apporoximate number and frequency of treatment sessions. You will then be asked to consent to treatment.

A typical course of treatment for acute conditions would involve approximately 6 sessions over a two to three week period. For particularly stubborn problems however, you may require the occasional treatment two to three times per year to maintain improvement.

What Treatment can I expect to receive? Back to Top

It must be remembered that Chiropractic is a profession and not a form of treatment and therefore treatment styles can vary greatly between practitioners. At Castle Chiropractic we use a combination of gentle manipulation and Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT). SOT is composed of highly accurate and effective procedures. Dr. Major B. DeJarnette (the founder of SOT) spent most of his life conducting clinical investigation into what works in chiropractic and what makes chiropractic work. Many of the experiments he first tried on himself so that he was aware of the results first hand. He also recruited others to be patients while he tested the procedures. By means of these repeated, peer-reviewed tests, he determined the true nature of spinal misalignment and how it could most efficiently be corrected. He also determined when the correction of the spinal misalignment was not enough and devised visceral manipulation procedures. SOT also recognises the important role of normal cranial function in health.

Steven, Xanthe and Lowena are also qualified to use 'dry needling', a treatment similar to acupuncture used to stimulate and relax taught, painful bands of muscle called trigger points.

Other therapies used at the clinic include therapeutic ultrasound (particularly effective for sprains and strains) and rehabilitation exercises (commonly required for stubborn, recurring complaints).

Does Chiropractic Hurt? Back to Top

Treatments are not painful however some people may exprience a slight discomfort following the first or second treatment. This is a natural process of the body as it re-adjusts back to its normal movement patterns.