What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a primary health-care profession that specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and overall management of conditions that are due to problems with the joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves, especially related to the spine. In the UK, the profession is regulated by the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) and it is illegal to practice in the UK without being registered with the GCC.

Founded in 1895 by Daniel David Palmer, chiropractic is a relatively “new” profession however, records dating back several thousand years from ancient Greek and Chinese civilizations refer to spinal manipulation.

Chiropractic treatment mainly involves safe, often gentle, specific spinal manipulation to free joints in the spine or other areas of the body that are not moving properly. Apart from manipulation, chiropractors use a variety of techniques including soft tissue work/massage, stretching, ultrasound, taping, exercise prescription and advice about posture and lifestyle.

In the UK, Chiropractors undergo a minimum of four years internationally accredited training covering topics such as anatomy, neurology, radiography and orthopaedics. The training is extensive and it has to be updated yearly in order to maintain registration with the GCC.

Both our barbican based chiropractors are members of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) and attend advanced courses in areas of interest such as rehabilitation and soft tissue release techniques in addition to those that are required to maintain GCC registration.

What is the Difference between Chiropractic and Osteopathy?