Who should see a Chiropractor?

Chiropractors treat people of all ages, across all economic and social spectrums and ethnicities.
Patients seek treatment for a wide range of conditions, such as back and neck pain, headaches and sciatica. The need for treatment can arise from injury, as a result of aging, repetitive use of limbs or misalignment of the spine.
Making sure the spine and nervous system are working in harmony for good health is just as important for a newborn baby as it is for a senior citizen.
Indeed the benefits of Chiropractic care start during pregnancy. Mother needs all systems working at 100 percent to help ensure baby's development is not hindered.
The birth process can place great stress on the newborn's delicate spine. Toddlers and children frequently fall and play rough games. All this may result in a malfunction of the spine called a vertebral subluxation, which hinders the body's effort to maintain organs and systems working in harmony (homeostasis).
Correcting vertebral subluxations in the young has been shown to help recovery from a wide range of diseases and disorders. It is rare for adjustment in babies and children to cause back and neck pain. If in doubt have your child checked out!
Adults frequently have stressful occupations and recreational activities and repetitively strain the spine and its supporting ligaments and muscles. Vertebral subluxations may result.
Chiropractic care enhances the ability of the body to deal with its injuries, resist disease and maintain optimum health.

What symptoms do I need to see a chiropractor?

Pain and symptoms are nature's way of telling us "something is wrong:" They are the result of your body dealing with tissue damage or breakdown, infection and poisons.
You may be desperate at times to get relief from symptoms such as back pain, sciatica, headaches and symptoms associated with many other conditions such as tummy upsets, breathing problems, allergies and so on.

Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor?

No GP or specialist referal is required to see a chiropractor. As primary health care providers chiropractors are able to lodge ACC claims directly.

Why are X-rays taken?

X-ray pictures of your spine are often necessary to determine the condition of your spine. They are an important part of designing your specific plan of chiropractic care. Chiropractors are licensed by the National Radiation Laboratory to take x-rays.
Modern x-ray equipment minimises exposure to radiation, and the benefits of x-rays well outweigh the risk of the low amount of radiation absorbed.

Do I still need to see a chiropractor if there is no pain?

Many people consult chiropractors seeking relief from all sorts of symptoms, the most common being back and neck pain, shoulder and arm pain, low back, buttock and leg pain and headaches.
The objective of chiropractic care is to enhance the natural healing abilities of the body by correcting a malfunction of the spine called a vertebral subluxation through adjustment.
A vertebral subluxation is a complex of abnormal vertebral movement, irritation and interference to the nervous system. This can cause alterations to muscle, balance, inflammation of the tissues, and changes to the chemistry of the tissues. The body is much better off without vertebral subluxations!
You would expect vertebral subluxations to cause pain, and some do, but many do not, going completely undetected until identified in a chiropractic examination. Corrections of vertebral subluxations through adjustment usually results in relief from pain, but more importantly, enhances the body's innate ability to heal itself.
This might take time and a number of visits to achieve. It is wise to maintain your spine free from vertebral subluxations. Many vertebral subluxations do not cause obvious pain or other symptoms; so don't wait until you are in pain before you have a chiropractic examination.
Like regular dental checkups, once patients experience the value of chiropractic many choose to continue. How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic treatment is always up to you.

What results can I expect from Chiropractic care?

People seek the help of a chiropractor for many different reasons including pain relief, mobility, flexibility, health care and performance enhancement.
Pain is the body's warning system, but it's not foolproof. Judging your health by how you feel can be dangerous. Many conditions and diseases are well advanced by the time you are aware of them.
By adjusting spines, Chiropractors correct spinal malfunctions called vertebral subluxations, which may cause severe pain or be completely painless. The harmful effects of vertebral subluxations are the result of irritation and interference to the nervous system. The nervous system controls and co-ordinates all body parts and its optimum function is essential for good health.
Fortunately, good health and the absence of painful symptoms usually go together. However only your chiropractor can tell you if you are free of vertebral subluxations, and associated nerve interference.
Pain relief and rapid recovery from a vast array of diseases and disorders have placed chiropractic as a leader in Natural Health care. Many of theses results have been confirmed by scientific research.
Many athletes use Chiropractic care as a means of enhancing their performance.
Parents and teachers often report children dramatically improve their attention span with Chiropractic care. Others report Chiropractic care as being the main reason for improved academic performance. Dancers and artists are more graceful and creative when they are free of nerve interference caused by subluxations.

What qualifications do chiropractors have?

Chiropractors graduate from a five-year university degree course. Study includes chiropractic philosophy, biological sciences, neurology, orthopedics, radiology, clinical sciences and practical clinical experience.
In New Zealand a registration examination is conducted by the Ministry of Health's Chiropractic Registration Board. Each year chiropractors who are members of the New Zealand Chiropractors' Association must complete a minimum number of post-graduate education hours.