Q & A
Chiropractors are primary healthcare practitioners that focus on the relationship between structure (The muscles and joints) and function (Controlled by the nerves). Chiropractors use this relationship to restore and preserve general health and vitality.
Chiropractors realise the natural power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs, and we use non-invasive treatment measures such as adjustments and manipulations.
Chiropractic care in South Africa is readily available, low cost, low risk and offers a non-invasive, natural approach to healing. Considering the high costs of medical care in the case of back-related problems, more often resulting in extensive diagnostic procedures, medication, surgery and hospitalisation, it makes financial sense to encourage patients to seek a more cost-effective route which could save medical schemes millions of rands each year.
No, a referral is usually not required to see a chiropractor. Chiropractors are primary healthcare practitioners, so most medical schemes allow you to just call and schedule an appointment with a chiropractor without referral. However, your medical aid plan may have specific referral requirements. You may want to contact your medical aid directly, to find out if there are any referral requirements.
Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Young children are usually very physically active and can knock their spines out of alignment as they run, jump and fall, this can occur in activities as well as from sporting activities. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle.
Kids who log plenty of screen time either on their phones/tablets or computers and tvs often experience neck pain or aches in their wrists. So, yes, chiropractic care is appropriate for children.
Some parents bring their children in for visits shortly after birth. At Lifestyle Chiropractic our youngest patients were 4 hours old. Chiropractic care on babies and children is different from how we treat adults. Great care is taken to give them safe and effective treatment.
Chiropractic care is generally safe during pregnancy, should you be experiencing any complications with your pregnancy you may want to double check with your OB/GYN before scheduling an appointment. Many patients find that chiropractic treatments help alleviate the aches commonly associated with pregnancy. Pain and disability is not a normal part of pregnancy as many people are told.
Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilises the highly refined skills developed during the Doctor of Chiropractic’s intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractic physician typically uses their hands, or an instrument, to gently manipulate the joints of the body, more specifically the spine, to restore or enhance joint function. This often helps resolve joint inflammation and reduces the patient’s pain. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.
Adjusting a joint may result in the release of a gas bubble in the joints, which makes a popping sound. The same thing occurs when you “crack” your knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint, which results in gas bubbles being released. There is usually minimal, if any, discomfort involved.
Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. We believe that the energy that made the body, can heal the body with our help. Should we feel treatment is not achieving the desired result we will refer you to the appropriate specialist.
Most likely, yes. In South Africa, many of the medical schemes make provision for the reimbursement of chiropractic services. However, it also does depend on what type of medical aid plan you are using. Chiropractic usually comes out of your savings, so if you run out of savings or you are on a plan without savings then you may not be covered. The best option to find out if you are covered to receive chiropractic care is to contact your medical aid for further information.
Here at Lifestyle Chiropractic Clinic we treat:
Neck pain/stiffness (Cervical spine pain)
Headaches and migraines
Jaw pain/TMJ
Whiplash injuries
Shoulder, arm or wrist pain - such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow and rotator cuff strains
Tingling in arms and/or hands
Upper back and shoulder pain (Thoracic spine pain)
Lower back pain/stiffness (Lumbar spine pain and sacroiliac joint pain)
Rib pains
Pelvic pain
Hip. leg, knee and foot pain
Tingling in the legs and/or feet
Sciatica
Herniated discs/Slipped discs
Muscle pain (Muscle spasms, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, golfers elbow, etc.)
Scoliosis
Pinched nerves
Sports injuries
Arthritis
Pregnancy pains and wellness care including Webster Technique
Infant, baby, child and adult wellness care
In babies we treat:
Birth Trauma
Colic
Reflux
Latching difficulties
Sleeping difficulties
Delayed milestones
The chiropractor will start by asking you about your medical history and the reason for making an appointment in the first place. This will be followed by a physical examination. Imaging or lab tests may be required to confirm a diagnosis. Taking the above into consideration, the chiropractor will then reach a diagnosis and advise you whether chiropractic treatment is necessary. As part of this process, the chiropractor will explain your condition to you and recommend a treatment plan. Where the chiropractor feels that your condition may be better treated by another health practitioner, he/she will proceed to make the relevant referral.
See our Consultation fees page to read more.
Some patients only visit us a few times. Other patients require weeks or months of consistent care. The amount of time required for your recovery depends on a number of factors, including the severity of your condition and the level of improvement you want. Some patients want their pain to reach a manageable level, while others want to visit us until it disappears completely. Talk to us about your goals so we can develop a treatment plan tailored toward your wishes.
A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thereby making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. Your chiropractor should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.
Neck manipulation, when performed by a skilled and well educated professional such as a doctor of chiropractic, is a remarkably safe procedure. Some reports have associated high-velocity upper neck manipulation with a certain rare kind of stroke, or vertebral artery dissection. However, evidence suggests that this type of arterial injury often takes place spontaneously in patients who have pre-existing arterial disease. These dissections have been associated with everyday activities such as turning the head while driving, swimming, or having a shampoo in a hair salon. Patients with this condition may experience neck pain and headache that leads them to seek professional care at the office of a doctor of chiropractic or family physician, but that care is not the cause of the injury. The best evidence indicates that the incidence of artery injuries associated with high-velocity upper neck manipulation is extremely rare—about one to three cases in 100,000 patients who get treated with a course of care. This is similar to the incidence of this type of stroke among the general population.
Doctors of chiropractic are well trained professionals who provide patients with safe, effective care for a variety of common conditions. Their extensive education prepares them to identify patients who have special risk factors and to ensure those patients receive the most appropriate care, even if that requires referral to a medical specialist.
No, there is no age limit on chiropractic and more and more people are consulting chiropractors, especially in their later years. In order to deliver the safest, most effective and highest quality care possible, chiropractic techniques are modified appropriately for each person at every age and stage of life.
In South Africa the Chiropractic can be studied either at Durban University of Technology (DUT) or at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Education and training is spread over six years, after which a master’s degree in Chiropractic is awarded. The first two years include a solid grounding in the general sciences after which time students are introduced to the clinical orientated subjects. At the end on the 4th year, as well as in the 5th year, students are required to write and present a research project and dissertation. Students are required to take part in an internship, which includes a variety of practical applications in both the public and private sector.
Our patients often find chiropractic treatments to be effective for a number of issues, including neck pain, back pain, and headaches. In fact, chiropractic care helps many of our patients’ experience relief without the need for prescription medication or surgical procedures.
You can, but we don't recommend it. It's dangerous to adjust your own neck or back if you don't have training in chiropractic care. You might damage your spine or make your symptoms worse. If you don’t know how to perform adjustments properly you can cause arthritis in the spine in the long term.
Chiropractic treatments typically aren't painful, though some patients experience minor discomfort after an appointment. We can offer suggestions to decrease discomfort, such as using ice packs or a heating pad at home. You may also find it helpful to perform gentle stretches after your appointment.
That being said, most patients leave with less pain than they had upon arrival. Progress takes time, but you may experience immediate relief after an adjustment or other services. Let us know if you are sensitive to chiropractic care so we can help make your visit more enjoyable.
Many patients are familiar with the use of spinal manipulation in chiropractic care, which is when a doctor gently manipulates your spine with their hands or a tool. However, chiropractors also utilize numerous other techniques and treatments, including:
Spinal decompression
Cervical decompression
Cryotherapy
Heat therapy
Acupuncture
Electrical stimulation
Massage
Physical therapy
Stretching and strengthening exercises
The treatments your chiropractor chooses will depend on the severity of your condition and your personal preferences. We work with you to develop a treatment plan you're comfortable receiving. Your doctor may recommend a single treatment or combine multiple techniques to help you alleviate your symptoms.
Sciatica refers to pain that travels throughout your sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in your body. Your sciatic nerve runs from your lower back to your feet.
When your sciatic nerve becomes irritated, injured, or compressed, it reacts by producing excruciating pain. Ice packs and heating pads occasionally help, but sciatic pain often requires treatment from a skilled chiropractor.
Every situation is unique, but yes, it's generally okay to get chiropractic adjustments after back surgery. We will carefully review your imaging reports and surgery notes to make sure you're a good candidate for post-surgery adjustments.
Surgery often weakens the surrounding joints and muscles because they overcompensate during the recovery process. Chiropractic care can tackle these issues without disturbing the area where you received surgical treatment.
The demands of modern life trigger many spinal issues. Every patient develops symptoms for different reasons, but common culprits include:
Automobile accidents
Work-related injuries
Fall-related injuries
Pregnancy or other medical conditions
Frequent use of electronics or digital devices
Heavy lifting
Emotional stress
Obesity
Physical activities, including yard work, sports, and exercise routines
It's difficult to avoid every potentially damaging activity. Some of our patients visit us after pulling a muscle while vacuuming or mopping. You can also damage your spine by sleeping on the wrong type of mattress or pillow.
Both Chiropractors and Physiotherapists specialise in the musculoskeletal system, with the goal of restoring health, function and overall well-being. Both use manual therapy techniques in their treatment protocols and their fields of interest overlap. Does this make them the same? No, while their fields of interest do overlap, they are both different kinds of practitioners.
The table below describes the differences and similarities between the two:
Neither Chiropractors nor Physiotherapists should be considered to be superior. Both are skilled professionals. In all professions there are good practitioners and bad practitioners, the same applies with Chiropractors and Physiotherapists. It is important to find a practitioner that works well with you and keeps your goals and priorities in mind when compiling your treatment plan. Physiotherapists and Chiropractors can work very well together, and one should always have both in your spectrum of health care practitioners, as you do with a GP, dermatologist, gynaecologist, etc
Have a question that isn't listed? Contact us so we can help.