Chiropractic is a drug-free, non-surgical approach to the management of mechanical disorders of the spine and joints, and the affect that these might have on your overall health and wellbeing.

Chiropractors are trained to diagnose, manage and prevent conditions affecting the "neuromusculoskeletal system" - problems with the bones, joints, and muscles  - and the effect that they have on the nervous system. Whilst they are best known for the management of back and neck pain, chiropractors are also trained to manage a wide range of problems affecting other joints and soft tissues of the body.

"Chiropractic does not involve the use of drugs or surgery"

Chiropractic means 'done by hand' and chiropractors are trained to perform careful, precise manipulation (an 'adjustment') to free stiff or restricted joints. Manipulation, which involves the application of a quick manual thrust to a restricted joint, can be accompanied by a popping sound (similar to the 'crack' heard  when people flex their knuckles). This is simply the sound of gas bubbles popping in the fluid of the joints as pressure is released.

Treatment may also include various techniques such as soft tissue work, massage, stretching, and joint mobilisation. At the Llangefni Chiropractic Clinic, we're trained in Myofascial Dry Needling (a form of medical acupuncture) used to manage a range of soft tissue and pain syndromes.

Self-help advice and rehabilitative care form an important part of chiropractic treatment. This may involve the application of ice or heat to reduce pain and inflammation. You may also be given advice on activity, posture and specific exercises to help aid the recovery and prevent recurrence of your complaint, restoring function and correcting poor movement patterns. Not only will this help to prevent your problem from recurring, but it can enhance your overall health and wellbeing.

The History of Chiropractic

Written records from the ancient Greek and Chinese civilizations, dating back several thousand years, refer to spinal manipulation.  The inception of modern chiropractic can be traced back to 1895 when Canadian Daniel David Palmer performed the first chiropractic adjustment and went on to found The Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa in 1897.

The 20th century saw the growth and development of the profession worldwide, gaining recognition and respect for the place it has taken in the primary care environment.  Influential research has underpinned the development of the profession and has come both within and outside of the chiropractic research communities.

Chiropractic is unique in that the profession is organised internationally and there are international standards for education.

Regulation of Chiropractic

_In common with medical practitioners and dentists, all chiropractors are registered by law under the Chiropractors Act 1994 and the title ‘Chiropractor’ is protected under this legislation.  The profession is statutorily regulated through the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) and it is illegal to practise as a chiropractor without being registered with the GCC.