FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

A Chiropractor and a physiotherapist are similar in many ways. Both work to improve movement and reduce pain in the body. Where they differ is, like your GP, chiropractors are primary healthcare practitioners meaning they are trained in general diagnostics. Furthermore chiropractors place more emphasis on manipulative therapy which helps to improve joint motion and coordination.

Dry needling is a western medicine modality Where a thin needle is placed directly into painful myofascial trigger points (knots) or inflamed tendons and ligaments with the intention of relieving pain, while improving healing.

Acupuncture is a treatment technique which has its foundations in traditional Chinese medicine. It uses thin needles which are placed into the body on predetermined points which follow energy meridian lines.It is used to treat many different conditions. 

There are many causes of low back pain. Most causes are mechanical in nature and involve the discs, joints and muscle of the spine and low back. However in some cases low back pain can be referred from your organs (kidneys, gallbladder, aorta etc) or caused by other more sinister conditions (cancers and infections etc). As a result it is important  to see a chiropractor who will determine the cause of your low back pain. 

There are many different causes of headaches. Many are mechanical in nature and are a result of tension and dysfunction in the muscles of the jaw, neck, shoulders and upper back and the associated joints. However, there are many other more sinister causes of headaches like high blood pressure, vascular diseases, intracranial pathologies, medication side effects, sinus issues to name a few. If you suffer from headaches or have developed a different or more severe headache or if your headache is associated with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of balance or loss of consciousness it is very important to get assessed immediately by your chiropractor or physician to determine the exact cause and appropriate treatment for your.

Sciatica is defined as pain starting in the low back that travels into the buttock and down the back of the leg. There are many causes of sciatica including disc pathologies or bony spurs in the spine which compress the sciatic nerve. It can also be caused by muscular issues of the hip joint (gluteus medius and piriformis) which lead to irritation of the sciatica nerve. Long term sciatica can be caused by central sensitization which is a process whereby mornaly non painful stimuli becomes painful due to the nervous system becoming more sensitive. Sciatica can also be associated with numbness, pins and needles and weakness of the parts of the leg. 

If you have sciatic pain which is associated with any of the following it is essential to get immediate medical attention.

  • Leg weakness-you can stand from the seated position 
  • you can’t lift your toes or heel off the ground while standing
  • You unable to pass urine or you can’t hold your urine in
  • You are unable to pass stool or you can’t hold your stool in 
  • You develop numbness around the anus and genetal region
  • Develop erectile dysfunction