Chiropractic is a profession which specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions which are due to mechanical dysfunction of the joints and their effects on the nervous system.

Chiropractors use their hands to adjust the joints of your spine and extremities where signs of restriction in movement are found, improving mobility and relieving pain.

This treatment is known as 'adjustment' or 'manipulation'.

Poor, inadequate or incorrect function in the spine can cause irritation of the nerves that control our posture and movement. This spinal nerve stress (which may be caused by factors such as accident, poor diet, lack of exercise, poor posture and anxiety) can lead to the symptoms of discomfort, pain and even disease which are a warning that your body is not functioning properly.

By manipulating joints, chiropractors stimulate the joint movement receptors - your body's position sensors which provide feedback to the brain on where the joint is in space. This stimulation can affect the way your nervous system works.

Depending on where the nerve irritation has occurred in your spine, your symptoms may include the following:

headache or migraine
neck pain
back pain
chest or abdominal pain
shoulder, arm, wrist and hand problems
leg, knee, ankle and foot problems

This is because the irritation of the nerve in one area can sometimes lead to pain (known as 'referred' pain) in other parts of the body. Painful symptoms are a warning sign which should not be ignored; your chiropractor is trained to diagnose the cause, and if indicated treat using manipulation. Chiropractors do not prescribe drugs or use surgical procedures.

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