Frequently Asked Questions

Spinal manipulation involves a carefully applied, high speed, low amplitude thrust to the spinal / vertebral joint that moves it past its current end of range but not past its anatomical limit. While all the mechanisms of manipulation are not fully understood, substantial evidence demonstrates that spinal manipulation stimulate paraspinal muscle reflexes adjacent to the joint, reducing tension and restoring normal muscle activity, whilst also affecting the inflow of sensory information to the central nervous system, increasing pain tolerance or its threshold.

This serves to restore biomechanical function, in simple terms the joints and muscles move in a more natural, aligned manner, the local blood and nerve supply improve and the area functions better, moving the tissue towards a state of recovery. This may have an effect further up or down the chain of joints making up our spinal column, reducing compensatory muscle tension and joint dysfunction.

Chiropractors specifically use what are termed short lever techniques which enables them to be as specific as possible in terms of joint contact and line of drive, whilst limiting strain on surrounding tissue, and the term ‘adjustment’ is often used in practice when describing manipulation by a Chiropractor.

Treatment involves hands-on-care (manipulation, mobilization, soft tissue work) to improve joint mobility and muscle movement. The aim of treatment is to reduce pain and inflammation, as well as mechanical stress / strain on overloaded muscles, joints and nerves, thus improving movement and function.

The primary treatment used by a Chiropractor is manipulation, also referred to as an adjustment, but each treatment is tailored to the individual’s needs, with a package of care that may include spinal manipulation or joint mobilization, soft tissue massage and exercises, as an example.

In certain cases, very little hands-on treatment may be necessary, and lifestyle factors coupled with a concise exercise program may be of greater benefit – we will always discuss the best option for your particular complaint.

Specific exercise instruction is discussed with every patient with the intent of reconditioning associated weak / injured muscles, speeding up recovery time and reducing the risk of possible recurrence. All the Practitioners at the Romsey Chiropractic Clinic are passionate about injury prevention and individual self-management advice about lifestyle, work and exercise habits is strongly promoted.

Currently, the understanding of the cracking sound or audible release from a spinal manipulation is a result of what is known as cavitation.  When a joint is separated enough (within its natural range) there is a large reduction in pressure compared to atmospheric pressure. This causes gases to escape from the synovial fluid within the joint (synovial fluid provides for a friction free surface and nourishes the joint) forming a bubble; a momentary vacuum.  The contents in this vacuum are water vapor, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.  That bubble quickly collapses, causing the cracking sound.

In the majority of cases, no, but many factors, such as the pain levels you are experiencing prior to seeing us, your age, fitness levels and emotional state may influence how you respond initially. The various techniques used during treatment and how well you follow the advice given can also vary how you feel after your first visit. A small minority of people may find their symptoms increase temporarily, but the great majority of these go on to experience relief. Possible side-effects may include a temporary increase in pain, muscle stiffness and headache. It is important to remember that many people first seek care to relieve a painful condition and are in a lot of discomfort at the outset. We will always strive to make you as comfortable as possible both during the examination and treatment – please feel free to discuss any concerns you may have.

This is dependent on what your complaint is, how long you have suffered with it, and whether or not there are complicating factors such as disc, ligament or nerve involvement. Generally, most patients experience up to 75% symptomatic relief within 3-5 treatments (RCC Clinical Audit 2018), whilst more severe cases might require a bit more work. A Pro-active approach and following the advice and exercise recommendations generally achieve quicker outcomes. It would be extremely rare for a complaint to be instantly ‘fixed’ in one visit – a recommended treatment plan would be discussed with you at your first appointment, along with expected outcomes in terms of recovery, and self-management advice to speed the process along.

Some patients benefit from periodic care / check-ups every 3 or 4 months, which we like to call an ‘MOT’. This is not necessary in many cases, but we are happy to provide this service to those that request and would benefit from it, helping to manage and maintain their improvement following the initial short course of treatment. This is not a replacement for following lifestyle advice or exercise, and many patients find they get a light telling off if they have slipped back into old detrimental habits or let their exercises lapse. Recent research – ‘The Nordic Maintenance Care Program, Eklund et al (2020) ‘supports the use of episodic care for sub-groups of patients suffering with recurrent and persistent low back pain’, whilst further research is ongoing.