According to the World Federation of Chiropractic, chiropractic is defined as a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on the nervous system and general health. There is an emphasis on manual treatments including spinal adjustment and other joint and soft tissue manipulation.

Doctors of chiropractic are concerned with all joints of the body including the limbs and are a highly appropriate resource in matters of:

• work-place safety;
• stress management;
• injury prevention;
• postural correction and
• Nutritional counselling.

Hence they also play an important role in preventative or wellness care.

Your first visit will include the following:

• Filling in some forms about your problem and your lifestyle;
• A consultation with the chiropractor to obtain a detailed history of your problem(s), including past problems, illnesses and general health as well as relevant family health history
• A thorough examination including orthopaedic, neurologic and chiropractic tests pertinent to your case will be performed
• A diagnosis and treatment plan will be explained to you at this point. If further information is required before a diagnosis can be made then you may be referred for an X-ray, MRI or laboratory tests to determine your diagnosis.

Treatment is usually given on your first visit. If you are, however, waiting for further test results, treatment will be given once the final diagnosis has been made.

If your problem is not best treated with Chiropractic, a referral will be made to a more appropriate therapist or Specialist.

Anyone can benefit from chiropractic treatment including: newborns, toddlers, children, teenagers, adults, pregnant mothers, and the elderly.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanning is a medical investigation that uses an exceptionally strong magnet and radio frequency waves to generate images of your body.

MRI is one of the most sophisticated diagnostic tools available to help your referring clinician understand the cause of your particular health issue.

By scanning the relevant sector(s) of a patient’s body, a radiologist studying the scan can accurately diagnose the following:

• Most ailments of the brain, including tumours and dementias
• Sports injuries
• Musculoskeletal problems
• Most spinal conditions/injuries
• Vascular abnormalities
• Female pelvic problems
• Prostate problems
• Some gastro-intestinal tract conditions
• Certain ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions
• Soft tissue and bone pathology / conditions

Chiropractors can refer for MRI for all Musculoskeletal, sporting injuries and limb complaints. If you require MRI for any other condition, you will be referred to your GP or a consultant that we work alongside who then can refer you for the appropriate MRI scan.

Most people can have MRI however, due to the powerful magnetic force involved in producing an MRI scan, certain individuals will not be scanned.

You must not have an MRI scan if you have:

• a cardiac (heart) pacemaker
• certain clips in your head from brain operations, i.e. aneurysm clips
• a cochlear (ear) implant
• a metallic foreign body in your eye
• had surgery in the last 12 weeks
• a programmable shunt for hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain).

Unless it is an emergency, you should not have an MRI scan if you are pregnant or have had surgery within the last three months.