Back pain is one of the most common ailments with as many as 60-80% of people in the UK reporting symptoms at some point in their lives. Back pain, especially lower back pain also known as lumbago, is particularly common as can be brought on by many factors including age and lifestyle.
Without the right treatment or advice, back pain can sometimes get worse and lead to more serious problems such as nerve damage or a slipped disc. We recommend treating back pain before it progresses so visiting a professional chiropractic clinic, like ours is the best option.
If you’re looking for chiropractic or physiotherapy for back pain, you’ll need to find a clinic that can provide the right treatment for your needs. In this blog, we explain all you need to know about choosing a clinic from how to find one to the treatment options they offer. Read on for all you need to know.
What is chiropractic treatment?
Chiropractic treatment is great for people experiencing problems with their spine, muscles and joints. The practitioner is called a chiropractor. Chiropractic is manly a 'hands-on' treatment, using a combination of techniques to release tight muscles and improve joint function. The chiropractor uses manipulation (small adjustments) to the joints to help improve your function- alongside life style and rehabilitative exercises to help the patient return to better function with reduction or full improvement in pain levels. We want to help you achieve your goals- whether that be playing with your grandchildren or completing the next marathon!
Common reasons you might see a Chiropractor:
● Back pain
● Neck pain
● Elbow pain
● Sports injuries
● Sciatica
Factors to consider when finding a chiropractor
There are a few factors that you should consider when looking for a chiropractor. Not only will this help narrow down your search, but you’ll be able to find someone that matches your requirements. Here are some of the top factors you should consider:
Location
Finding a clinic local to you is much more convenient than having to travel and if your back pain has restricted your ability to drive, this can make it difficult. You probably aren’t aware of the chiropractor services near you if you haven’t needed them before, but there are many independent clinics in most cities.
Treatment options
There’s no point going to a chiropractor who doesn’t specialise in the type of treatment you need so if you have an idea about the type of help you need- call the clinic to see if they use the type of treatment you think you want.
At Hillsborough chiropractic clinic we tend to use Techniques called Diversified Technique, Drop technique, Blocking and mobilisation. We may also use the activator for more fragile spines which would not suit Diversified technique (eg: osteoporosis of the spine)
Here at The Hillsborough Chiropractic Clinic, we offer a range of treatments in Sheffield. Our experienced team can help from joint pain, lower back pain, shoulder complaints, minor sports injuries and neck pain. We also believe that to recover fully, clients often need to reevaluate their lifestyles too. Our home care advice includes exercises that can be done at home or the gym as well as other measures that can be used to aid recovery. For more information, get in touch with the clinic today.
How much does a chiropractor cost?
The cost of chiropractic appointments will depend on what part of the country you are in and whether you are attending for your first consultation- this usually requires a longer time being booked to allow time to take a thorough history and examination before commencing treatment. Sport massage prices and other similar services usually cost anywhere from £30 to £80 per session, but this will be made clear before you start your treatment. Please see our home page for a list of our prices.
Finding a local chiropractor
Since chiropractic treatment can be used for a variety of problems, you need to find a chiropractor that’s most compatible with your problem. You’ll need to do a little research beforehand to ensure that the clinic you choose is professional and trusted - medical treatment is serious so taking your time when finding a clinic will provide the right care.
In this section, we explain how to go about finding a good chiropractor.
Research
If you’ve never been to a chiropractor before then you’ll need to do some research to find a good clinic. One very useful resource is the British Chiropractic Association database where you can find a local chiropractor based on your city of postcode. Once that has been filtered you’ll be given a list of nearby clinics and practitioners that have been verified by the association. You should then take a look at their website and find out more about the services they offer and how the clinic is run.
Recommendations
If members of your family or your friends have recently undergone chiropractic treatment their recommendations can be extremely valuable as they’ll give you an honest overview of their experience. Generally speaking, if more than one person has had a positive experience with someone then you will too.
If you want to be entirely sure that the specialist you’re going to is trusted, asking for recommendations is a good place to start. Arranging an appointment with your GP allows you to explain your symptoms and they can then recommend local chiropractors who can help. One way to phrase this question is: "If someone in your family needed a chiropractor, who would you recommend?".
Reviews
Anything to do with your health needs to be considered carefully. Looking at reviews is a great way of finding learning about the experiences of previous clients and their treatment. Simply search for the clinic or practitioners name on the internet and see what comes up - you can also check their social media platform such as their Facebook page. If you notice a common theme of negative reviews, this is definitely a cause for concern so keep an eye out. Equally, regularly, good feedback is an indicator that the clinic is professional and trustworthy.
First impressions
During your initial consultation, it’s important that you feel 100% comfortable with the chiropractor. Since chiropractic treatment involves physical contact, you must feel comfortable enough to be able to relax with this person every session. If anything during the first session makes you feel uneasy or your questions are not being answered to your satisfaction, consider meeting another chiropractor within that clinic. Finding someone who makes you feel comfortable will make the entire experience a lot better.
Top questions to ask a chiropractor
Throughout your search for a chiropractor, get clued up on everything you need to know about your treatment and what they can offer.
However, be warned that many of the treatments that you see on you-tube are often not the way that a chiropractor in the UK would work. We have often had requests for certain types of treatments that someone has seen on you-tube- however, we do not use some of those techniques as we do not consider them a safe option for our patients. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, any professional chiropractor should be more than happy to answer your queries. Here are some important questions you can ask:
● How long have you been a chiropractor?
● How much experience do you have with my type of symptoms?
● What course of treatment would you recommend for me and how for how long?
● What happens if the treatment does not help my symptoms?
The Hillsborough Chiropractic Clinic: Your local chiropractor in Sheffield
If you’re suffering from joint and muscle problems that are impacting your day to day life, you need a professional chiropractor who can help. Here at The Hillsborough Chiropractic Clinic in Sheffield, we’re on hand to find the right treatment for your symptoms.
From physiotherapy for back pain to sports massage for fitness-related complaints, our experienced massage therapist will target your areas of concern to prevent further injury and pain. We're dedicated to helping you find the right treatment, so if we believe you require more investigations we will always refer you to your GP. Every treatment we offer will be explained fully and we are always upfront about our costs.
For more information about our services, get in touch today and improve your physical health.
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