Frequent Asked Questions and Scientific Evidence

Frequently Asked Questions and Evidence

How can chiropractic treatments benefit you at London City Chiro-practice and Friern Barnet & North London Chiro-Practice?

• Alleviate discomfort
• Help you to reduce and manage back pain, neck pain, joint pain and headaches
• Help you to return to normal activities and sports
• Avoid recurrence through patient empowerment
• Promote good health and wellbeing

What should I expect in the first visit with the Chiropractor at London City Chiro-Practice and Friern Barnet & North London Chiro-Practice?

The consultation can take up to an hour. Please, read more...

Chiropractic - How does it work?

Chiropractors are concerned with the framework of bones and muscles that support the body (‘the musculoskeletal system’). Some musculoskeletal problems can be caused by accidents, stress, lack of exercise, poor posture, illness, and everyday wear and tear. These problems may cause pressure on the nerves in the body.

Depending on your condition, the chiropractor may manipulate parts of your spine or joints and give you advice on exercise, self-help, diet and lifestyle. Some chiropractors also offer rehabilitation programmes. Manipulation involves precisely handling or moving joints or parts of the spine, sometimes moving them further than they would normally move. (Extract from the pamphlet ‘What can I expect when I see a chiropractor?’ published by the General Chiropractic Council). Please, read more...

Will my Doctor approve Chiropractic Care?

Increasingly, GPs are recognising chiropractic as an effective complementary treatment, particularly for back pain. You do not need a GP’s referral to visit a chiropractor.

What are the involved costs for the first visit and follow-up chiropractic treatments?

Involved costs for London City Chiro-Practice

Involved costs for Friern Barnet & north London Chiro-Practice

Can I get Chiropractic treatment on the NHS?

Some GPs purchase chiropractic treatment for their patients on the NHS. Many health insurance companies will now pay for chiropractic and physiotherapy treatments. Our chiropractors and physiotherapists are registered with most private medical insurances, including AXA and BUPA.

Have I got a trapped nerve or a slipped disc?

These are common, general terms used to describe a multitude of conditions. Our chiropractors will make a more specific diagnosis and explain your condition to you.

Will the treatment hurt?

Chiropractic treatments are usually painless unless an area is inflamed, in which case treatment will be modified. You may experience some temporary reaction to treatment, such as a slight increase in discomfort or tiredness for a day or so.

How many times do I need to visit a Chiropractor at London City or Friern Barnet Chiro-Practice?

This will depend on your particular condition, how severe it is, how long you have had the condition, your response to treatment, and how much of your chiropractor’s advice you follow.

Is chiropractic safe? Even if I've already had surgery?

Chiropractic is remarkably safe when treatment is carried out by a properly qualified practitioner. Our practitioners are trained to recognise conditions which require referral elsewhere and can treat you even after surgery.

Is there scientific evidence that chiropractic works?

There is a range of evidence demonstrating that chiropractic care is effective for low back pain, neck pain, and other conditions. Summaries of some of the most significant evidence, with detailed documents and articles, can be found in the following links:

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produces guidelines for health professionals, helping them provide the most effective care for their patients.

NICE guidance is based on evidence and is reviewed regularly. Low back pain is one of the most common reasons for visiting a chiropractor, and the NICE Low Back Pain and Sciatica Guideline ‘NG59’ provides clear recommendations for managing low back pain with or without sciatica, which always includes exercise and may include manual therapy (spinal manipulation, mobilisation or soft tissue techniques such as massage) as part of a treatment package, with or without psychological therapy.

Mobilisation and soft tissue techniques are performed by a wide variety of practitioners, whereas spinal manipulation is usually performed by chiropractors or osteopaths, and by doctors or physiotherapists who have undergone additional training in manipulation.

The evidence base for the care chiropractors provide (Clar et al, 2014) is common to that for physiotherapists and osteopaths in respect of musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. Thus, like physiotherapists and osteopaths, chiropractors provide care for a wide range of MSK problems.

Clinical and cost-effectiveness of manual therapy for the management of a variety of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review and narrative synthesis (2013)

The Effectiveness of manual therapies: the UK evidence report (2010)

26 categories of conditions were located, containing RCT evidence for the use of manual therapy: 13 musculoskeletal conditions (Back pain, neck pain or joint pain), four types of chronic headache and nine non-musculoskeletal conditions. They identified 49 recent relevant systematic reviews and 16 evidence-based clinical guidelines plus an additional 46 RCTs not yet included in systematic reviews and guidelines.

Early Management of Persistent Low Back Pain: NHS National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence: CG88 (2009)

They concluded to consider a course of manual therapy, including spinal manipulation, comprising up to a maximum of nine sessions over a period of up to 12 weeks for patients suffering from persistent low back pain.

European Commission Research Directorate General (2004) European Guidelines for the management of acute non-specific low back pain in primary care

They recommended giving adequate information and reassure to the patient, to not prescribe bed rest as a treatment, to advise patients to stay active and continue normal daily activities including work if possible, to prescribe medication, if necessary for pain relief; preferably to be taken at regular intervals; first choice paracetamol, second choice NSAIDs, to consider adding a short course of muscle relaxants on its own or added to NSAIDs if paracetamol or NSAIDs have failed to reduce pain and finally to consider to be a referral for spinal manipulation for patients who are failing to return to normal activities.

European Guidelines for the management of chronic non-specific back pain (CLBP)

For conservative treatment, they concluded that Cognitive behavioural therapy, supervised exercise therapy, brief educational interventions, and multidisciplinary (bio-psycho-social) treatment can each be recommended for non-specific CLBP. Back schools (for short-term improvement), and short courses of manipulation/mobilisation can also be considered.

UK BEAM Trial Team (2004) United Kingdom back pain exercise and manipulation (UK BEAM) randomised trial: cost-effectiveness of physical treatments for back pain in primary care. BMJ 329:1381

Spinal manipulation is a cost-effective addition to "best care" for back pain in general practice. Manipulation alone probably gives better value for money than manipulation followed by exercise.

London City | Friern Barnet | North London Chiropractic Care, Manual & Exercise Therapies