Chiropractic Education
Today’s Chiropractors are highly educated health professionals. Chiropractic training involves a minimum five year full-time University course in Sydney Macquarie University, RMIT in Melbourne, Murdoch University in Perth and CQU in Brisbane; all practitioners are required by law to be registered with the federal government (AHPRA).
Dr Bailey studied completed his first three year bachelors degree alongside Medical doctors in Bio-Medicine at Griffith University Qld, before commencing Chiropractic studies at Macquarie University. Chiropractic degrees are of similar length and depth as medical courses but focus on promoting optimal health via better body function. Chiropractic education involves a special emphasis on Neurology, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Differential Diagnosis, Orthopedics, Bio-mechanics, Radiology, Adjusting Techniques, Nutrition and Rehabilitation studies.
A chiropractor’s education never ends. All Chiropractic doctors are required to take mandatory continuing professional development courses and seminars every year to upgrade and improve their skills and latest current scientific research.
Questions & Answers to Chiropractic
Is Chiropractic Care Safe?
In the words of the New Zealand government’s inquiry, chiropractic care is “remarkably safe”.
Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative approach to health that avoids invasive procedures. A thorough case history and examination helps reveal areas of the spine that may be causing nervous system malfunction. This information will be used to determine the best course of care for each patient.
Chiropractic care is a natural approach to better health that is proven safe and effective. Please feel free to discuss this matter with your chiropractor.
Are All Patients Adjusted The Same Way?
The Chiropractor evaluates each patient’s problem and develops an individual course of care. The resulting recommendations are based upon years of training and experience.
Some patients who complain of headaches, may actually have a lower back problem that is causing a compensation reaction at the base of the skull. Other patients may be experiencing numbness and tingling in their fingers, when the actual problem is in the neck. Every patient presents a uniquely different spinal pattern.
Patients notice that their chiropractor care is delivered with confidence and precision. Each visit builds on the one before. And while visits may seem similar, each patient’s care is uniquely different from every other patient.
Am I Too Old For Chiropractic Care?
More and more people are consulting chiropractic doctors, especially in their later years. With growing concerns about over-medication and the side effects of combining various prescription drugs, safe, natural chiropractic care is growing in popularity.
Restoring better spinal function can help improve mobility, vitality, endurance, and appetite.
Many patients report improvements with arthritic symptoms and other chronic ailments often associate with the ageing process.
The specialised neurology adjusting techniques Dr Bailey performs from extra training are excellent for the very young and old, giving maximum comfort and results.
What Do Chiropractic Doctors Do?
Helping to restore proper spinal bio-mechanics and improved nervous system function begins with a case history. This gives the chiropractor a background about your health, such as surgeries, accidents, the onset of your condition, and other details affecting your current health.
After reviewing your history and discussing your specific problem, thorough orthopaedic, neurological, and chiropractic examination is performed. X-rays may be taken to uncover structural and functioning problems associated with the spinal column. These examinations help identify areas of spinal malfunction and resulting nervous system deficit.
The findings of these examinations are explained and a plan of chiropractic adjustments may be recommended. Progress is monitored with periodical examinations and follow-up reports.
Since the word “doctor” comes from the Latin word meaning teacher, regardless of your chiropractic doctor’s unique clinical approach, he or she has a strong commitment to patient education.
How Does Chiropractic Work?
Chiropractic works by restoring your own inborn ability to be healthy. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all the cells, tissue, and organs of your body are designed to resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and help remove interference’s to your natural state of being healthy.
A common interference to the nervous system is the 24 moving bones of the spinal column. A loss of normal motion or position of these bones can irritate or impair the function of the nervous system. This can disrupt the transmission of controlling nerve impulses.
With improved spinal function there is often improved nervous system function. Your chiropractor can help remove any interference that may be impairing normal health.
Since the primary focus of your care is improved nervous system function, chiropractic can have a positive effect on many health conditions not normally thought of as “back” problems.
Can I Adjust Myself?
Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction, to a specific spinal joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself.
It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a “popping” sound, like the sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, often making an already unstable area of the spine even more unsteady. Adjusting the spine is not for amateurs!
The best way to enjoy the healthful benefits of chiropractic is to receive adjustments from a Chiropractor. Even your Chiropractor must seek out the service of another colleague to help restore and maintain proper spinal function.
Do I Have A Pinched Nerve?
Many patients consult a chiropractor because they have a pinched nerve.
Because of the way the spine is designed, abnormal spinal function caused from physical trauma, emotional tensions, or chemical toxins can affect the delicate tissues of the spinal cord and nerve roots.
While commonly associated with the spine, the pinched nerve (compression lesion) is actually rare. Researchers suggest that only 10% to 15% of spine related problems are caused by direct pressure of bone on nerve tissue! This can result in numbness, burning or a “pins and needles” feeling.
More frequently, nerves are irritated (facilitation lesion). This is caused when nerve tissue is rubbed, scraped, stretched by a loss of spinal curve, or irritated be malfunctioning spinal joints.
Do I Have A Slipped Disc?
Technically, a disc can’t “slip”.
The inter-vertebral disc is a pad of cartilage type material situated between spinal bones. Each disc serves as a connector, spacer, and shock absorber for the spine. A soft, jelly like centre is contained by outer layers of fibrous tissue. Healthy discs help allow normal turning and bending.
Because of the way each disc is attached to the vertebrae above and below, a disc cannot “slip”. However, trauma or injury to the spine can cause discs to tear, bulge, herniate, or worse, rupture. This can be quite painful, as the soft centre of the disc leaks, putting pressure on the adjacent nerve roots and spinal cord.
While results cannot be guaranteed, many patients have avoided surgery or a dependency on pain pills, by choosing chiropractic care for their disc related health problem.
Will Adjustments Make My Spine Too Loose?
No. Only the spinal joints that are “locked up” receive adjustments. This allows the muscles and ligaments to stabilise and heal.
Can I Have Chiropractic Care After Back Surgery?
Yes. Rest assured that your Chiropractor will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. Surgery often causes instability above or below the involved level. These areas will be the focus of your chiropractic care.
Can Patients With Osteoporosis Get Chiropractic Care?
Of course. When developing a care plan, your chiropractic doctor considers the unique circumstances of each patient. There are many ways to adjust the spine. The method selected will be suited to your age, size and condition.
How Long Until I’ll Feel Better?
Some patients experience almost instant relief. Others discover it can take many weeks or months. Many factors can affect the healing process. How long have you had your problem? Are you keeping your appointments? Are you getting the proper rest, exercise and nutrition? Do you smoke? Are you in otherwise good condition? Within a short period of time, most patients sense enough progress to fully carry out their doctor’s recommendations.
I’ve Heard Chiropractic Wears Out Your Joints.
Chiropractic care can help prevent joints from wearing out!
Bones don’t “rub” on each other. Instead, each joint is enclosed in a “capsule” of fluid that should offer a lifetime of friction-free movement. When there is a loss of proper motion or position of spinal bones, this movement can be restricted. Spinal joints above or below attempt to make up the difference by moving too much.
Obviously, areas of too much movement are left to stabilise during the healing process. Instead, chiropractic spinal adjustments are directed only to those areas that are “stuck”and not moving enough.
Any other questions?
Please contact the National Headquarters of the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia on Freecall 1800 075 003 or email nhq@caa.asn.au