Chiropractors can register a patient for ACC cover for an injury that has occurred as a result of an accident. Many health insurance companies will pay for chiropractic treatment.

The first consultation takes, on average, about 30 to 40 minutes, and a treatment session about 10 to 20 minutes, but this will vary according to your condition and your needs.

You recovery is dependent on many factors – the problem, the length of time you have had it and your own commitment to any rehabilitative exercises and maintenance visits which your chiropractor may recommend.

An average course of treatment may entail six or eight visits over three or four weeks, but every case is assessed individually, and it is important to keep your appointments, and make regular visits. Discuss this with your chiropractor, who will explain your treatment programme to you.

When two surfaces of a joint are moved apart rapidly, as happens in a chiropractic adjustment, there is a change of pressure within the joint space. This may sometimes cause a bubble of gas to “pop” – but this sound is not significant and does not hurt.

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

Manipulation (chiropractor’s use the term adjustment), when carried out correctly by a qualified practitioner, is not painful. If you have acute muscle spasm, when even the lightest touch hurts, there may be some discomfort. Sometimes, if you have had a problem for some time, you may feel sore whilst your body starts to adjust. Your chiropractor will tell you if this is likely to happen.

Yes. The strength of chiropractic is that it can help prevent discomfort, pain and even disease, and is suitable for everyone. It is entirely appropriate to visit a chiropractor even if you have no pain, as restrictions in movement can often be detected before symptoms appear, just as regular visits to the dentist can help to prevent toothache.

Yes, people of all ages can benefit from chiropractic care, although treatment techniques of the newborn obviously differ dramatically from those of adults. It is a good idea to have babies checked soon after birth. Any spinal or joint problems can then be dealt with early on before they cause further health problems. Talk to your chiropractor to find out more.

Children are always getting into trouble and falling or bumping into things. This can cause a child’s spine to misalign, causing problems, which at first might not seem to have anything to do with the spine. On the other hand misalignment of the child’s spine may not show any symptoms until later in life, so it is a good idea to have the kids checked by a chiropractor.

Yes, chiropractic treatment is suitable and safe throughout the pregnancy, during labour and after giving birth. Chiropractic care can help with common problems associated with pregnancy such as pain in the back, pelvis and rib cage, and it can make labour easier through the balancing effect it has on the joints and ligaments.

There are differences in technique and approach, as well as some similarities. The important factor is that the practitioner is well-qualified. Both professions now have statutory regulation.

The World Health Organization states that when “employed skillfully and appropriately, chiropractic care is safe and effective for the prevention and management of a number of health problems.” Chiropractic is remarkably safe when treatment is carried out by a properly qualified practitioner, much safer than taking painkillers or many other treatments for you problem. Chiropractic is the world’s third largest health care profession after medicine and dentistry and over the past 100 years millions of people have found help from chiropractic care. Your chiropractor is trained to recognise conditions which require referral elsewhere, and can treat you even after surgery.

Your chiropractor has treated you, so allowing your body to heal, but if you have to continue the lifestyle which caused the original condition, your chiropractor may recommend regular check-ups or treatment.

Yes. You cannot properly control a manipulation to yourself and your relief may only be temporary.

You are more likely to be “cracking” the wrong joint, since movement in the affected one will be restricted. Please consult your chiropractor!