What to expect
On your first visit we will sit down with you and discuss your current health situation to assess whether you are a good candidate for chiropractic care or if not, determine who the right person is to help you. If we think we can help you we will conduct a thorough examination. We will look at how you bend and move, palpate your spine and look at your posture. We use specialised technology to scan the muscles and temperature of your spine. All of our testing should be comfortable. This information helps us identify the cause or causes of your problem. Often we can start care on this visit. Sometimes, depending on your condition and the results of our tests, we may need to refer you for x-rays or occasionally CT or MRI imaging. X-rays are typically not required with children. We will know at this visit whether or not these tests are required before care can begin. You should allow 45 minutes for your first visit.
Your second visit We will explain in detail what we found on your first visit in a way that is easy to understand and give you information to take home. You will receive care that is specific to your needs. During this consultation we will also thoroughly explain what we can do to help, how long it may take and how much it will cost. If any X-rays or other imaging has been done we will go through these with you. You should allow 30 minutes for your second visit.
Regular Visits A regular visit will be much shorter, but is just as important! We will continue to monitor and discuss any changes and repeat a few important tests that showed up in your initial examination to document your improvements. Your care could involve spinal adjustments with activator or manual, techniques to release muscles or NET. Some special follow-up visits may take up to 30 minutes. These include Progress Examinations - where a more detailed review of your progress is performed. Most follow-up visits though only take about 10 minutes. We respect your time and in most cases will see you at or very close to your scheduled appointment time.
Who should receive chiropractic care?
Anyone with a spine and nervous system! You are never too young or too old, from newborns, all the way through to the elderly, chiropractic is an excellent addition to your health. Pregnant mothers, patients with osteoporosis or had spinal surgery can benefit from chiropractic care. The technique selected will be best suited to your age, size and condition. At Innate Chiropractic it is our goal to offer you the highest quality chiropractic care. Whether that’s for injury recovery or maintenance care we recognise that everyone is different, everyone has different preferences and different health goals. We adapt our care to exactly what will work best for you.
Why do children need chiropractic?
We believe that every child should have the opportunity for an optimal start to life, which is why we recommend children are checked by an experienced chiropractor from birth. As spinal damage and stress can occur at birth, children should be checked for subluxations. Paediatric adjustments are safe and very gentle. Depending on their age and size, their adjustments often require no more pressure than you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato. Parents bring their children to chiropractors for feeding attachment issues, difficulty in turning their heads, tongue-ties and lip-ties, concerns with head shape, digestive disturbances, colic, disturbed sleep patterns, or repeated sickness.
I am pregnant, can I see a chiropractor?
Absolutely! Our chiropractors are specifically trained and experienced in providing gentle care for expecting women during all stages of pregnancy. Regular chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy may relieve pain and tension, create better birth outcomes, and help your body guide your unborn baby into an optimal position for labour.
What is an adjustment?
An adjustment is a very specific force given to your spine to help your body correct a subluxation. There are many ways to “adjust” the spine. Some methods use the doctor’s hands, an instrument, a special table, light touch or the force of gravity. With your subluxation corrected your nervous system is better able to function and in turn the rest of your body and mind.
Are adjustments safe?
Adjustments are “remarkably safe” according to the New Zealand Government’s landmark Commission of Inquiry into Chiropractic. In fact, Chiropractic care is safer than having back surgery, driving your car or taking an aspirin.
Does it hurt?
The process of having your spine adjusted is very safe and gentle. Chiropractors have years of training and our practitioners have years of experience. Generally speaking adjustments are a relaxing gentle process. Some spinal areas can be tender with extra stress, injury or degenerative conditions and our care is modified to ensure the spinal adjustments are as comfortable as possible. In some cases inflamed or injured tissue may cause discomfort during adjustments, it all depends on the condition of the area we need to get functioning better. Tenderness is common as your body begins to heal itself.
How many adjustments will I need?
The number of visits varies with each patient and his or her individual health goals. Often frequent visits are recommended initially for maximum benefit. The focus of this primary phase of care is to stabilize and improve the function of your spine and nervous system as quickly as possible. As your spine stabilizes, visits become less often. A range of tests are performed at your initial consultation. Your chiropractor uses the results of these tests, your health history, your age and any x-ray findings to help determine the level of care required for you to get the very best results. For some a “check-up” is once a week for others once a month. Cultivating and preserving health as opposed to only treating illness and injury.
How long until I feel better?
Many factors can affect the healing process. Age, degree of damage to the spine, quality & quantity of rest & exercise, and nutrition are just some of the factors. Some notice changes almost immediately. Others discover it can take many weeks, months or even years, especially in chronic cases. Progress examinations are held at regular intervals to make sure that you are on track. Many patients choose chiropractic as part of a healthy lifestyle and continue to have regular chiropractic checks, thus maintaining the health of their spine and nervous system. How one person progresses through care can be very much different from the next.
What are the benefits of receiving chiropractic care?
The results from chiropractic are different for every person. Many people notice benefits such as:
Greater energy and vitality
Greater flexibility, strength and muscle coordination
Improved posture
Greater emotional well being
Decreased muscle tension
Better concentration
Improved sleep
Higher productivity and performance
Greater ability to cope with stress
Reduced spinal degeneration or ‘wear & tear’
What’s the difference between a chiropractor, osteopath and a physiotherapist?
The most important thing to know here is that each profession is vastly different. A chiropractor’s expertise is the spine, the nervous system, and how it affects the rest of the body. We have 5 years of tertiary training to enable us to locate areas of nervous system interference and clear it so that the body and the brain are able to communicate more effectively. Because philosophies and practices do vary so much from practitioner to practitioner, you’re best to ask a few different practitioners from each of the three fields to get a greater understanding.
Do you cover ACC?
Yes. If you have had an injury we can set up an ACC claim for you. You do not need to go to a GP first. We do it all here.
Do I need a referral?
No, not at all. Chiropractors are recognised as primary health care providers allowing you to see us immediately, without a referral from your GP.
How much will it cost?
This depends on the amount of damage to your spine and the frequency of care necessary to get things functioning better. Several fee options are available to make chiropractic care more affordable for families.
What is a Subluxation?
A vertebral subluxation is the improper motion or position of the moving bones of the spine (vertebrae) which interfere with the nerve messages between the brain and the body. The delicate nerves exiting the spine can be irritated, stretched and sometimes compressed or pinched. Joints that stop working properly also stop sending the correct information to your brain. This effects the way the brain processes and integrates information. This maladaptive process has knock on affects in your health from muscle weakness, joint control problems, balance and how your body can self-regulate, self-organise, adapt, repair and heal. Even with this nerve interference most subluxations exist without obvious pain or discomfort.
How do I know I have a subluxation?
Most subluxations produce no pain or symptoms at all. The best way to know if you have one is to get your spine checked by a Chiropractor. Postural imbalances such as one ear or shoulder higher than the other can suggest the presence of a subluxation, for others it can be dizziness, balance problems or clumsiness. Headaches, Back Pain, Sciatica, Numbness and Tingling, repeating injuries, could also be signs of unresolved subluxations in the body. One common sign that you could have subluxations is walking through a doorway and knocking your elbow or shoulder on the way through. You knew that the doorway was there but because your brain wasn’t accurately receiving the correct signals from your environment due to interference in your nervous system, you misjudge the task, and you knock your shoulder against the frame.
What causes subluxations?
Subluxations are caused by stresses (or forces) that your body cannot adapt to. Physical stress — such as injuries, falls, the birth process, lifting children, school bags, car accidents, sports, prolonged abnormal postures or even subtle repetitive movements. Chemical stress — alcohol, toxins, additives and chemicals in food, tobacco smoke, medication, coffee, and other pollutants in our environment. Emotional stress — family conflict, arguments, finances, personal traumas, work pressure, life or career changes, grief, anger, shame etc.
How can I minimise subluxations in my body?
There are a number of ways to minimise the severity of subluxations in your body and reduce the likelihood of them occurring. Some avoidable causes of subluxations include poor posture, a soft unsupportive bed, incorrect pillow height, a badly set up work station, high heels, dehydration, stress, poor lifting techniques etc. Ask your chiropractor for tips on these. Exercising, stretching, good nutrition, plenty of rest, positive thoughts, reducing stress are other ways to minimise subluxations. Unfortunately some forces or stresses the body is unable to avoid, hence why we recommend regular check ups even when you are not in pain.
Why X-ray?
X-rays provide a blueprint of the condition and alignment of your spine, detailing the amount of damage and how long it has been present.This can make your adjustments more precise. It can also help rule out other conditions which may require help from other health care professionals. If during your initial consultation it becomes apparent that you require an x-ray you will be referred to TRG imaging Greenmeadows or Wellesley Road for these.
Is my chiropractor qualified?
Chiropractors have trained for a minimum of 5 years, studying subjects such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, neurology, and radiology. All are members of the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association and attend regular seminars to continue their professional education and development.