What to expect from your first treatment

A full case history will be taken. This will entail a detailed description of any current complaint and a general health background.

A thorough examination of your joints, muscles nervous systems will be carried out. Through the use of a very finely tuned sense of touch misalignments in the spine and other bony structures are detected and adjusted.

If any problems requiring medical investigation or X-rays are detected, you will be referred to your GP.

How many sessions will I need?

The number of sessions will vary for each individual depending on several factors such as age, severity or nature of the problem.

Is it going to help?

Every individual is different with a different history and problems, therefore each patient will react to the treatment differently. Some patients might feel the benefit of the treatment in a short time and others might need more time to get better. The outcome will depend on the age of the patient, length and nature of the problem.

Will my problem be cured forever? What can I actively do?

A physical problem, unless caused by a traumatic event, does not occur suddenly but it is usually the result of a process which is leading to a symptom that often results in a painful sensation. Even if, after some treatments the painful sensation might subside, the elements that led to the development of the symptoms are often still present. These elements are often part of our daily life like bad posture, lack of exercise, joint instability, bad diet and other emotional and physical stressors of different nature. We can actively reduce these stressors changing our life style but often it is difficult to eliminate all of them especially the emotional ones. For this reason it is suggested to be regularly checked by your chiropractor every 4 to 6month after the initial complaint becomes stable to verify the health of your spine and of your nervous system. It is like going to visit your dentist to clean your teeth and check that no dangerous caries are developing.

 Will I need X-rays?

McTimoney Chiropractors do not take x-rays.  If we find after taking your history, orthopaedic testing and neurological testing that an x-ray or other investigation is necessary we will refer you back to your GP.

Do I need my GP’s referral?

No, you don’t. However, wherever necessary we work in co-operation with the patient’s own doctor.

Can private medical insurance cover my treatment?

Just certain types of insurances. Please check with your insurance provider before starting treatment

Do I need to bring anything with me for my consultation?

Yes, in the case you have any report of previous MRI or X-Rays taken.

What should I wear?

You may be asked to undress to your underwear so suitable attire is recommended. A dressing gown is available if required.

Am I too old for Chiropractic care?

No. Everybody may benefit from McTimoney Chiropractic. There is no age limit. Many people think that because they are older they don’t have any possibility to improve. This is not necessarily true! We can always give your body a chance to function better possibly “adding years to your life and life to your years.”

Why do I need orthotics?

Your orthotics will improve the biomechanics of your feet and consequently of the rest of your body giving you a better chance to recover and function properly. The action of these Computer Generated Orthotics are not just limited to the well being of your feet but it extend to the whole of your body.

Can orthotics improve my athletic performances?

When your body is more equilibrated it will function more efficiently. It has been studied that feet orthotics can improve athletic performances. For example, it has been studied that golf swing power was improved up to 7% in a study group of golf players wearing orthotics.

Will my posture change straight away with my orthotics?

Your body will start reacting to the orthotics straight away. However, your posture will adapt gradually and gently to the new input from your feet. It is like wearing braces. The adjustment and the changes will happen gradually and in the limit of a body ability to adapt and change.

How often shall I wear my orthotics?

As often as you can. However, initially somebody might occasionally experience some uncomfortable feeling such as muscle ache. This could be caused by the changes in your body function and posture engaging the muscles and joints differently. A muscle that was not used correctly before might be required to work more efficiently and this can be initially demanding on the body. In this case a patient can reduce the time he/she is wearing the orthotics during the day for a more gentle and gradual adaptation of the body.

Are my orthotics for life?

No. As your body posture changes you will need to update your orthotics to the new situation. That is why after about 7-8 months another gait analysis will be carried out to verify your improvements and so new orthotic will be created for the new needs.