Tamworth Chiropractor, Osteopath, Physiotherapist and Acupuncture. Do they all treat back pain ?
John Williams
August 21, 2006
Back Pain is so common these days, but who do you visit when you need help?
Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors and Acupuncture are among the most popular choices and they all suggest they are well equipped to treat back pain.
Lets look at them in isolation.
Osteopaths are a regulated profession under the umbrella of the General Osteopathic Council who ensure a strict code of conduct and high level of training. Osteopaths are highly skilled in spinal disorders and low back pain. Sciatica, trapped nerves, stiff necks, muscle twinges and slipped or bulging discs are common ailments treated by Osteopathy. Osteopathic treatment is gentle and can be used on new born babies in the form of cranial osteopathy.
Your Osteopath should have excellent diagnostic skills and an advanced sense of touch called palpation skills. The hands of the osteopath are used to feel the tissues and sense that everything is in correct alignment and that spinal segments are moving correctly. Soft tissue work and massage are an integral part of the treatments for most osteopaths however should spinal adjustments or manipulations be required, your osteopath will discuss and agree this with you before making the corrections needed.
Osteopaths are trained to check suitability for manipulations as some groups are high risk, especially for manipulations of the neck. A special test is commonly used to determine possible restrictions of blood supply to the brain. A positive VBI test should prevent anyone from performing a neck manipulation as it is possible to cause a stroke.
As Osteopaths have a variety of treatment options available to them, they can offer so much more than manipulation. Articulation and gentle mobilisation can often free a locked joint without having to perform High Velocity Thrusts ( cracking of the joints).
In the Tamworth Staffordshire area there are excellent Osteopaths with experienced practitioners to treat your back or neck pain
Visit the website of Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth www.atlaspainrelief.com
Physiotherapists
All Physiotherapists must be on the register of the Health Professions Council which is their regulatory body.
Physiotherapists have long been treating low back pain and musculo skeletal disorders. Many are found in private practice but the majority are employed by the NHS. Physiotherapists can opt to specialise in different areas of recovery such as Neuro Rehab for stroke victims.
Although causes and treatment of back pain is taught to physiotherapists, if this is not an area of work they complete their training in, the physiotherapist may be lacking in experience of treating back pain. Other physiotherapists may specialise in low back pain and be more suitable.
Physiotherapy uses electrotherapy as well as hands on treatments and often prescribes corrective exercises for poor posture and strengthening. Physiotherapists are generally the gold standard in rehabilitation and exercise prescription.
There are excellent Physiotherapists in Tamworth with many years of experience treating low back pain and they can be found at Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth. www.atlaspainrelief.com
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has always struggled to attract the support of many people because it involves sticking needles in you. Our basic fear of needles probably goes back to injections administered to us as a child. Although the acupuncture needles are very fine and hardly noticed when inserted, there is this body of resistance in some peoples minds about needles.
Acupuncture is a profession which can offer a 3 year degree programme of in depth training or a weekend basic training workshop, and as such has no protected title, which means anyone with little experience can call themselves an acupuncturist.
Acupuncture claims to treat many ailments and this includes low back pain. Many people have received good results from treatments of back pain by acupuncture which is mostly painless and non invasive compared to other forms of treatment. Generally very little clothing needs to be removed during the treatment which patients can find comforting.
Acupuncture from a well experienced 3 year trained practitioner is available at Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth.
Chiropractors
Chiropractors are trained for the same period as Osteopaths which is a 5 year training period. There are 2 types of Chiropractor and they couldn't be more different in approach and style.
Firstly the Mctimoney Chiropractors who offer a very gentle form of treatment which is totally safe with very little side effects after treatment. The spinal adjustments performed are more of a flicking action performed at incredible speed but with very light pressure. Treatment times tend to be much longer than that of their Chiropractic cousins and much emphasis is put into the case history and collecting a thorough in depth picture of the health of their patient.
The main body of Chiropractors are trained mostly in Bournmouth and perform spinal manipulations with High Velocity Thrusts. This in some cases can lead to pain and discomfort if spinal ligaments are stretched during the cracking of your neck or back.
Osteopaths as well as Chiropractors can cause irritation to spinal ligaments, however if the practitioner is careful and uses minimal force with good technique, no discomfort is necessary. In contrast the Mctimoney chiropractor patients very rarely suffer any discomfort during or after treatment due to a totally different method of adjustment.
Chiropractors are well known for their back and neck cracking and if asked "who treats back pain" the public would probably mention the name chiropractors. Treatment times vary between chiropractors but generally you may get 15 minutes or less with some, and up to an hour with others if you see a McTimoney chiropractor.
Chiropractors have awarded themselves the title of "Doctor" which should not be confused with a GP as Chiropractors in England are not medically trained.
Why Chiropractors have chosen to do this is uncertain but it can lead to an element of confusion. The understanding appears to be that the title "doctor" is not a protected title and anyone can use the term.
All the professions treat back pain but generally the approach is different thats all. Every profession will have its supporters and success stories.
More importantly we must go on word of mouth referrals, as there are some practitioners with more experience and better success rates than others.
Remember choose carefully when you are in pain and need help with a back or neck problem and use the profession that suits you and accomodates your needs.
Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors and Acupuncture are among the most popular choices and they all suggest they are well equipped to treat back pain.
Lets look at them in isolation.
Osteopaths are a regulated profession under the umbrella of the General Osteopathic Council who ensure a strict code of conduct and high level of training. Osteopaths are highly skilled in spinal disorders and low back pain. Sciatica, trapped nerves, stiff necks, muscle twinges and slipped or bulging discs are common ailments treated by Osteopathy. Osteopathic treatment is gentle and can be used on new born babies in the form of cranial osteopathy.
Your Osteopath should have excellent diagnostic skills and an advanced sense of touch called palpation skills. The hands of the osteopath are used to feel the tissues and sense that everything is in correct alignment and that spinal segments are moving correctly. Soft tissue work and massage are an integral part of the treatments for most osteopaths however should spinal adjustments or manipulations be required, your osteopath will discuss and agree this with you before making the corrections needed.
Osteopaths are trained to check suitability for manipulations as some groups are high risk, especially for manipulations of the neck. A special test is commonly used to determine possible restrictions of blood supply to the brain. A positive VBI test should prevent anyone from performing a neck manipulation as it is possible to cause a stroke.
As Osteopaths have a variety of treatment options available to them, they can offer so much more than manipulation. Articulation and gentle mobilisation can often free a locked joint without having to perform High Velocity Thrusts ( cracking of the joints).
In the Tamworth Staffordshire area there are excellent Osteopaths with experienced practitioners to treat your back or neck pain
Visit the website of Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth www.atlaspainrelief.com
Physiotherapists
All Physiotherapists must be on the register of the Health Professions Council which is their regulatory body.
Physiotherapists have long been treating low back pain and musculo skeletal disorders. Many are found in private practice but the majority are employed by the NHS. Physiotherapists can opt to specialise in different areas of recovery such as Neuro Rehab for stroke victims.
Although causes and treatment of back pain is taught to physiotherapists, if this is not an area of work they complete their training in, the physiotherapist may be lacking in experience of treating back pain. Other physiotherapists may specialise in low back pain and be more suitable.
Physiotherapy uses electrotherapy as well as hands on treatments and often prescribes corrective exercises for poor posture and strengthening. Physiotherapists are generally the gold standard in rehabilitation and exercise prescription.
There are excellent Physiotherapists in Tamworth with many years of experience treating low back pain and they can be found at Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth. www.atlaspainrelief.com
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has always struggled to attract the support of many people because it involves sticking needles in you. Our basic fear of needles probably goes back to injections administered to us as a child. Although the acupuncture needles are very fine and hardly noticed when inserted, there is this body of resistance in some peoples minds about needles.
Acupuncture is a profession which can offer a 3 year degree programme of in depth training or a weekend basic training workshop, and as such has no protected title, which means anyone with little experience can call themselves an acupuncturist.
Acupuncture claims to treat many ailments and this includes low back pain. Many people have received good results from treatments of back pain by acupuncture which is mostly painless and non invasive compared to other forms of treatment. Generally very little clothing needs to be removed during the treatment which patients can find comforting.
Acupuncture from a well experienced 3 year trained practitioner is available at Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth.
Chiropractors
Chiropractors are trained for the same period as Osteopaths which is a 5 year training period. There are 2 types of Chiropractor and they couldn't be more different in approach and style.
Firstly the Mctimoney Chiropractors who offer a very gentle form of treatment which is totally safe with very little side effects after treatment. The spinal adjustments performed are more of a flicking action performed at incredible speed but with very light pressure. Treatment times tend to be much longer than that of their Chiropractic cousins and much emphasis is put into the case history and collecting a thorough in depth picture of the health of their patient.
The main body of Chiropractors are trained mostly in Bournmouth and perform spinal manipulations with High Velocity Thrusts. This in some cases can lead to pain and discomfort if spinal ligaments are stretched during the cracking of your neck or back.
Osteopaths as well as Chiropractors can cause irritation to spinal ligaments, however if the practitioner is careful and uses minimal force with good technique, no discomfort is necessary. In contrast the Mctimoney chiropractor patients very rarely suffer any discomfort during or after treatment due to a totally different method of adjustment.
Chiropractors are well known for their back and neck cracking and if asked "who treats back pain" the public would probably mention the name chiropractors. Treatment times vary between chiropractors but generally you may get 15 minutes or less with some, and up to an hour with others if you see a McTimoney chiropractor.
Chiropractors have awarded themselves the title of "Doctor" which should not be confused with a GP as Chiropractors in England are not medically trained.
Why Chiropractors have chosen to do this is uncertain but it can lead to an element of confusion. The understanding appears to be that the title "doctor" is not a protected title and anyone can use the term.
All the professions treat back pain but generally the approach is different thats all. Every profession will have its supporters and success stories.
More importantly we must go on word of mouth referrals, as there are some practitioners with more experience and better success rates than others.
Remember choose carefully when you are in pain and need help with a back or neck problem and use the profession that suits you and accomodates your needs.
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