When would I see a Chiropractor?

If you have never seen a chiropractor before, it can be hard to know what to expect from a chiropractic treatment, or as we call them, chiropractic adjustments. The short answer is a chiropractor can help your nervous system function better, which may result in less pain, increased function, decreased muscle tightness and better joint movement all through your body. As the body is a very complex organism all linked by your nervous system, dysfunction in one area can have a knock on effect and cause dysfunction in other areas as well, which is why chiropractors will look at your entire body’s function from your feet to your skull, not just the area you are having problems with. 

When could I see a chiropractor? Why would I see a chiropractor?
You might choose to consult with a chiropractor when you are experiencing any of the following conditions:
Low back pain
Shoulder pain
Neck pain
Headaches or migraines
Mid back pain
Postural issues
Stress related conditions
Overuse injuries (including in the hands/wrists and feet)
Trouble sleeping due to pain
Nerve related problems (numbness, tingling sensations)
After a fall
After a car accident (once cleared for fractures etc)
After sporting injuries
Sport injury prevention
Hip, knee or foot issues
Pain after activity
Waking with pain/tightness/discomfort
Pregnancy
Newborn check

Chiropractors work with any and every age group, from newborn to elderly, with age and condition appropriate techniques. You do not need a referral to see a chiropractor, we are primary health care practitioners, so you can simply book an appointment at any time.

While all our chiros can assess any condition, each Chiropractor is a little bit different, with slight differences in technique and interests.  We currently have 3 chiropractors here at Ballarat and District Chiropractic Centre. 

Dr Kristian loves it when people come in and say 'I carry my stress in my shoulders, can you help me?' and showing how chiropractic care can help significantly reduce the effect stress has on the body and how BETTER life is when your body isn't continually in fight or flight!

Dr Rhiannon has a special interest in helping people correct their posture, improve the way their body moves and providing advice on ergonomic changes in order to reduce pain, prevent injury and see people achieve their health and exercise goals.

Dr Bridget likes to work with people experiencing headache and migraine, shoulder issues, posture and stress related conditions and babies with tongue tie/latching problems.

What will they do to help my condition?
At Ballarat and District Chiropractic, at your initial appointment, we will take your history to begin with. This is your chance to give us as much detail about your issue as you can, things like when did it start, how long have you had it for, any previous diagnoses, where the problem is, does it travel or contribute to any other conditions you have? Then we will assess the issues you have presented with and state of your nervous system through various ‘assessments’ like range of movement, neurological testing, muscle tests, palpation (touching the area to see what the tissues and joints feel like) and more. Once we have assessed your condition, we explain what will be appropriate treatment for you. Each person and condition is different, but common treatments include joint manipulation (also known as an adjustment), trigger point therapy, cranial work, etc etc etc. We will also take any of your preferences into account if you would prefer a certain type of adjustment or have tried various therapies in the past and know what does or does not work for you, you know your body best!
Here at Ballarat and District Chiropractic, we use a wide range of chiropractic techniques for adjustments, these include, but are not limited to: Manual (cavitating/cracking) adjustments, low force adjustment (often using an adjusting tool called an activator), biomechanical blocks, drop piece, SOT, AK, SD protocol just to name a few. We will often mix techniques to find the best combination for your body and condition. If you don’t know what any of these mean, that’s OK! We will explain what we are doing and how we will do it so you will be completely informed every step of the way. 
After your adjustment, it does not stop there! There is often some work for you to do yourself at home, including stretches, postural and ergonomic changes and neuro rehab exercises. These are to help your body keep moving in an optimal way, and not let it slip back into the tight and restricted state that often causes pain. It is always a good idea to go for a short walk after your adjustment and drink plenty of water that day.
We will always recommend an initial phase of care, which often includes a few adjustments fairly close together (e.g once a week for 4-5 weeks) to allow your body to make as much change as possible. Just like you wouldn’t go to the gym once and say ‘ok, I’m fit now’, chiropractic adjustments take more than one adjustment to give you the best results. Often your symptoms will reduce after the first 2-3 visits, then it is about consolidating the changes we have made to allow your body and nervous system to function well in the longer term. 
Chiropractic is for everyone, young or old, whatever stage of life you are in. We tailor our adjustments just for you and your conditions to help your body work the best it can.