FAQ

2.

Are Chiropractors Doctors?

Despite extensive training, and the title “Doctor of Chiropractic following graduation, Chiropractors are not registered, medical practitioners.

Chiropractors can, however, train further in the field of medicine to become a chiropractor doctor.

4.

What is a Chiropractic adjustment? How do Chiropractic adjustments work?

A Chiropractic adjustment is a specialised technique utilised in aid of restoring normal spinal and joint range of motion.

The technique incorporates a short and controlled movement in order to achieve better or normal range of motion. This technique when applied appropriately, will improve the physical function of that individual, ultimately alleviating pain. This method of treatment is also utilised our Osteopaths.

5.

Can a chiropractor fix a pinched nerve?

Yes. Chiropractors can mobilise a pinched nerve or surrounding areas to alleviate the symptoms associated with the nerve / nerves in question. They use a variety of techniques to do this.

6.

Can a Chiropractor help with sciatica?

Yes. Chiropractors can help to alleviate the symptoms associated with Sciatica.

Sciatica treatment involves freeing up the structures impacting the nerve pathway/s that are trapped/pinched and causing pain and symptoms such as pins and needles numbness and possible weakness.

7.

Are Chiropractors safe?

Chiropractors are highly specialised spinal technicians. Their treatment is very safe, especially when carried out by a well-trained Chiropractor. Our Chiropractors and Osteopaths are registered and well experienced.

8.

What does a sports chiropractor do?

Sports Chiropractors treat sporting injuries. Injuries ranging from running injuries to chronic repetitive strain injuries like shin splints and tennis elbow to name but a few.

9.

What does a Chiropractor do for lower back pain?

For someone suffering from lower back pain, A Chiropractor can identify the cause of the problems and rectify it with a combination of structural manual adjusting techniques.

HVLAT (high-velocity low amplitude thrust) is a common technique used by our Chiropractor or Osteopath to free up a restricted painful joint in the Lower back almost instantly.

HVLAT is A highly efficient and clinically proven technique for lower back pain.

10. 

Is a posture brace a good idea?

A posture brace pulls all the muscles of the front and back of the spine into a different position. So, while it may temporarily help to pull the spine into a different position, it does not strengthen the neck, chest, shoulders, upper back or lower back muscles. Therefore, when you take it off, your spine will return to its normal position and the shoulders will likely go right back to their earlier rounded state.

11. 

How important are the glutes?

1. Reduce back pain

Your gluteals are responsible for hip extension and assist their reverse action.  Strong gluteals are essential to lower back health since they assist with pelvic, hip and trunk motions. They also help more evenly distribute load throughout your lower back and lower extremities and assist in good posture.

2. Reduce knee pain

Your gluteal muscles maintain pelvic stability; which is especially important when your lower extremities function in a closed chain. For example, if you twist your ankle, you can also have imbalances at the knee and further up the leg. The same thing can happen if instability begins at the hip, leading to excessive force on the knee and ankle. That can mean knee pain or discomfort.

3. Increase power and exercise performance

Your gluteals assist in walking and forward propulsion during running by creating explosive hip extension. They are essential to acceleration, jumping and even heavy lifting. If your gluteal muscles get weak, walking and climbing stairs will become difficult.

12. 

What is the meaning of no gain without pain?

This is an interesting one, as merriam-webster would say, “it is necessary to suffer or work hard in order to succeed or make progress”. We agree with this. Plenty of clients present to us with pain and the belief that we can help them. Here at back to health wellness , we believe that the clients we see are determined to overcome their pain so strongly that they are willing to make the lifestyle changes and incorporate the exercises we prescribe, in order to permanently alleviate their pain and achieve their health goals.

13. 

What service do we recommend for Back Pain?

Here at Back To Health Wellness, we use a multifunctional offering to help treat back pain. From deep tissue to sports massage, chiropractic to osteopathy, each service offers relief techniques, yet implemented in different ways. This way we can cater for every client and their needs.

14. 

What is the effect of deep tissue massage?

Deep tissue massage reduces stress and tension, which impacts blood pressure. Massage has positive impacts on systolic, diastolic, and arterial blood pressure. Deep tissue massage can also increase production of serotonin, which promotes good feelings and happiness.

15. 

Can massage help with symptoms of depression?

Massage therapy is very beneficial for the mind. Studies show that a massage heightens levels of oxytocin and serotonin, which are chemicals that can boost our mood and reduce stress, anxiety and therefore the symptoms of depression. Thanks to the relaxing sensation of massage therapy, the body benefits from a lower heart rate, improved breathing and the release of tension that we often hold in our neck and shoulders as a result of anxiety. Regular massage therapy allows the mind and body to feel calm and balanced whilst we tackle the stresses of daily life.

16. 

What is the weight of a human head?

A human head weighs between 7-14 pounds. Essentially the weight of a bowling ball on your neck, daily. Depending on the environment you are in, the effective weight of the head on the rest of the body can double, triple or even quadruple. This is why posture is so important, as a strong, stable and mobile spine can distribute the weight of the head better throughout the body, reducing the impact the weight of the head has on the body. Strengthening your body to suit your environment,  will prevent long term damage to the spine and the rest of the body.

17. 

Why do I keep having muscles spasms in my back?

A muscle spasm is a defensive mechanism that initiates inside the body when it is under stress, in order to prevent further damage. There is often an underlying weakness that triggers the onset of a muscle spasm. Our back assessment pathway can help to identify these weakness and treatment incorparated with exercise and lifestyle changes can help you stop the muscle spasms from occuring now and in the future.

18. 

I am prone to injury in sport, are you a sports injury clinic?

Yes. We have practitioners that specialise in the treatment, management and prevention of sporting injuries. We offer medical grade, clinically proven treatments such as shockwave therapy and low level laser therapy. Both therapies aid recovery and promote healing at a quicker rate than if the sports injury were to heal by itself naturally. Correct rehab and managment protocols will ensure sporting injuries become a thing of the past.

19. 

How to manage a headache lasting 24 hours?

If the headache is unexplained, consult your GP or emergency services, particularly if the vision is becoming impaired. If the headache is related to the spine, often because of tight musculature in the neck and upper back, this can almost instantly relieved with chiropractic or osteopathic adjustments to the spine. Lying down with eyes closed will also help, as the muscles in play causing the headaches will  then be at rest. Dehydration can also cause headaches, therfore increasing water intake may also help. Book with one of practitioners to see if we can help. 

20. 

What are the most common sport injuries and how to treat them?

Shoulder Pain, Disc Bulges / Slipped Discs, Athletic Performance, Sleep problems, Sport Injuries, Hip problems, Knee and ankle pain, Neck Pain, Mid Back Pain, Low Back Pain, Sciatica, Sacroiliac Joint Issues, Headaches, Dowager’s Hump, Bad Posture, Range of Motion Issues, Lack of Mobility Issues, Balance and Coordination, Arthritis, Fatigue,Knee Pain, Scoliosis, Loss of Strength, Fibromyalgia,  Breathing Problems, Muscle Stiffness, Sprains and strains,Knee injuries, Rotator cuff injuries, Fractures (broken bones), Dislocations.

If you get hurt, stop playing. Continuing to play or exercise can cause more harm. Treatment often begins with the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) method to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and speed healing. Other possible treatments include pain relievers, keeping the injured area from moving, rehabilitation, and sometimes surgery. 

21. 

Who is the best Osteopath in Guildford and Surrey, UK?

Andrew Lakmal, Director of Back To Health Wellness, took over Back to Health Chiropractic Clinics Guildford in late 2017. His vision has always been to create a “multidisciplinary wellness model” for individuals and families alike. Back to Health Wellness is one of the longest standing wellness establishments having first opened its doors to the public in 1998. They offer a wealth of services including Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Massage Therapy, Shockwave Therapy and Low Level Laser Therapy.

22. 

Is my Back Pain a sign of Cancer?

Most back pain is not caused by cancer. While it is important to see a doctor any time you have pain that doesn’t go away, back pain is much more likely to be caused by something like a muscle or back injury or even arthritis. 

23. 

Do you Treat Plantar Fasciitis?

Yes. Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common conditions causing heel pain. It involves inflammation of the plantar fascia — a tough, fibrous band of tissue that runs along the sole of the foot. We use dedicated massage therapy and shockwave therapy to treat plantar fasciitis to good effect.

24. 

How does a chiropractor help with posture?

A chiropractor can help to improve posture through spinal manipulation, the improved joint motion will help to increase movement in the whole spine, reducing tension in the surrounding muscles, allowing the body to ease into good posture with any pain.

25. 

What causes sciatica to flare up?

Sciatica is a branch term used to describe the sciatic nerve being compressed somewhere along its origin in the lower spine to its termination in the big toe. Sciatica often flares up because the underlying cause has not yet been corrected. Sciatica can arise from weaknesses in the back and tight and restricted muscles in the buttock and lower leg. To reduces the chances of a flare up, it is important to maintain good posture .Following good posture techniques while you’re sitting, standing, lifting objects and sleeping helps relieve pressure on your lower back. Pain can be an early warning sign that you are not properly aligned. If you start to feel sore or stiff, adjust your posture

26. 

Is the extra weight of pregnancy the reason why so many pregnant women get sciatica?

Whilst the increased weight during pregnancy does have an impact on sciatica, is not the main reason why pregnant women get sciatica. A better explanation is that certain hormones of pregnancy cause a loosening of their ligaments. Ligaments hold the vertebrae together, protect the disks and keep the spine stable. Loosened ligaments can cause the spine to become unstable and might cause disks to slip, which leads to nerves being pinched and the development of sciatica. The baby’s weight and position can also add pressure to the nerve. Gentle strengthening exercises such as the glute bridge exercise, can help to improve it’s stability and it’s ability to manage the increased weight gained through pregnancy.

27. 

What are the best sciatica stretches?

There are a few exercises to stretch the sciatic nerve, our recommendation is the sciatic nerve glide exercise.

• Sit upright on a chair and straighten one knee while keeping your other foot flat on the floor.
• Slowly bend your ankle so that your toes are pointing towards you.
• Continue to bend your ankle back and forth, pointing your toes away from you and then toward you.
• As tolerated, to put more tension on the sciatic nerve, try the same nerve glide with your head bent forward, bringing your chin toward your chest.
• Pump your ankle up and down 15 to 20 times and then repeat the exercise with your other leg.

Aim to complete 3 rounds for each leg, twice a day.

28. 

How to sleep with low back pain?

Lying on the side – but, with a pillow in between the knees, why? The pillow will keep the hips, pelvis, and spine in better alignment and in turn, alleviate pressure off the knee. Pay good attention to position of head and neck alignment in this position too.

Sleeping on the back – the key here is a small pillow under the knee which can reduce either knee or hip pain by decreasing the stress on the joint and in turn, the pressure on the back.

29. 

Why do I get pain in the back when breathing?

Pain in the back when breathing can be due to an imbalance in the breathing mechanisms that are related to the back. From my experience in clinic, I often find that people who have constant or intermittent back pain for months or years even, have some form of breathing issue. I believe this issue develops over time as a “defence mechanism” to protect the back by tightening or recruiting the core muscles to engage more than they need to. This is why Osteopathic treatment of the diaphragm for example, can potentially alleviate symptoms of back pain almost immediately.

30. 

Why is plantar fasciitis worse in the morning?

The pain may be most intense upon waking in the morning. This is because of poor blood supply to the heel and foot area when you’re at rest.

31. 

What is the difference between policeman’s heel and plantar fasciitis?

Policeman’s heel, is the same as plantar fasciitis. It is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It occurs when the thick band of tissue, known as fascia (connective tissue) that runs from the heel bone to the toes becomes inflamed.

32. 

What is the best pillow to sleep with for neck pain?

The Original Groove® Pillow, formerly EasySleeper This pillow is designed to help return the neck to it’s ‘natural’ curve.

33. 

What is the best mattress to sleep on for back pain?

The OTTY Original Hybrid Mattress. This mattress is a medium-firm setting and it uses a combination of springs and high density memory foam.

34. 

What causes pain in the knee?

The most common causes of knee pain are osteoarthritis, sprained ligaments, meniscus tears, tendinitis, runner’s knee, bursitis, i.t band syndrome.

35. 

Why do I get pain in the achilles tendon when walking?

Stress on or injury to the achilles tendon can cause discomfort from a slight ache and stiffness to severe achilles tendon pain. A common cause of achilles pain is inflammation of the tendon insertion point into the heel. Walking can stress the tendon especially when wearing ill fitting shoes. Other potential causes of achilles tendinopathy are flat feet, leg length discrepancies and repeated loading through the heel, especially during long walks and distance running.

36. 

Pain in back when breathing?

Pain in the back when breathing can be due to a trapped nerve between the ribs, a strained back muscle, or even a spinal joint that is misaligned. Read our article here on how breathing can affect the mechanics of the back and lead to back pain.    

37. 

Can you massage the shoulders?

Yes. Our Massage therapists are trained to help reduce tightness and pain in the neck and shoulders. A shoulder massage will help with increasing blood flow and movement within the shoulder joint. 

38. 

What is a relaxation massage?

A relaxing massage treatment will usually involve flowing strokes and kneading, performed at your chosen pressure. It’s a pain free therapy and an effective way to de-stress and relax the mind and body. Our massage therapists use a variety of techniques to promote relaxation in your muscles. See the different types of massage therapy we offer here.

39. 

Do you offer Massage in Guildford and Surrey?

Yes we do. Our massage service is extremely popular! As a result, we offer massage five days a week at our clinics in Guildford and Thames Ditton, Surrey. Check out our regular massage offers by clicking here.

40. 

How many Massage rooms do you have?

We have 2 bespoke massage rooms at our Guildford clinic.

41. 

What types of Massage Therapy do you specialise in?

We have a variety of options. Our most popular are sports massage, deep tissue massage, trigger point massage and relaxation massage. Find out more about our massage therapy here 

42. 

What is the best treatment for muscle tension?

We offer Osteopathy, Chiropractic and Massage services, which are all proven methods to help alleviate muscle tension. The cause of muscle tension should first be addressed to establish the best treatment for you. Click on our Spinal Assessment or Therapeutic / Deep Postural Massage promotion. Either treatment will definitely help!

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