What Does a Chiropractor Treat? | 360 Chiro Clinic, Sheffield

When most people think of chiropractic, they think of back pain. While back pain is one of the most common reasons people come to see me, chiropractic covers a much broader range of problems.

Chiropractors are healthcare professionals trained to assess and manage conditions affecting the neuromusculoskeletal system, including the spine, joints, muscles and nervous system.

In my practice, I most commonly see people with back pain, neck pain, sciatica, disc-related problems, headaches and migraines, shoulder pain, hip pain and knee pain.

The starting point is understanding the problem properly. Your symptoms tell us part of the story, but your history and physical examination help us understand what may be contributing to them and whether chiropractic care is appropriate.

What Problems Can a Chiropractor Help With?

People visit chiropractors for many different reasons. Some wake up with sudden back or neck pain, while others have lived with a problem for months or years before deciding to do something about it.

Common problems I assess include:

• Lower back pain

• Neck pain

• Sciatica and nerve-related symptoms

• Disc-related problems

• Headaches associated with the neck

• Shoulder pain

• Hip pain

• Knee and other joint pain

• Muscular tension and stiffness

• Restricted movement and mobility

• Persistent or recurring pain

Each of these can have different causes and presentations, so assessment comes before treatment.

Back Pain

Lower back pain makes up a significant part of chiropractic practice.

Sometimes there is an obvious trigger, such as lifting something heavy, bending awkwardly or a sudden increase in activity. In other cases, symptoms develop gradually alongside prolonged sitting, repetitive physical work, previous injuries or changes in mobility and strength.

During an assessment, I look at how the spine and surrounding joints are moving, muscle function and strength, and whether there are signs of nerve involvement.

I also want to understand the impact the problem is having on everyday life.

One of my patients, Maxi, came to see me with lower back pain that was making driving and even sleeping difficult.

Following her course of care, she said:

“I had serious lower back pains, which made driving and even sleeping difficult. I noticed improvements after only 3 sessions and by the end of my treatment plan, I felt like a different person.”

That's Maxi's individual experience and results vary between patients, but it highlights why I look at function as well as pain. Sleeping comfortably, driving, walking, exercising and working normally again are meaningful measures of recovery.

Neck Pain

Neck pain is another problem I see regularly.

For many people, long periods at a desk, limited movement throughout the day and repetitive working positions can contribute. Previous injuries such as whiplash or falls, muscular tension, restricted joint movement and age-related changes can also play a role.

Symptoms aren't always limited to the neck. Some people experience pain around the shoulder blades or symptoms extending into an arm or hand.

When necessary, the assessment therefore includes neurological testing such as reflexes, sensation and muscle strength to establish whether a nerve may be involved.

Sciatica and Nerve-Related Problems

Sciatica usually describes symptoms associated with irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve or its contributing nerve roots.

Symptoms can include pain travelling from the lower back or buttock into the leg, sometimes accompanied by tingling, numbness or weakness.

These symptoms require a careful neurological and orthopaedic examination because not every case of leg pain has the same cause.

One of my patients, Dave, had experienced lower back pain with shooting pain and numbness into his left leg for months, which was also disturbing his sleep.

Following assessment and a structured course of care, he later reported being pain-free.

His experience demonstrates the importance of establishing whether nerve involvement is present and tailoring care accordingly.

Disc-Related Problems

Patients often become worried when an MRI mentions a disc bulge, protrusion or herniation.

However, an imaging finding needs to be interpreted alongside the person's symptoms and examination findings.

With suspected disc-related problems, I assess movement and function alongside neurological signs such as strength, sensation and reflexes. This helps determine whether a disc or nerve may be clinically relevant and whether chiropractic care is appropriate.

Not everybody with back pain needs an MRI. If the examination indicates that imaging or another medical opinion is necessary, I'll refer appropriately.

Headaches and Migraines

Headaches are another reason people sometimes seek chiropractic assessment, particularly when they also experience neck pain, stiffness or restricted movement.

Certain headaches can arise from structures in the neck, so I look at the relationship between the person's headache pattern and their cervical spine.

However, headaches and migraines can have many causes. A thorough history is therefore particularly important.

If someone's symptoms aren't consistent with a neuromusculoskeletal problem or there are warning signs requiring further investigation, medical referral is the appropriate next step.

Shoulder, Hip and Knee Pain

Chiropractic isn't limited to the spine.

Chiropractors are also trained to assess joints such as the shoulders, hips and knees.

These areas don't function independently. Hip movement can influence the way someone loads their knee, while neck and upper-back function can be relevant when assessing certain shoulder presentations.

The examination therefore considers both the symptomatic joint and other areas that may be influencing its movement and loading.

What Happens During a Chiropractic Consultation?

The consultation is where we build a detailed picture of your problem.

I start by discussing your symptoms, how and when they developed, previous injuries, medical history, work and activity levels, and what you're currently struggling to do.

The physical examination is then tailored to your presentation and may include:

• Posture and movement assessment

• Spinal and joint mobility

• Muscle strength and function

• Neurological testing

• Reflexes and sensation

• Orthopaedic tests

• Assessment of related areas of the body

Together, these findings help establish a working diagnosis, identify contributing factors and determine whether chiropractic treatment is suitable.

If anything suggests that further investigation is required, I may recommend imaging or referral to another healthcare professional.

What Does Chiropractic Treatment Involve?

If chiropractic care is appropriate, we put together a tailored treatment plan based on your examination findings and individual needs.

Treatment may include specific chiropractic adjustments, joint mobilisation, soft tissue techniques, mobility work, rehabilitation and strengthening exercises.

Adjustments are controlled techniques applied to specific joints to help improve movement and function. Soft tissue techniques can be used to address muscular tension, while rehabilitation helps improve mobility, strength and control.

I also consider the activities that may be influencing recovery. This might involve changes to working positions, movement habits, exercise or other day-to-day factors.

The aim is to create the right conditions for recovery, improve function and give you the best chance of returning to the activities that matter to you.

Do You Need a GP Referral?

In the UK, you generally don't need a GP referral to see a chiropractor.

You can book directly, although part of a chiropractor's responsibility is recognising when chiropractic care isn't appropriate.

If your history or examination suggests that your symptoms require imaging, medical investigation or another healthcare professional, I'll refer you appropriately.

Choosing a Chiropractor

In the UK, chiropractor is a protected title, and anyone practising as a chiropractor must be registered with the General Chiropractic Council.

Qualifications are important, but so is finding someone whose approach you feel comfortable with.

A good consultation should leave you with a clearer understanding of your problem. Your chiropractor should listen to your concerns, perform an appropriate examination, explain their findings clearly and tell you what they recommend and why.

So, What Does a Chiropractor Treat?

Chiropractors assess and manage a broad range of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, not just back pain.

In my practice, I most commonly work with back pain, neck pain, sciatica, disc-related problems, headaches and migraines, shoulder pain, hip pain and knee pain.

My approach is to understand how the problem developed, examine the relevant joints, muscles and nerves, and use those findings to create an individual treatment plan.

Ultimately, the goal is simple: to give you the best chance of getting out of pain, restoring movement and function, and getting back to feeling like yourself again.

Could Chiropractic Help You?

If you're experiencing pain, stiffness or restricted movement and want to understand what may be causing it, the first step is a proper assessment.

At 360 Chiro Clinic in Sheffield, we'll take the time to understand your symptoms, carry out a thorough examination and explain the most appropriate next steps.

Book your chiropractic consultation today.