Many of us have been glued to our desks since the advent of work-from-home arrangements.
Long periods of sitting in the same position, neck aches, and back pains are slowly becoming our worst enemy.
Some of us may have decided to replace our IKEA chairs to alleviate this.
For others, this may imply a trip to the chiropractor.
What Exactly Is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic focuses on diagnosing and treating neuromuscular disorders, with an emphasis on spinal manipulation and manual adjustment.
Manipulation is used to restore mobility to joints that have been restricted by tissue injury, commonly caused by situations such as sitting without proper back support or repetitive stress on various body parts.
In other words, it’s the therapeutic ‘crack’ and ‘pop’ heard in videos.
Chiropractics believes that by aligning the body’s musculoskeletal structure, the body can heal itself without surgery or medication.
Chiropractic treatment is primarily used to relieve pain in muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissue, and it is sometimes used in conjunction with other conventional medical treatments.
There are both believers and detractors of chiropractic practises, with some articles claiming that chiropractic adjustments alone may not be the most effective treatment for lower back pain.
So, yeah, proceed based on your judgement!
Can I see a chiropractor as my primary care physician?
Chiropractors are not registered as medical practitioners in Singapore under the Medical Registration Act (MRA).
This means they are unable to practise medicine as doctors and cannot advertise themselves as such.
They are thought to be alternative healthcare providers.
In 2011, a new law was enacted to regulate allied health professionals such as physiotherapists.
Because chiropractors are excluded, the chiropractic industry is unregulated.
Chiropractors are encouraged to self-regulate through professional organisations such as the Chiropractic Association (Singapore), which has developed a code of practice, ethics, and advertising guidelines for the profession.
As a result, patients should exercise caution when consulting with chiropractic practices.
When in doubt, seek the advice of a licenced medical practitioner.
Singapore Chiropractic Services
Prices and services vary between chiropractic clinics.
These options range from a single consultation to a comprehensive treatment plan.
Given the unregulated nature of the industry, it is critical to remember that the price of a chiropractor in Singapore should not be the only factor to consider.
There have been instances of ‘hard-selling,’ in which customers were presented with cheaper packages only to be coerced into signing more expensive ones later.
Are Chiropractors and Physiotherapists the Same?
While both deal with pain management, chiropractors concentrate on the spine and its related structures, whereas physiotherapists concentrate on improving patients’ mobility through exercise rehabilitation programmes and assistive devices.
Chiropractors believe in detecting and correcting spinal misalignment to relieve pain, whereas physiotherapists believe that muscle-related problems such as back pain and sprains are the root cause.
They are, however, both non-invasive and manual treatments.
When Should I Not Seek Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic treatment is not appropriate for everyone.
If you have any of the following symptoms, it is best to seek professional advice on whether you should see a chiropractor.
- Extreme osteoporosis
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in an arm or leg
- Cancer of the spine
- A well-known upper neck bone abnormality
- Disc herniation or slippage
- Arthritis
Seeking Chiropractic Treatment in Singapore Aches and pains in the neck, shoulder, and lower back are no longer uncommon, with chiropractic care gaining traction as a pain relief alternative therapy.
We owe it to ourselves for sitting in poor posture for extended periods.
Remember to do your homework before scheduling a chiropractic consultation with so many great deals available these days.
