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Backpain? Migraine? Need a Chiropractor?

Chic Health Chiropractic - Providing Chiropractic services for Central North East London City

“MOTs for People”

Welcome to CHIC’s (Clear Health in Chiropractic) blogsite.

We just wanted to let you know that we have opened now in the heart of London, serving all areas from the West end through to Islington with effective chiropractic health care.
CHIC provides safe and qualified chiropractic services for the central north east london city area from its two offices in Clerkenwell and Chalk farm.

Chiropractic is not Chiropody (Which is all about effective foot care) for which it is often mistaken, but is instead a neuro musclar skeletal technique (Say that after a wine or two?!) which focuses on gentle but effective non invasive care of the spine, joints, and nervous system.

Good chiropractic care, as delivered by qualified chiropractors, can result in dramatic improvements of joint, neck or back injuries; relief from pain; reduction of headaches and migraine; better alignment and posture; and greater all round health and performance.

Chiropractors also help with the treatment of specific chronic conditions such as sciatica (Back Pain), scoliosis (Curvature of the Spine), plantar fasciitis and migraine with a range of chiropractic techniques.

Although chiropractors are best known for dealing with back pain, Chiropractic care is also great for sports people, through the treatment of sport injuries and the maximisation of performance potential, and new mums with gentle treatments for prenatal and post partum patients.

Also remember that Chiropractic treatment is effective and safe for all ages, as well as being very affordable both privately or through a variety of UK health insurance providers. Ask your own insurer if you are not sure

Please feel free to explore this site for information about the chiropractic healthcare offered by our central East London and North London city practices, additional related links, chiropractor profiles, booking times and contact information

Getting back to Good Health!

Dr Kerri Elston may also be found in the Musicians Yearbook under Chiropractor for her services to performers and musicians alike in londons west end.                     

Chiropractic

Jacqueline Young Find out what chiropractic involves, how you can find a reputable practitioner and what to expect from the treatment. In this article What is it? What’s it used for? How does it work? How can I find a qualified practitioner? A medical opinion What is it? Chiropractic, derived from the Greek words ‘cheir’, meaning ‘hand’, and ‘praxis’, meaning ‘action’, is a form of manipulation used to correct spinal misalignment, treat joint and muscle problems and restore nerve function to the vital organs. What does it involve? Chiropractors aim to restore balance to the body by means of adjustments - careful, rapid application of slight force to individual bones - other manipulation techniques, massage and rehabilitation exercises. These are also intended to stimulate the body’s natural healing ability. Who practises it? There are more than 2,000 chiropractors in the UK, with most seeing between 40 and 100 patients a week. The majority are in private practice, although some work in GP surgeries or sports settings. A small number of doctors and other health professionals have also trained in chiropractic. Chiropractors normally complete four or five years of degree training. The profession has been regulated since 1994 and since 2001 no one can call themselves a chiropractor legally unless they’re registered with the General Chiropractic Council. What’s it used for? Chiropractors most frequently treat: back problems and sciatica neck, arm, shoulder and leg pain joint problems digestive disorders respiratory complaints, such as asthma infant colic headaches and migraine menstrual problems sports injuries What’s the evidence? Studies have suggested that chiropractic can be effective in the treatment of low back pain, and it may help to ease non-migraine headaches and certain types of joint pain, but not all research results have been favourable. Some studies have been inconclusive owing to poor design, so more high-quality research is needed. Some review studies are available online from Cochrane Reviews, which provides independent evidence on specific healthcare topics. The NHS Complementary and Alternative Medicine Specialist Library also has research on chiropractic. How does it work? Chiropractic was originally based on the idea that misalignments, or subluxations, in the spine and muscle tension cause insufficient or excess pressure on the nerves, leading to impaired organ function and disease. Spinal adjustment is believed to relieve muscle tension Spinal adjustment is believed to relieve muscle tension and improve the supply of nerve impulses, so facilitating healing. There’s little scientific evidence to support the idea that subluxations are a major underlying cause of disease, and some chiropractors have rejected this idea and devised other theories for how chiropractic may work based on more standard physiology. It’s generally accepted that spinal manipulation may have a range of physiological effects on the body, such as increasing circulation of body fluids and releasing tight muscles. What’s chiropractic like? Diagnosis - At your initial consultation, you’ll be asked questions about your medical history, lifestyle, symptoms and general health. You’ll usually be asked to remove your outer garments so your posture, movement and spine may be examined. Other tests, such as reflex tests and, occasionally, x-rays may also be carried out. Treatment - You’ll be asked to sit or lie on a couch and will normally be offered a loose gown to wear. Treatment usually consists of adjustments given mainly to the spine. Techniques, such massage and other mobilisation techniques, may also be used. Chiropractors may also use a range of non-manual techniques, including: electrical or magnetic stimulation heat and ice dry needling rehabilitation exercises They may also give dietary and lifestyle advice. Time taken - First treatments generally last from 30 to 60 minutes, while follow-up sessions are usually between 15 and 30 minutes. Are there any side-effects? A common side-effect is soreness or discomfort in treated areas, although this usually settles quite quickly. Tiredness and headaches have also been reported. Severe side-effects are very rare but can include spinal trauma or joint injury, if excess force has been applied, damage to the nerves after low back manipulation and, in extremely rare cases, tears in a blood vessel (artery dissection) after neck manipulation, which can lead to stroke. X-rays should only be used if clearly necessary, as excess exposure can be harmful. How many treatments will I need? Generally, three to six treatments are used for recent, acute problems. Six to 12 sessions may be needed for more longstanding issues. Treatments are often once or twice a week initially and may then be repeated at intervals of some weeks. When is it unsafe to have chiropractic? Chiropractic isn’t appropriate in the case of brittle bones Chiropractic isn’t appropriate in the case of brittle bones (osteoporosis), infections, bleeding and cancerous tumours. Those on blood-thinning medication shouldn’t have neck adjustments because of increased risk of damage to blood vessels in the head. Care must also be taken during pregnancy and with young children or older people. If in any doubt about your condition, seek medical advice and inform your GP that you’re considering chiropractic. How much will it cost? Private treatment usually costs around £35 to £60 a session. Some private health insurance policies cover chiropractic and a few GP surgeries offer free, or subsidised, sessions. How can I find a qualified practitioner? The General Chiropractic Council (GCC) is responsible for regulating, developing and promoting chiropractic in the UK and maintains a register of qualified chiropractors. What if I have a problem? Try to talk over any concerns with your practitioner, but if you have a more serious complaint use the GCC’s formal complaints procedure. A medical opinion Professor George Lewith, head of the complementary medicine research unit at Southampton’s University’s school of medicine, says: “Chiropractic is widely available and used by many people for all sorts of aches and pains, particularly back pain. Many patients report considerable benefit from visiting chiropractors, but there’s a real need for more research so we can understand more about this important and widely available treatment.” This article was written by Jacqueline Young, medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks and first published in March 2007. http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/complementary_medicine/therapies_chiropractic.shtml

You’ve played the biggest stadiums, you’ve had Bob Dylan, Jack Nicholson and Eddie Murphy coming backstage to pay tribute. Rolling Stone magazine says your records are in the top 10 of all time. So where do you go now?

Terry Chimes, drummer with the Clash, literally turned his back on rock and roll - and became a chiropractor in Essex. His stage appearances are now limited to motivational seminars for doctors.

A painting by the Clash’s Paul Simonon is in Chimes’ kitchen

So how did he get from playing in a band to the treatment table?

“I felt it was time to completely change - and over the time I’d been a musician, I’d already become a non-drinking, non-smoking, non-drug-taking vegetarian who does yoga.”

And that’s not mentioning the triathlons.

“People say how can you prefer treating patients to being on stage in front of 100,000 people? But if you can get someone healthy, there’s a satisfaction in that which is much more profound.”

Instead of being an ex-rocker “always looking at their scrapbooks”, the 51-year-old, who also played with Black Sabbath, is writing a book about well-being and health.

Rebel music

The story of the Clash has been in the news again with the publication of Redemption Song, a biography of the band’s front man, Joe Strummer, written by music journalist, Chris Salewicz.

THE CLASH 1976 to 1986, albums included The Clash, London Calling, Sandinista Joe Strummer died in 2002 His favourite song: White Man in Hammersmith Palais Chimes replaced on drums by Topper Headon Paul Simonon now a painter Mick Jones now a record producer

Chimes was in the drummer’s seat when the Clash started. He left after the ground-breaking first album, returning for the big stadium tours at the end of the band’s career.

A self-taught musician, he joined the band before they even had a name, meeting up 30 years ago with Strummer, Mick Jones and Paul Simonon.

“When I met them, they were like a gang. They looked different, they were wearing clothes that no one else was wearing,” he says.

But what really set them apart was the idea that it wasn’t just about music, but about radical politics and an alternative lifestyle.

“It took on a life of its own. It was like joining a cult. I wanted to enjoy playing music - and they wanted to suffer. It was serious from the moment you got up in the morning, until the moment you went to sleep.”

Fight for a cause

This intensity was a trademark of their live performances - Chimes says his hands used to bleed during a show.

Strummer then played with the Mescaleros

Strummer’s performances were particularly manic, described in the new biography as being “like a man possessed, veins bulging, in an almost transcendental state, like he was speaking in tongues”.

Chimes says this was also a reflection of the unhappiness that dogged Strummer off stage.

“He didn’t let himself be happy. The problem with Joe was that he’d feel guilty if he was comfortable. You’d be on a sun lounger by a hotel pool having a drink and in five minutes he’d get distinctly uneasy and say we should be doing something more purposeful.

“He had a vision that his life should be about helping people, doing meaningful, profound things. He thought he should be out there fighting for a cause.”

The west London-based Clash were influenced by local reggae music

And with the band’s huge commercial success - particularly in the United States - it became even more of a challenge not to get sucked into the rock circus.

Chimes says that when the Beach Boys came across the Clash, what most appalled them about the English punk rockers was that they were still carrying their own suitcases.

And he recalls Strummer’s horror when he discovered that a safety-conscious Volvo taking them to a gig had the child-locks fastened - so “it looked like Joe Strummer had a chauffeur to open the doors for him”.

Chimes left the Clash for a second time 1983, when the feuding and in-fighting made it difficult to carry on. “I wasn’t enjoying it, so I stopped.”

When he decided to retrain as a chiropractor, he didn’t tell anyone else on the course that he’d been in a band. “I didn’t tell them in case they thought I was a crackpot,” he says.

But then Should I Stay Or Should I Go was re-released and went to number one - and the other students spotted him in the video. “Then they thought I was even more weird for not talking about it.”

Alternative therapy

Does he miss the old days?

Not at all, he says. The chiropractor and alternative therapy business has boomed, with his firm becoming one of the biggest in Europe. And he’s more interested in spiritual matters, saying how important his Catholic faith is to him now.

Terry Chimes: “Time to completely change”

It’s a long, long way from the Clash’s angry songs that used to terrify the tabloids.

But the band’s reputation shows no sign of disappearing ­ and Strummer’s legacy is taking unexpected routes.

Strummer was one of the first performers to make his tours carbon neutral, and was instrumental in promoting the idea of carbon offsetting. There’s a forest planted in his memory on the Isle of Skye.

He is also remembered through a music charity, Strummerville ­ the forthcoming Babyshambles single will be a fundraiser. This summer saw a Strummercamp music festival in his memory. There’s even a train named after him.

Salewicz, a veteran reporter of the fickleness of rock reputations, says the Clash are now ensconced in the top three of the most influential UK bands, alongside the Beatles and Rolling Stones. “They haven’t really faded away, if anything their stature has grown.”

And if their backs are getting a bit stiff, they know where to get help.

By Sean Coughlan
BBC News Magazine

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6060180.stm

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