Chiropractors specialise in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of biomechanical disorders of the musculo-skeletal system particularly those involving the spine, and their effects upon the nervous system. Chiropractic treatment is not an alternative to conventional medicine, but is a complementary discipline.

Treatment consists of a range of manual techniques designed to improve the function of joints and relieve pain, muscle spasm and irritation to the nervous system. Chiropractic was pioneered by DD Palmer in the USA in 1895. There have been chiropractors in the UK since the 1920’s. There are currently around 1800 registered chiropractors in the UK.

McTimoney Chiropractic is a particularly gentle yet effective form of chiropractic. It was originally developed by John McTimoney who opened a school of chiropractic in the early 1970's. The school developed and is now The McTimoney Chiropractic College accredited to degree status and has nearly 500 graduates, around one third of the UK profession.

The gentle nature of the McTimoney Chiropractic technique makes it especially suitable for people of all ages including young babies, pregnant women and the elderly.

What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a straightforward method of adjusting the bones of your body to maintain the correct alignment of your spine and to ensure that your body's nerve supply works efficiently. It seeks to eliminate the cause, not just treat symptoms, and through subtle adjustments, chiropractic care can relieve pain and discomfort, increase mobility and provide a route to better health.

Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae, the sacrum, and the coccyx. This column also houses the spinal cord through which nerve information is transmitted around the rest of your body.

How does it work?
Whilst the spinal column maintains correct alignment, nerve information is passed accurately. However, if any part of your spinal column becomes misaligned then a nerve may become impinged, compressed, or stretched, distorting the information that passes along it. This can lead to pain, discomfort, or restricted mobility.

Misalignment of the vertebrae or bones can occur for many reasons, such as incorrect lifting, car or sporting accidents, childbirth, falls, stress and poor posture, and these conditions will all worsen over time if not corrected.

McTimoney chiropractors use only their hands to make adjustments to the bones of your body. The key to the success of the adjustments is in the speed, dexterity and accuracy with which they are performed.

What can I expect from my first treatment?
Your chiropractor will take a full case history regarding your general health background as well as details of your symptoms. This will help in assessing and analysing your particular problem. They will then thoroughly examine all the joints in your body, literally from head to toe, and undertake any further clinical assessment that might be necessary to determine that it is safe to treat you.

McTimoney Chiropractors have a very finely tuned sense of touch, developed in their four years of training, which enables them to identify misalignments of the vertebrae and other bones. Upon finding a problem, your chiropractor will use one of a number of light, swift and dexterous techniques, characteristic of McTimoney chiropractic, to adjust each individual bone that requires it.

If your chiropractor discovers or suspects a problem, which requires medical investigation or an x-ray, they will refer you to your GP. Wherever possible your McTimoney chiropractor will work in co-operation with your GP.

Will I get help and advice to ensure the problem does not recur?
Yes.
You will receive postural advice after the treatment to help your body get the most benefit from the adjustments you have received, and to raise your awareness of simple things that you may doing every day which may be exacerbating your problem. You may also be given some basic exercises or stretches to do if your chiropractor feels that would be beneficial.

How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions needed varies considerably depending on:
· Your age: you generally heal more slowly as you get older
· The nature of the problem: a simple backache will often clear more quickly than a sciatic problem
· How long you have had the problem: generally, yesterday's injury will resolve faster than one of 20 years' standing

Most patients need between two and six sessions, but your chiropractor will give you a better idea of the probable treatment plan after they have examined you at the first session.

When did chiropractic start?
Chiropractic began in the USA in 1895 when Daniel Palmer developed a theory that a misaligned vertebra could put pressure on a nerve and lead to discomfort, pain or disease.
His first patient had developed neck problems since working in a confined space with a tinnitus loud enough to cause partial deafness. After "adjustment" the patient’s neck and hearing recovered. Palmer opened his school of chiropractic and five of his first 15 graduates were medical doctors.

What’s the difference between chiropractic and osteopathy?
There are differences and similarities, of technique and approach, between the two professions. There are also different practices within each of the two professions.
Osteopaths tend to primarily use techniques for mobilisation of joints. Then they use soft tissue techniques including massage, and thirdly they use manipulation.
Chiropractors primarily use manipulation with soft tissue and mobilisation techniques in support.

Is chiropractic better than physiotherapy?
Physiotherapists do wonderful work, often in very difficult situations. Many of those situations are not ideal for a chiropractor. Most one off soft tissue injuries fall naturally into the remit of the physiotherapist. Also, the work of rehabilitation from operations, strokes, etc.
However when an injury seems to recover and strength is achieved, and again the joint fails, then the chiropractor may be called upon to eliminate structural imbalance as an underlying factor. It is my view that chiropractors are best equipped to diagnose and treat the mechanical dysfunctions that develop from subtle structural imbalances.

To define physiotherapists as better or worse than chiropractors is like saying opticians are better than dentists. The comparison is spurious and the two professions should work alongside and with each other.

What is a McTimoney Chiropractor?
A McTimoney Chiropractor is a chiropractor who is trained in and practises chiropractic in the McTimoney method. John McTimoney trained as chiropractor and then developed his own technique that proved to be a particularly effective and yet gentle method. He opened a school to teach the technique in the early 1970’s. Since then the school has become a College accredited to Degree status and has around 500 graduates, making up around one third of all chiropractors practising in the UK.

How is McTimoney Chiropractic different from other forms of chiropractic?
McTimoney Chiropractors take a thorough history from the patient and asses the patient initially for contra indications and for systemic or pathological reasons for symptoms, in which case a GP referral is made. A detailed explanation is given to the patient about the methodology of the treatment. Rarely are X-rays required before treatment.
The treatment starts with a detailed examination which is repeated every time the patient presents. McTimoney Chiropractors always examine and treat the total structural alignment. The skeletal structure reacts as a whole to imbalances and also responds as a whole to realignment.
The McTimoney Chiropractor therefore treats what is found to be misaligned rather than what is indicated by symptoms. Where these do not correspond then other pathological reasons need consideration.

Do you have to be registered to practise chiropractic in the UK?
The General Chiropractic Council (GCC) is the statutory regulator for the profession and has opened the register for practising chiropractors. When this closes in summer 2001, the title will become protected and it will be illegal to practise chiropractic without being on the register. The GCC will regulate standards of training and safe and competent practise for chiropractors in the UK.

Adults:
New patient initial consultation and treatment: £40
Follow up treatment: £30

Children:
New patient initial consultation and treatment: £30
Follow up treatment: £22

John trained at the McTimoney Chiropractic College in Oxford qualifying in 1995.

As a student he represented the College at the World Conference of Chiropractic Students.

John is a Member of the McTimoney Chiropractic Association and the College of Chiropractic. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences having worked for 23 years in Oral Pathology at the Dental Hospital Birmingham.

John has been practising in Moseley since 1996.

John is interested in hiking, cycling and currently sings with a local choir, "The Phoenix Singers".

McTimoney Chiropractic Association
www.mctimoney-chiropractic.org

General Chiropractic Council
ww.gcc-uk

McTimoney Chiropractic College
www.mctimoney-college.ac.uk

Holos
ww.holoshealthcare.co.uk

BackCare
ww.backcare.org.uk

Welcome to Moseley
www.welcometomoseley.com


Occasionally working at the BAC Centre:
Jo Hanstead
www.johanstead.co.uk

Kevin trained at the McTimoney Chiropractic College and has been practising in Moseley since qualifying in 1996.

Kevin was awarded Fellowships by both the McTimoney Chiropractic Association and the College of Chiropractic for his work on behalf of the profession. He currently serves on the General Chiropractic Council, the statutory regulatory body for the profession and this includes many of their committees.

Kevin's previous career was in automotive production management.

Kevin was a county level rugby player and continues as a Coach for the junior rugby teams at Old Yarleians RFC. Kevin is FA qualified in Sports Injuries and has a keen interest in all sports and fitness. He is a keen cyclist and has one son. Following his son's career Kevin has developed an enthusiastic interest in dance and in particular ballet.

Barbara trained at the Oxfordshire College of Chiropractic in Banbury Oxfordshire. She is one of the few chiropractors who trained under the supervision of John McTimoney - the innovator of McTimoney Chiropractic Technique.

She is a Fellow of the McTimoney Chiropractic College (MCC) and a fellow of the College of Chiropractors.
Barbara has been in practise for over 25 years and also has over 20 years teaching experience at MCC. She was Head of Practical & Clinical Studies, which included managing clinics all over the UK.

Throughout the 1990's Barbara was involved in the development of standards for chiropractic education in the UK. She also held the post as Director of the College and then a Director of the MCC Trust and worked for more than 14 years as a Executive Officer of the McTimoney Chiropractic Association.

Barbara's other qualifications include massage, nutrition & Cranial Sacral Therapy. Barbara is a founder Director of the BAC Centre. She is married to Kevin Grant and they have one son. Barbara's is a Friend of Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Brian graduated from the McTimoney College of Chiropractic having successfully completed BSc (Hons) in Chiropractic.

Brian previously worked in the field of Corporate Insurance Broking, however wanted a challenging and rewarding career where he could make a real difference. McTimoney Chiropractic, with its holistic approach to health, accessibility to both young and old and gentle low-force techniques appealed greatly to Brian and has opened up a fantastic new career to him.

Brian enjoys hiking, running and is a keen musician. But most of all loves being a Chiropractor.

Kathy was drawn to McTimoney Chiropractic following a serious cycling accident in 1983 leaving her in constant pain. After receiving Osteopathy and McTimoney Chiropractic she discovered it was possible to combine the Chiropractic training with her profession as a cellist. She qualified in 1996 after 4 years at the McTimoney Chiropractic College.

She was one of the first Chiropractors to work for the NHS at a fund holding GP's surgery. Kathy was pleased to have joined The BAC Centre having previously been in great demand in Somerset, Shropshire, Malvern and Birmingham.