Chiropractic treatments are commonly used for musculoskeletal conditions (affecting the muscles, bones and joints).
These conditions include:
- lower back pain
- neck pain
- shoulder pain and problems
- slipped discs
- leg pain and sciatica
- pain or problems with hip, knee, ankle and foot joints
- pain or problems with elbow, wrist and hand joints
- fibromyalgia
Some chiropractors treat a wide range of conditions that are unrelated to muscles, bones and joints, such as:
- asthma
- allergies
- painful periods
- infant colic
- headache and migraine
- high blood pressure
- mental health conditions, such as depression, phobias or anxiety disorders
- gastrointestinal disorders (of the stomach and bowel)
They may also use chiropractic treatments to maintain overall good health.
Guidance from the General Chiropractic Council
The General Chiropractic Council says that treatment provided by chiropractors should:
- be informed by the best available evidence, the preferences of the patient and the expertise of practitioners
- be appropriate to the patient’s current state of health and health needs
- minimise risks to that patient
NICE recommended uses
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides guidelines to the NHS on use of treatments and care of patients. Currently, NICE recommends that spinal manipulation - as practised by chiropractors - be considered as a treatment option for one condition:
- Persistent low back pain (that has lasted longer than six weeks, and less than one year.)
