Chiropractic care in South Africa is low cost, low risk and offers a non-invasive, natural approach to healing. Considering the high costs of medical care in the case of back-related problems, more often resulting in extensive diagnostic procedures, medication, surgery and hospitalisation, it makes financial sense to encourage patients to seek a more cost-effective route which could save medical schemes millions of Rands each year.

Yes, chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small.

No, a referral is usually not required to see a chiropractor. However, your medical aid may have specific referral requirements. You may want to contact your employer’s human resources department, or your medical aid directly, to find out if there are any referral requirements. Most plans allow you to just call and schedule an appointment with a chiropractor.

Most likely, yes. In South Africa, many of the medical schemes make provision for the reimbursement of chiropractic services. The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act provides for complete reimbursement of cases treated by registered chiropractors. However, it also does depend on each person’s payment plan as to the extent to which they are covered. The best option to find out if you are covered to receive chiropractic care is to contact your medical aid for further information.

A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thereby making a certain number of visits necessary and in the patient’s best interest. Your chiropractor should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.

Common question
What is the difference between acupuncture and dry needling?
The origins, approach, diagnostic and technical approach all differ. All in all – the only similarity is the tool that we use = the thinnest needles on the market.

Intramuscular dry needling has a Western origin with scientific evidence of its benefits, also with very strict safety guidelines in South Africa. It is performed by Doctors or Chiropractic and Physiotherapists. It is where we use a fine filament to enter into the injured or painful muscle. The outcome of this technique is to help trigger points to release and to increase bloodflow to an injured area to facilitate healing.

Acupuncture has an Eastern origin and works with energy lines of the body diagnosed by Doctors of Chinese Medicine or therapists registered with PBACMU to treat systemic conditions.

As the years have gone by and the science of chiropractic progressed, we now have a clear understanding that immobile spinal segments in humans actually start in the womb during the last trimester of pregnancy.

Thus, it is very important that spinal alignment be addressed and treated as soon as a baby is discharged from hospital.

Qualified and registered chiropractors do not aim to ‘click’ an infant. We are held to a high standard and protocol that requires soft 2N pressure on the immobile segment to create movement and release the surrounding fascial structures.

Thus, within these parameters, chiropractic is considered to be completely safe for infants.  Chiropractors know the amount of pressure that needs to be used and adapted to age from infancy, right through childhood.  We know just the right amount to help and not injure a joint.

Treatment removes pressure from the nervous system and corrects fascial torque and tension bringing a desired relief for babies who suffer from: colic, reflux, delayed milestones and some feeding difficulties.

Chiropractic is considered a safe and effective treatment for pregnant mothers who suffer from:

1. Lower back pain

A retrospective review showed:

• First time moms who seek chiropractic care throughout gestation have, on average, 25% shorter labour time.
• Women who have had more than one labour would show 31% shorter labour times!

Source: Borggren, C. 2007. Pregnancy and chiropractic: a narrative review of the literature.  Journal of Chiropractic Medicine.