What does a chiropractor actually do - and why pair it with massage?
- community6824
- 20 hours ago
- 4 min read
Holly, our chiropractor at our Islington studio, is here to tell you everything you want to know about chiropractic care, including why combining it with massage often makes such a difference.
by Holly Walsh, edited by Yuki Kishimoto
In short
Chiropractic care looks at how your spine, joints, muscles, and nervous system are working together. At Abuelita’s Wellbeing in Islington, Holly offers chiropractic treatment that is careful, precise, and much more thoughtful than the usual stereotype. This article is written by Holly to explain what she does, what your first session might feel like, who chiropractic care can suit, and why combining it with massage can sometimes be the thing that finally helps your body hold onto change.
The following article has been written by our chiropractor, Holly, to give you a clearer understanding of what chiropractic care is and what you can expect from a session. We hope you find it helpful - let’s dive in!
What does a chiropractor do?
If you have never seen a chiropractor before, you might be wondering what actually happens during an appointment.
A lot of people picture simply "having their back cracked." But there is a lot more that goes on! The first appointment is understanding why you are in pain or why your body is not moving like it used to.
This involves a detailed assessment to discover the source of the problem and how to get you feeling comfortable again.
What can a chiropractor help with?
People commonly see a chiropractor for:
Neck pain and headaches
Low back pain
Shoulder pain
Posture-related tension
Jaw pain (TMD)
Sports injuries
Hip or knee pain
General aches and pains related to pregnancy
Many people also see a chiropractor to help them stay active, improve flexibility, and to manage recurring pain before it limits them further.
Your first appointment
Your first appointment at Abuelita’s begins with a discussion of your symptoms, lifestyle and medical history. This will help us understand where the pain is and what might be causing it. An examination is carried out which may include assessing:
Posture
Joint and muscle movement
Nerve function
Mobility
Sometimes, the area of pain is not where the problem is: a headache can be due to neck dysfunction, while hip pain can be coming from the low back. This is called "referred pain" and can cause us to feel symptoms in an area that is different to the source.
An assessment can also tell us if chiropractic is suitable for you. If this is not the case, I can explain why and we can discuss other treatment options.
Is chiropractic treatment just "cracking backs"?
No, spinal adjustments are one of many techniques chiropractors can use. Not everyone needs a chiropractic adjustment, and I combine my approach with dry needling, soft tissue work, rehab and lifestyle recommendations where appropriate.
If a spinal manipulation is appropriate, this involves a quick stretch of the restricted joint, often, but not always, followed by a "crack" sound. This is gas releasing from the joint and should not be painful. Many people feel more flexible and relaxed after manipulation.
Chiropractic and massage: why do they work so well together?
When massage and chiropractic care are combined, the body often has a better chance to respond.
Massage addresses the muscle and fascial tension that is a result of compensation, postural issues, or heightened nervous system sensitivity.
Chiropractic care can then address the joint restriction and structural issues, usually in the spine, allowing the surrounding tissues to relax. This helps break compensation patterns in the body.
Together, they help improve movement and function and make it easier for you to stay active – a better chance for the results to last.
This is the idea behind our Reset & Relief integrative pathway. Many clients find that combining treatments over six to eight weeks achieves more than either approach did on its own.
July’s Offer: Massage + Initial chiropractic consultation - £150
60-minute massage with any of our Massage Therapists (either sports, deep tissue, restorative or holistic deep tissue) + one initial chiropractic consultation with Holly at Tileyard Islington - £150 (Save £15)
We usually suggest booking your massage first, at either Hackney or in Islington, and then coming in for your first chiropractic consultation, but you can also follow up with a massage after. As long as you book the sessions close to eachother (within 2 weeks ideally), the results will be seen immediately.
Many people feel nervous before a chiropractic session as they don’t know what to expect, but a large part of the first appointment is to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and decide together what the best treatment is for you.
To book, or simply ask a question, email hello@abuelitas.co.uk with a few sentences about what has been going on. We will help you put the two sessions together.
It is ok if you are still not sure
You do not need to know whether your pain is “muscular,” “structural,” “postural,” “stress-related,” or something else before you get in touch. That is what the assessment is for.
Email us at hello@abuelitas.co.uk and tell us, in your own words, what you are feeling and what you have already tried. We will suggest a good starting point.
