Chiropractic

Chiropractors are specialists in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the spine and the musculoskeletal system generally. Treatment often includes low force manipulation to the spine and other areas on specially designed tables plus mobilisation, massage, health and lifestyle advice.  Appropriate exercises and rehabilitation exercise programmes are often recommended to strengthen core muscles to support the strength of the whole body including the spine. 

Back pain is the most frequent reason people consult a chiropractor including acute and chronic  (longstanding) back pain

Problems suitable to be assessed for treatment by a chiropractor

• Back pain
• Neck stiffness, tension and soreness 
• Sciatica
• Headache which originates in the neck (cervicogenic) 
• Shoulder problems including rotator cuff issues, shoulder pain, dysfunction and soft tissue disorders. 
• Elbow pain or tennis elbow arising from musculoskeletal conditions 
• Minor sports injuries depending on the diagnosis 
• Ankle sprains 
• Plantar fasciitis management
• General aches and pains
• Muscle spasms and cramp

Chiropractors see patients of all ages including infants and pregnant women. 

Doctors of Chiropractic are also trained in radiology and are qualified to use x-ray equipment to assist in diagnosis. Freedom Healthcare clinics use the Nuffield or Horder centre facilities in Sussex and consultant radiologists to assist us where needed with X-ray or MRI studies, results are e-mailed to us usually the same day.

Chiropractic was founded in 1895 and has grown to become the third largest healing profession in the world after medicine and dentistry.  

Training today in the UK is a 4 or 5 year full time BSc./MSc course  Some chiropractic institutions have in the past offered a part time training.

Choosing a Chiropractor in the UK 

All UK chiropractors must be state registered with the General Chiropractic Council, you can check if your Chiropractor is registered by clicking here to access the register:  http://www.gcc-uk.org/. 

There are four chiropractic associations in the UK the oldest and largest is the British Chiropractic Association founded in 1925. BCA members tend to represent the mainstream of the profession and will offer you privacy during timed appointments with gowns offered if needed. They will not treat you in an open plan office along with other patients or spend only a few minutes with you per treatment.  If they offer a discount pre-payment scheme they will refund you any overpayment on request. We recommend you see only BCA members and will be pleased to refer you to your local BCA Chiropractor if you are too distant to consult us in Sussex.

Steven Rudd, the director of Freedom Healthcare, has been in full time practice since 1984. He has attended multiple ongoing professional development courses to keep up to date and to learn new techniques to better serve patients. The Royal College of Chiropractors is the post graduate chiropractic association which monitors chiropractors post graduate education and gives awards to members for their achievement. The highest award is Fellowship of the Royal College which was awarded to Steven Rudd in 2004 and is indicated by FRCC after his name. There are less than 100 Fellows Worldwide.