Your initial chiropractic consultation will take roughly 40 minutes and will include the following:

• A comprehensive review of your medical history

• Assessment of your symptoms

• Goals for your care

• Physical examination

• Posture check

• Range of motion testing

• Orthopaedic testing

• Balance testing

• Strength testing

• Reflex testing

• If the chiropractor feels deems appropriate they will include an adjustment to start to get you back on the right track.

Chiropractic adjustments are painless. They are specific, gentle movements that restore motion and balance, ultimately taking pressure off so your body can heal. Some patients may hear a “cracking” or “popping” sound during their adjustments, which is simply the release of gas bubbles from the joints as they become more mobile (it is not your bones crunching like a lot of people tend to think!). While this is usually a new sensation, it is not painful (and feels like a great pressure release!). Just like after exercising, sometimes areas can feel slightly achy, but this is your body getting used to moving in a better way again and does not mean you are taking backwards steps.

1. Consultation

Your consultation is a thorough assessment of your health and your symptoms. Your chiropractor will listen to and assess your needs, identify the best approach to tackle your complaints, and get started on getting you back to feeling great.

2. Report of findings

Your chiropractor will talk you through what they found in the consultation and explain the cause of your pain. They will also map out the options available to you to solve the problem, including things you can do at home to get you back to your best health.

3. Pain Relief

The first goal of your care is to help you feel and move better, and to get there as quickly as possible. Your chiropractor will talk to you about the type and frequency of care which is best suited to you.

4. Functional re-assessment

Your chiropractor will check-in with you and re-do functional tests to review your progress and make sure that you are on the right track.

5. Stabilisation

Once you are feeling better and the pain has significantly reduced, you can progress on to solving the root cause of your problem to minimise the chance of the issues returning.

6. Wellness

You can opt to continue with further check-ups to keep you in good shape, almost like an MOT for your car but for your spinal health. Our long-term goal is for you to live a healthy and pain-free life.

Chiropractic care can assist with a variety of conditions including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, joint pain, headaches, sports injuries, frozen shoulder, and issues related to posture. It can also help enhance overall wellness by improving mobility, flexibility, and body mechanics. Visit our “How we help” page to find out about these more in-depth.

Our practice is located in the Light Centre Belgravia at 9 Eccleston Street, just a 3-minute walk from Victoria station. We are easily accessible by public transport, and on-street parking is available subject to availability.

We are recognised by most of the larger health insurance providers, and some of the smaller ones as well. However, each insurer offers different levels of cover and has its own policies, so we are not registered with every provider. The best way to confirm whether your care will be covered is to contact your insurer directly before your first visit. Simply let them know you’d like to attend our practice, and they will advise you on what is required and what your policy covers.

Unfortunately, we are not currently registered with BUPA. If you hold BUPA cover, you are very welcome to attend as a private patient, but you will not be able to reclaim costs from your policy.

For patients insured with AXA, our fees are as follows:

• Initial consultation: £50

• Follow-up sessions: £45

AXA may sometimes issue an authorisation code for a set number of sessions. Please note that this does not always guarantee full financial coverage, so it’s important to clarify this with AXA beforehand to avoid any unexpected out-of-pocket expenses. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to continue as a private patient.

To invoice AXA Health directly on your behalf, we will need the following details:

• AXA Member Number

• AXA Claim Number

• Details of any policy excess

• Number of sessions authorised

Please note: our team is only able to process AXA invoices with the information you provide. For any questions regarding your coverage, allowances, or claims, you will need to contact AXA directly.

If you have any further queries, feel free to get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to guide you where we can.

Treatment prices start at £45 per visit. We have different payment packs available depending on how much treatment you need. Your Chiropractor will talk you through your different options during your Report of Findings appointment.

No, you do not need to be referred to us by your GP. However, if you have private health insurance that you would like to use to cover your care, you may be required by your insurer to obtain a letter from your GP before seeing us.

Chiropractors undergo extensive training, which typically includes a 4-5 year degree to achieve a Masters in Chiropractic (MChiro) degree. This program covers anatomy, neurology, general medicine, physiology, pathology, biomechanics, rehabilitation, radiology, and a clinical internship amongst other topics.

Chiropractic care focuses primarily on improving function in the body (predominantly the spine and nervous system) through specific adjustments. It has this focus because the spine is very closely linked to the nervous system which is comparable to the body’s master control system - so it’s crucial in dictating how our we function and heal from pain, underlying imbalances, dysfunction, or injuries.

Physiotherapy tends to emphasise physical rehabilitation predominantly using exercises, and osteopathy usually aims to improve the flow of blood to the muscles and functional tissues.

It is important to note that each healthcare professional may work slightly differently to one another within the professions and there are also some overlaps between the three disciplines. All practitioners aim to improve mobility, optimise function, reduce pain, and ultimately improve overall well-being. Each one has its own rationale for the different techniques and approaches used, with each approaching the human body from a slightly different perspective.

After an adjustment, gentle movement (i.e. taking a 5-10 minute walk or stretching) can be very helpful, as well as staying hydrated, being mindful of your posture (ie sitting equally on both sitting bones and standing equally on both feet) and following any prescribed exercises or advice given by your chiropractor.

Ice is generally recommended for flare ups to reduce your swelling and inflammation, numb your pain, and help your muscles to relax. However, your chiropractor will guide you on which is best for your specific condition.

It often surprises people to hear that many people see their chiropractor even when they’re not in pain. Those that choose to do so because they see the benefits in being able to do the things they love and need to do – efficiently, comfortably and for as long as possible. Seeing a chiropractor for maintenance care ensures optimal spinal health and prevention of future issues. It’s just like those that go to their dentist or hygienist for check-ups on their teeth, even when they have no tooth ache!

Yes, massage therapy can be an excellent complement to chiropractic care. It helps to relax muscles and can enhance the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments (before or after they happen). We know massage therapists in the area which we can refer you to if necessary.

Yes, chiropractic care is absolutely safe for expectant mothers! It’s arguably one of the most important times to be getting adjusted. It can help with common pregnancy-related issues such as back pain, pelvic pain, and posture problems. Special techniques and equipment are used to ensure comfort and safety. If you’d like to learn more about this, visit our pregnancy care section on “how we help”.

Feel free to email reception.sw1@chirocorner.co.uk or you can fill in the form on our “contact” page, and we will get back to you!