Giving your spine some attention via the expert touch of a chiropractor can be the key to relieving a whole range of ailments, discovers Zeena Lemon.

When it comes to taking

the literal strain out of daily life, chiropractic treatment has been proven to offer a safe, practical solution to physical problems as varied as back and neck pain to infant colic.

Chiropractors use a wide range of manipulation techniques to treat conditions and reduce pain resulting from problems with joints, bones, muscles and ligaments, particularly in the spine.

Chiropractor Catherine Owers, who runs the Three Counties Chiropractic Clinic with fellow chiropractor Stephanie George, says: "We help the body to heal itself by restoring motion and increasing circulation to the affected areas.

"Pain is very wearing and chiropractic can help people where nothing else has. It is a holistic therapy so we look at everything affecting a person's life from lifestyle to diet in an attempt to treat the root cause of the problem."

Back and neck pain, migraine, sports injuries and sciatica are just some of the conditions that can benefit from a course of treatment.

Catherine says: "Often disorders of the spine can upset the autonomic nervous system and various problems that do not seem to be related to the spine can develop, such as dizziness, or asthma in children and young adults. Occasionally, chiropractic treatment can also relieve a whole range of other complaints, including catarrh and sinus problems, digestive disorders, constipation and menstrual disorders."

This is no 'new-age' alternative therapy. The effectiveness of chiropractic treatment is supported by researchas well asby various UK government and medical organisations. Chiropractic may even be available to patients under the NHS at the discretion of specific primary dare trusts.

As chiropractic is a primary health care profession, patients can see chiropractors in a private capacity through self-referral, safe in the knowledge that if any underlying problems are found they will be referred on to the most appropriate health care professional.

Catherine trained for five years before qualifying. She says: "Chiropractors are highly skilled and very knowledgeable when it comes to joints, bones and muscles. In fact, we do more anatomy training than GPs, which is why, if there is an underlying problem that we can't deal with we will know who to refer on to."

Chiropractors are also highly regulated, as one of the only officially recognised complementary therapies. Under the 1994 Chiropractor Act, all chiropractors must be registered with The General Chiropractic Council.

A visit to a chiropractor will usually involve the giving of a detailed case history followed up by an examination. The chiropractor will then advise on the best course of action.

Spine lines: which vertebrae affect which parts of your body

Neck

C1 Blood supply to the head; pituitary gland; scalp; bones of the face, brain, inner and middle ear; sympathetic nervous system; eyes

C2 Eyes, optic nerves, auditory nerves, sinuses, mastoid bones, tongue, forehead, heart

C3 Cheeks, outer ear, face, bones, teeth, lungs

C4 Nose, lips, mouth, eustachian tube, mucus membranes, lungs

C5 Vocal cords, neck glands, pharynx

C6 Neck muscles, shoulders tonsils

C7 Thyroid gland, bursa in the shoulders, elbows

upper back

T1 Lower arm, hands, arms, wrists and fingers

T2 Heart, lungs, bronchial tubes

T3 Lungs, bronchial tubes, pleura, chest, breast heart

T4 Gallbladder, lungs, bronchial tubes

T5 Liver, solar plexus, circulation, heart, oesophagus, stomach

T6 Stomach, oesophagus, peritoneum, duodenum

T7 Pancreas, duodenum, stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder, peritoneum

T8 Spleen, stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, adrenal cortex, small intestine, pyloric valve

T9 Adrenal cortex, pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, ovaries, uterus, small intestine

T10 Kidneys, appendix, testes, ovaries, uterus. adrenal cortex, spleen, pancreas, large intestine

T11 Kidneys, ureters, large intestine, bladder, adrenal medulla, adrenal cortex, uterus, ovaries

T12 Small intestine, lymph circulation. bladder, uterus, kidneys

Lower back

L1 Large intestine, inguinal rings, uterus

L2 Appendix, abdomen, upper leg, bladder

L3 Sex organs,

uterus, bladder, knees, prostate gland, large intestine

L4 Prostate gland, muscles of the lower back, sciatic nerve

L5 Lower legs, ankles, feet, prostate gland

Contacts

The General Chiropractic Council

This is the the regulatory body for chiropractic treatment. Find out more at

www. gcc-uk.org

The British Chiropractic Association This professional body group represents more than half of internationally registered chiropractors and their website provides information about everything from the techniques to finding a chiropractor in your local area. www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk

Three Counties Chiropractic Clinic

Offers a free 10-minute spinal check to find out if chiropractic can help. Call 01684 562323 or visit www.3countieschiropractic.co.uk