The South Coast Clinic

Chiropractic focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractic is the largest primary healthcare profession in the world, after medicine and dentistry. Chiropractic is also the first allied health profession to achieve Royal College status.

It emphasizes manual therapy including joint and soft tissue manipulation and mobilisation as well as stretching and strengthening exercises, and health and lifestyle counselling. Chiropractors are regulated by statute and may therefore treat and diagnose conditions for which suitably qualified medical advice should be sought. Chiropractors must undertake a minimum of 4800 hours training; the course is similar in length, size and complexity to medicine and is spread full-time over 4-6 years. Chiropractors then typiclaly undertake a further year of clinical based training The medical disciplines are covered in detail, such as anatomy, pathology, physiology, general diagnosis and radiology. There is a greater focus on neurology and orthopaedics (the study of nerves, muscles and joints), biomechanics and a focus on manual treatment methods e.g. manipulation, mobilisation, stretching, soft tissue work and rehabiltiation exercises rather than medication or surgery (although this is studied, it is in less detail than medicine).