Commonly Asked Questions

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Chiropractic care is a form of health care concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Assessment and diagnosis may come in the form of simple history taking and physical examination or through more detailed means including medical imaging or referral. Treatment provided by our Chiropractors, is typically consisting of a range of manual therapies which may include spinal manipualtion, soft tissue techniques, exercise rehabilitation, dry needling and lifestyle advice. 

In Australia, Chiropractors must complete an undergraduate and/or a masters level university training over 5 years. 

All accredited Chiropractic programs include units in physical therapy, physical rehabilitation, nutrition, paediatrics, geriatrics, public health, radiology and evidence-based practice. 

A significant portion of the curriculum is related to clinical care of patients and all Chiropractors must complete a one-year supervised clinical internship. 

All registered Chiropractors must complete continued professional development annually and must maintain registration with AHPRA. 

Chiropractic is considered a low risk form of therapy. The aspects of Chiropractic care concerned with spinal manipulation will generally bring the most concern from patients and this is understandable, caring for your neck and back is important! Although spinal manipulation is considered a low risk treatment, we attempt to further mitigate potential adverse reactions by taking a thorough patient medical history as well as considering alternative modes of therapy (such as soft tissue massage, dry needling, low force joint mobilisation) should we feel manipulation may not be appropriate for a given patient. 

In short...not alot! Both Chiropractors and Physiotherapist complete a tertiary education involving an undergraduate and/or masters-level training over the course of 4 (Physio) and 5 (Chiro) years. Both Chiro and Physio are trained extensively in the areas of musculoskeletal health and so there can tend to be overlap in how each profession works!

As mentioned above, there is alot of overlap in the overall educational back ground of both profession and so it can be difficult to know who is best suited to your complaint!

In (very) simple terms, Chiropractic employs a number of hands-on techniques which aim to provide a more immediate element of pain relief and so may be suited to more acute conditions such as neck pain, back pain, headache and strains. Physiotherapy tends to operate through more long-term methods such as rehabiliation exercises and so may be better suited to complaints of knee pain, ankle pain and post-operative care. 

With that being said, every Chiro and Physio is different and so finding the right practitioner for you is key, and both forms of therapy have their place in the long term health of a patient!

Sciatica is a common nerve complaint affecting the lower back and often creates moderate to severe back pain as well as pain running down the back of one (or both) legs. This can occur from a variety of sources, being a compression occuring within the back or potentially as the nerve passes through the leg musculature itself. 

Following a careful assessment of the complaint, Chiropractic can work to try and elleviate the pressure on the nerve as it exits the spine, or as it passes further down the leg. 

Scoliosis refers to a sideways curvature of the spine which may increase pressure on the joints and adjacent muscles of the back causing pain. 

There are a number of factors which contribute to the succesful treatment of a scoliosis, some of which include the severity of the curve and the age in which it is diagnosed; and so depending on these factors will detirmine by how much a scoliosis can be "fixed". 

With that being said, the symptoms of pain, stiffness and poor range of motion are still able to be treated and managed and may provide a greater quality of life for the patient concerned. For patients concerned about their (or a child's) posture or potential scoliosis, we recommend making an appointment for an in-clinic consultation so an accurate diagnosis can be made. 

At Butler Chiropractic, our Chiropractors feel comfortable treating Children aged 3 and older. This is a personal decision based upon the experience of our practitioners. 

We are happy to provide potential Chiropractic recommendations for infants should they be required. 

Yes! We are HICAPs enabled and so can process any major health fund on the spot, leaving you with only the gap to pay.