Chiropractic
If you are reading this, you are likely dealing with some form of discomfort—whether it is persistent pain in your lower back, tension in your neck, or a recurring issue in your shoulder, knee or somewhere else. When pain becomes a regular part of life, it can be physically exhausting and deeply frustrating, restricting your ability to enjoy the things you love and impact your confidence.
I often hear from people who feel quite disheartened about physical therapy, and are especially weary of chiropractic. They frequently tell me of their past experiences that provided initial relief, but only for the pain to return, trapping them in a cycle of recurring discomfort and frequent treatment visits. Some describe care that felt generic and impersonal, while others recall rushed sessions that lacked any real progress or adaptation.
These experiences are unfortunately common, and the truth is, while these approaches may provide some relief, they often fall short of addressing the unique complexities of the body.
The Pain-Based Approach: Why It Feels Familiar but Falls Short
After graduating from university, many practitioners use what is known as the pain-based model. This approach focuses on alleviating symptoms, but does not investigate the root causes. While this may bring relief, it often does not fully resolve the issue long term.
Two main factors explain why this method is so common. First, the education for chiropractors, osteopaths, and physiotherapists typically emphasises a medicine and pathology model which focuses on symptoms rather than exploring biomechanics and physics. Second, patients usually believe that the area where they feel pain is the source of the problem, so it feels logical to focus treatment in that location. This viewpoint, however, oversimplifies the complexity of the body.
It should be mentioned, the pain-based model is not inherently bad—it can provide fast relief, and in some cases, that is exactly what is needed. However, for many patients, it does not go far enough and their issues keep recurring.
The Biomechanical Model
The biomechanical or functional model is based on physics and the concept that the body functions as an interconnected system; pain is often a reflection of underlying dysfunction. For example, lower back pain may stem from weakness or imbalances in the muscles of the core, poor foot mechanics, restricted spinal movement or most likely a combination of all of these elements.
Like a finely tuned machine, where each part depends on the others for everything to work, if one component is out of alignment or underperforming, the rest must compensate, creating stress.
The biomechanical model shifts the focus to correcting the foundations of movement, posture, and balance. It’s a comprehensive approach that does not ignore pain, but aims to address it by restoring function. From this perspective a clear path to lasting relief can be taken.
What to Expect:
Individualized Care
At the heart of this method is the understanding that no two bodies are exactly the same. This is why each treatment starts with a thorough functional assessment, designed to uncover what areas are needing addressed on that day.
Functional assessment focuses on how your body moves, how forces are distributed, and where imbalances or dysfunction may exist. From the insights gained, individualized treatment strategies and specific exercises can be prescribed. Each visit then becomes an opportunity to reassess, refine your progress, and build upon what was previously achieved.
During the course of sessions different areas may become symptomatic. Should this happen focus will be changed toward addressing the functional units that are likely involved. Alternatively, imbalances can be stubborn to shift, and focus may need to change toward movement pattern exercises. By working in this way treatment constantly evolves and adapts as your body responds, heals and strengthens.
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