By Dr Jeremy Balbin – BHSc(Chiro), MClinChiro
I am a chiropractor. But my definition may differ from yours. This may be because I went to a different university to you, or I practice differently to you or your chiropractor, or maybe just that my understanding about chiropractic is based on actual facts and not public perception.
I have been around chiropractic for much of my life. My mother had seen a chiropractor for 35 years and took me to see him too as a teenager up until I started studying it. After 10 years of receiving chiro care, 5 years of study and working at 3 different clinics, my philosophy and views on chiropractic has changed quite significantly. But now I believe they are at a point where I feel most comfortable, ethical and confident that I am doing right by each patient that walks through my clinic door.
The following piece was written by a chiropractor in the USA. I have taken inspiration from it and reworded it slightly to reflect my view of chiropractic and my philosophy.
I am a chiropractor. This is what I do:
I do treat pain related to the spine, pelvis, nervous system, and all joints of the body. I do not only treat back pain and neck pain. I use rehabilitation exercises, active release, dry needling, massage and adjustments. I am a chiropractor who rolls around on the ground to demonstrate exercises.
I do believe that the adjustment is a powerful tool, but it’s one of many and it’s not always appropriate. I do not only use adjustments when treating an injury. I am a chiropractor who believes that less-invasive is better than more-invasive. I am a chiropractor who pays attention to research. I am a chiropractor who pays attention to my patients. I am evidence-based. I am holistic.
I do enjoy working with those who want to heal quickly and are willing to be an active participant in their care. I do not only treat sports injuries and athletes. I am a chiropractor who makes you work. I am a chiropractor who doesn’t want to see you week after week for months.
I do believe that chiropractic can benefit children, and my future children will have their first chiropractic check early in the life. I do not only believe that chiropractic can benefit adults. I am a chiropractor who thinks that we should get our bodies checked like we get our teeth checked. I am a chiropractor who has been called a ‘body mechanic’. I am a chiropractor who thinks anatomy is fascinating.
I do agree that many patients can benefit from wellness/maintenance care, but this is not the case for everyone. I do not agree that ‘once you see a chiropractor once, you have to keep going’. I do think that movement is a key ingredient to a healthy life. I am a chiropractor who thinks that you know your body better than I do. I am a chiropractor who will find the source of the injury, not the symptom of the injury. I am a chiropractor who will do my best to find a clear diagnosis and give you a careful explanation. I am a primary care provider. I am a doctor of Chiropractic.
I do think that the chiropractic profession needs to do a better job of communicating to the public, so that patients can select a chiropractor that can best meet their needs. I do not like that there is a great divide within our profession, leading to confusion surrounding what we can do. I am a chiropractor who believes in a broad scope of practice. I am a chiropractor who keeps taking courses to broaden my knowledge and abilities. I am a chiropractor who thinks that chiropractic is not the answer for everything.
I am a chiropractor.
Centre 4 Health – All your health needs in one place
I Am A Chiropractor – By Dr Jeremy Balbin (Chiropractor)
Centre 4 Health
Chiropractor Caulfield
368B Hawthorn Road
Caulfield South
VIC 3162
