Guide · Published
Looking for bone-setting in London? What a registered chiropractor does
Many people call spinal and joint adjustment “bone-setting” (正骨). In the UK, chiropractic is a regulated profession: how to check a chiropractor, what a first visit involves and who it may suit.
What people mean by “bone-setting”
Many Chinese-speaking patients use the word 正骨 (“bone-setting”) for having their spine or joints adjusted. In the UK, the closest regulated profession is chiropractic. “Chiropractor” is a protected title: anyone using it must be registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC), which means they have completed an approved degree, work to professional standards and keep their training up to date.
The quick, controlled movement a chiropractor applies to a stiff joint is called a chiropractic adjustment (also known as spinal manipulation, or SMT).
How to check a chiropractor is registered
Search the clinician's name on the GCC register. Our chiropractor, Dr Lok Sze Candice Wong (Chiropractor), is GCC registered (registration number 06046).
What happens at a first visit
- History – your symptoms, how they started and your general health.
- Examination – posture, movement, joints, muscles and, if needed, nerve tests, plus screening for anything that needs a doctor instead.
- Explanation and consent – what we found, the options and any risks, in English, Cantonese or Mandarin.
- Treatment if appropriate – an adjustment, or gentler mobilisation and soft-tissue work if that suits you better, with advice and exercises.
An adjustment is only done after an assessment and with your agreement. Mild soreness for a day or two afterwards is common.
Who it may suit
Chiropractic care may help some people with mechanical neck or back pain, stiffness and some headaches linked to the neck. It is not suitable for everyone – for example after a recent fracture, with weakened bones or with certain medical conditions – which is why we screen first. Outcomes vary from person to person.
When to get help urgently
If you have pain with new numbness around the groin or buttocks, loss of bladder or bowel control, weakness in both legs, fever or unexplained weight loss, call us for a same-day assessment and imaging. For more severe symptoms go straight to A&E, and call 999 for life-threatening signs.
At UK Pain Clinic
- Chiropractic adjustments are provided by our GCC-registered chiropractor; see chiropractic.
- Spinal manipulation is also available within a physiotherapy appointment with our Clinical Lead Physiotherapist.
- All our clinicians speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin – see Cantonese & Mandarin.
- See our fees or book online. Using insurance? Check with us before you book.
Sources: General Chiropractic Council · NHS: chiropractic
This guide is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. A clinician will assess you before recommending any treatment, and outcomes vary from person to person. Read our full disclaimer
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