What, Why and How?

Ronald Pierce
3 hours ago
9 min read

Chiropractic… What is it? Why use it? How does it work?

By Ronald Pierce, GamePlan Chiropractic and Rehab Oct 24, 2025

Ok, so if you know nothing else about Chiropractic, you probably associate it with neck pain, back pain, or headaches. That may not be all we can do, but fair enough… Those are the most common reasons people seek chiropractic care. For low back pain, spinal manipulation and other manual therapies show benefit of short-term improvements in pain and function compared to minimal or no treatment.

For neck pain, evidence is similar: modest but real benefits, particularly for acute (short-term) cases. Manipulation and mobilisation can help reduce pain and improve movement, especially when combined with exercise. Often without the need for the scary HVLA adjustments / manipulations you often see on social media. Simple massage, stretches and exercises get that job done. But if you want that click or pop, well we will discuss all the details with you first to make sure you make an informed decision.

There’s some moderate evidence or support for the use of chiropractic care in managing certain types of headaches, particularly cervicogenic (neck-related) and tension-type headaches. The American College of Physicians and NICE guidelines both include spinal manipulation among non-pharmacological options for these.

Yet, the point of this article or blog post is to highlight that the hands-on care we can provide, and you may love… is not all we do. It may not even be the best tool at our disposal. While it is something I provide and love to do so, let me expand your view and understanding of what Chiropractic is and what it can do.

No History Lesson Here:

Today’s topic is not the history of Chiropractic and manual therapy. I have done a presentation on that in the past and I plan to dig it out, share it and update it for a later project. No, for this article, I simply want to expand your knowledge on what Chiropractors can do.

What is it? Well according to the NHS:

“Chiropractic is a treatment where a practitioner called a chiropractor uses their hands to help relieve problems with the bones, muscles and joints.”

– Good start, but limited. Leaves out the additional stuff we can and should be doing.

The GCC (General Chiropractic Council):

“Chiropractors are qualified healthcare professionals who can assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, such as back and neck pain, minor sports injuries and sciatica. As well as relieving symptoms of pain and discomfort, chiropractors can also improve mobility and reduce disability associated with muscle and joint problems.”

– A bit more specific, more scope alluded to.

The RCC (Royal College of Chiropractic): Well they don’t define it…

Unlike the GCC, which regulates chiropractors and protects the public, the RCC is a professional membership body that promotes high standards, research, and postgraduate development within the profession. It aims to help develop and guide best practice guidelines.

The RCC may not define Chiropractic, but its mission reflects what modern chiropractic should look like. The RCC represents and promotes a version that is evidence-informed, patient-centred, and collaborative. It supports clinicians in combining hands-on care with the latest guidance on exercise, rehabilitation, and lifestyle management. While providing CPD opportunities, topics and courses it also works to educate practitioners on the evidence outside of manual therapy as well.

In other words, where the GCC sets the legal and ethical framework, the RCC helps to raise the professional bar, guiding how chiropractors integrate current evidence, improve patient outcomes, and maintain quality in practice.

Ron Pierce of GamePlan Chiropractic and Rehab is proud to report he is a Fellow of the Royal College of Chiropractic.

What can we do? What is the ‘scope’ of Chiropractic?

The RCC may not define Chiropractic but it does have a section that pretty tidily describes what we can do to help:

“Chiropractors offer a wide range of interventions including, but not limited to, manual therapy (soft-tissue techniques, mobilisation and spinal manipulation), exercise rehabilitation and self-management advice, and utilise psychologically-informed programmes of care. Chiropractic, like other healthcare professions, is informed by the evidence base and develops accordingly. “

There we go! We are starting to get a better look at it. For simplicity, lets just look at a list of what Chiropractors can do:

Manual Spinal / Joint Adjustments & Manipulations
Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Conditions
Imaging Referral / Ordering Diagnostic Tests (exact privileges may depend on clinic setting and local agreements.)
Soft Tissue Therapy / Sport Massage
Exercise Therapy / Programming
Lifestyle Advice / Modification
Sport / Field Work (additional certifications required for higher levels, i.e. PHICIS Level 2)
Full rehabilitation, Post-Surgical Rehab (Some restrictions may apply, and will depend on experience level, and additional training) - Recognize your weaknesses and strengths, best bet here is someone you trust and will collaborate with PTs and Physios to make sure all aspects of your recovery are handled appropriately.

As you can see, loads of overlap with what you may traditionally think of as physio only. Or perhaps you’ve just learned that chiropractic is about more than just a satisfying click or two.

So what can’t we do??

We can’t cure cancer… that should be obvious but if you know, you know.

In all seriousness, something we can’t do that a DPT can, is take courses that allow us some degree of prescription power, like injections.

We also can’t do surgeries. Additionally, in the UK when involved in sports, while the skills and training may be there, legally we cannot be the head medical officer or lead rehab clinician as it requires oversight of services outside our scope. But now we are getting lost in the weeds. Most day to day clients won't care or need to know this. But maybe a fellow clinician has come across this article and learned something.

Now, I want to caveat here and say.. The above may change when diplomates and additional specialty or special interest qualifications come into play.

Wrapping “What?” Up

What matters to clients; we can use massage, and other hands on treatments to make you feel good or better, and then guide you through homework and training that will set you up for longer term success.

That’s the real goal:

Relief → Recovery → Resilience.

For more information on basic exercise and activity requirements and maybe get some ideas on how to get started, check out my other blogs. Specifically check out “Work. Move. Play. Feel Better.”

How? Why?

Unfortunately my explanation of why may be a bit boring for you, if not a touch cliché. Everyone’s ‘why’ is different. If you want to know more about why I became a chiropractor, get an initial glimpse into what drives me, you can check out my other blog post: “Introducing: GamePlan Chiropractic & Rehab”.

For the other ‘why’... Well that is on the client. They need to know their ‘why’. If they don’t we will try to figure that out together. It could be important, no… crucial to the client’s outcome. It may not happen right away. It may change. It may evolve. I hope to help you in that process the best I can. I will meet you where you are and help you keep going or get going.

You, as a client, do not have to have a deep reason for seeking some care. But if it is a recurring issue… It may be worth asking yourself more questions. For many or most people, the initial time I see them, the answer can be as simple as;

“ I am in pain, and I just want it to go away”

Completely valid.

Sometimes that ‘why’ becomes more philosophical, more literal, more foresight driven. Sometimes it is just down to preference. My job is to share as much evidence based education and knowledge and direction with you as I can within my scope. That is part of what drives me and brings us all the way back to my “why”.

Enough about me, back to you.

Your why. Maybe it’s about getting back on the ice, on the pitch, picking up your kid without thinking about your back, or just waking up and feeling like yourself again.

Maybe you feel on top of it all, but you just need a bit of help loosening up after hard training sessions, long work days. Maybe you struggle with mobility and niggles. Maybe you have past experience with manual therapy and it works for you. Fantastic! Let’s crack on, as long as it is safe for us to do so, I am happy to fill that role. I am happy to support you as your goals shift from relief, to recovery, to long-term resilience and maintenance.

Sometimes that means hands-on care to calm things down. Other times it means guided movement, strength work, or habit changes that build you back up.

The Other “Why”?

When people think about why they might choose chiropractic, it’s not always about “fixing” something. It’s often about finding a healthcare approach that values movement, self-awareness, and collaboration. Often with an aim to do so without overreliance on medication or ‘quick fixes’.

I know, we all love the idea of a ‘quick fix’, One simple trick, one simple exercise, or a quick click / pop. But unfortunately time, education and patience are the true fixes. A great Chiropractor knows this, and can help you accept it, while offering relief. Even if that relief is temporary for most, that window opens for movement, rest and rehab.

Pharmaceuticals certainly have their place.

Hot take: I respect the hell out of pharmacists. Pharmaceuticals are a net positive on society, even if the same industry that gave us vaccines (saving well over 100 million lives) and cancer drugs and other life saving drugs… is the same industry that gave us the opioid epidemic.

When medication is necessary, what you need may be life-changing.

That’s where Chiropractic should fit in beautifully in a modern medicine setting:

It combines hands-on care (to reduce pain and improve movement) with evidence-based exercise and lifestyle guidance (to make those improvements stick).

Manual therapy helps you feel better by modulating symptoms.
Movement and strength help you stay better.

I don’t see chiropractic as an alternative to medicine, I see it as a complement to good science and sound self-care.

If I can help you move more, move better, and feel more confident in your body, I’ve done my job.

Lets wrap this section up with a nice redundant, but more visually appealing and simple, list:

Why Choose Chiropractic?

It starts with movement, not medication.Most musculoskeletal pain responds best to movement-based care; exercise, education, and self-management are first-line recommendations in NICE and ACP guidelines. Chiropractic builds around that foundation.

It’s hands-on, but not hands-only.Manual therapy can reduce pain and improve mobility in the short term, creating a window for long-term rehab and activity. Well rounded and a wide range of both exercise selection and area of mobilisation is a great recipe for improved resiliency.

It respects the body’s ability to adapt. Rather than “fixing” you, chiropractic aims to help you restore and retrain movement so your body can handle more, hurt less, and recover faster. Ultimately letting and encouraging the body to do what it does best: adapt.

It’s personalised care, not protocol care.Each plan is built around your goals, current capacity and participation readiness. Whether that’s pain relief, performance, or just being able to move freely again.

It saves time, energy, and often money.Evidence shows early access to musculoskeletal care (chiropractic, physiotherapy, etc.) reduces imaging, specialist referrals, and unnecessary medication use — all of which drive up cost and recovery time.

It fills the “gap” between pain and performance.You don’t need to be broken to benefit. Chiropractic can bridge that middle ground, helping people move from pain to progress, and from rehab to performance.

It supports lifestyle change without preaching it.Chiropractors are one of a few professions with the authority and scope to provide a diagnosis, prognosis and explanation of what and why is going on with a client. Also having the direct ability to influence lifestyle, and exercise habits. When we do our job correctly and as evidence based as possible, this also comes with the responsibility to confront and assist in overcoming the obstacles that client will face in the journey to improved health.

It works with medicine, not against it.Chiropractors in the UK are regulated healthcare professionals — trained to triage, refer when necessary, and collaborate with GPs, physios, and other clinicians.

How?

Funnily enough… I wrote that answering the “how” as well.A great Chiropractor is always working to do so with the best evidence available and willingness to let you know when we may not be your best choice at that moment. When you need to go back to the GP, when you need to go to A&E and when to be patient.

When that is all clear, then Chiropractic can help you feel better, move more, and learn about your body.

Wrapping It Up

At its core, my brand of Chiropractic isn’t about magic fixes or miracle clicks. No service should be.

It’s about creating a space where science meets movement, lived experience meets the data, athlete meets desk warrior, where hands-on care opens the door to better habits, pushing limits and feeling better. Whatever that may look like for you!