If you are thinking about seeing a chiropractor and are not sure where to begin, this page is for you. I have written these guides and blog posts to answer exactly the questions people have before they book or bring to a first appointment and I include the ones they are sometimes reluctant to ask. Read them in order and you will know whether chiropractic is right for you, what the evidence says, what treatment involves and what it costs. Nothing here requires you to book anything. They are here to help you make a well-informed decision and gather some information that you may need.
1. Deciding whether chiropractic is right for you
Who you will actually be seeing. I have been in practice for 39 years and you see me at every appointment.
Chiropractor, Physiotherapist or Osteopath: Which Should You See?
The differences in training, regulation and approach between the three professions and how I would choose if I were the patient.
Is it Safe to See a Chiropractor?
A straight answer on side effects and risk and the warning signs that mean you should see your GP first rather than me.
What the WHO Guidelines Say About Back Pain
Where hands-on care sits in current international guidance for low back pain and what that means for you.
2. What to expect when you come in
The Free 15-Minute Consultation
A no-obligation conversation, not an appointment. No examination and no treatment, just a chance to ask whatever is on your mind before you commit to anything.
Your First Visit: What to Expect and How to Prepare
What happens in the first appointment: full case history, examination and in most cases your first treatment.
What the treatment actually involves and why, in plain language.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
An honest answer to the question everyone wants to ask and why I do not do open-ended treatment plans.
Exactly what treatment costs, with no surprises.
Short answers to the practical questions: whether you need a GP referral, what to wear, whether treatment hurts and how soon you can be seen.
Finding the Clinic, Parking and Directions
Where we are on Branksome Hill Road and the free parking directly outside with no time limits.
3. Understanding your problem
Detailed guides to each area of the body: back pain, neck pain, headaches and migraines, shoulder and arm pain, hip and pelvic pain, leg, knee, ankle and foot pain, maintaining mobility, and sporting and dance injuries.
Three problems are so often mistaken for something else that they are worth reading about separately:
Hip Pain: The Symptoms People Mistake for a Bad Back
Why hip and back problems imitate each other and how to tell which one you have.
Is Your Arm Pain Coming From Your Neck or Your Shoulder?
Treating the wrong one wastes your time and your money. Here is how the two behave differently.
Types of Headaches: A Patient's Guide
Working out which headache you actually have and why it changes the treatment See also my guide to headaches arising from the neck.
4. Helping yourself between and beyond appointments
Screen height, chair set-up and the habits that quietly load the cervical spine all day.
Long Car Journeys and Your Back
How to set your seat up properly before a long drive and why most people get it wrong.
Holiday Aches and Pains: Why You Come Home Sore
Unfamiliar beds, heavy luggage and long flights and what to do about all three.
How to Avoid Neck Pain While Sleeping
Pillow height, sleeping position and the small changes that make the biggest difference overnight.
Chiropractic and Sleep Problems
When pain is what is keeping you awake and what the evidence does and does not support.
Fall Prevention: Staying Steady on Your Feet
Practical, evidence-based steps for keeping your confidence and your balance as you get older.
The everyday foundations that make every course of treatment work better.
If you have read this far and still have a question I have not answered, ask me directly. Call 01202 937568, or book a free 15-minute consultation at the clinic at 42 Branksome Hill Road, Bournemouth BH4 9LE. No obligation and no pressure either way.
Not sure where to start?
Come and find out. A free 15-minute consultation is a no-obligation chat about your problem and whether chiropractic is likely to help. There is no examination and no treatment at that appointment, so there is nothing to commit to. If you already know what you need, book a full appointment instead: that includes a complete case history, examination and, in most cases, treatment on the day.
Written by Leslie Budzynski DC, principal chiropractor at Bournemouth Chiropractic. Registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC No. 00043) and a member of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA No. 0072). Leslie qualified in Bournemouth in 1987 and has 39 years of clinical experience. He sees every patient personally at every appointment.
Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information and does not replace individual clinical assessment. It is not a diagnosis and should not be relied upon as medical advice. If your symptoms are severe, worsening, or accompanied by numbness, weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, unexplained weight loss or fever, contact your GP or NHS 111 without delay. In an emergency, call 999.
Bournemouth Chiropractic
42 Branksome Hill Road, Bournemouth, BH4 9LE
Telephone: 01202 937568
WhatsApp: 07970 004497
Email: hello@bournemouth-chiropractic.co.uk
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 6pm, Saturday 7.30am to 3pm
