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Spinal Manipulation in Bromley

Hands-on treatment for a stiff or painful back

Spinal manipulation is a non-invasive, hands-on treatment used at our Bromley clinic to help ease back pain, neck pain and general stiffness through the spine. It is carried out by an experienced spinal manipulation therapist who assesses how you move before deciding whether the technique is appropriate for you. At SMSM Therapy in Bromley we combine it with soft tissue work and a home exercise programme, so that the improvements you feel are more likely to last.

What spinal manipulation is

Spinal manipulation is a manual therapy technique applied by hand to the joints of the spine. The aims are to restore balance between muscles and soft tissue, improve flexibility, support healthy nerve function and improve posture. It is not a machine-led treatment and nothing is injected or inserted. The practitioner uses their hands throughout, both to assess how an area is moving and to treat it.

The spinal cord runs from the brain stem down through the spine, with nerves branching out to the muscles, organs and glands of the body. Where long-term poor posture has left the spine less well aligned, pressure can build on the surrounding structures. Much of the work we do in Bromley is about easing that mechanical pressure and helping the area move more freely again. Our practitioners work with musculoskeletal problems only.

Who it may help

People come to us for spinal manipulation in Bromley with a wide range of complaints: a stiff back that will not loosen, an ache that has settled in after months at a desk, or a sudden restriction that appeared after lifting or training. It is often used as part of back pain treatment in Bromley, and also for neck pain, lower back pain and pain referring down the leg. You can see the full range of problems we work with on our conditions we treat page.

Pain relief is the benefit most often reported by our patients, and some people notice a difference immediately after treatment. Others find that change builds more gradually over a course of appointments alongside their exercises. Everyone responds differently, so we will not tell you in advance how you will feel or how many sessions you will need.

Your first appointment

Every patient has an initial consultation before any hands-on treatment begins. This is where we build a clear picture of the problem rather than making assumptions about it.

Case history

We take a full medical case history and talk through the problem itself, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and what you have already tried. We will also ask about any previous treatment or examinations you have had.

Assessment

A posture assessment follows, with neurological, motor and sensory tests where these are appropriate. This tells the therapist how you are holding and moving your body, and whether spinal manipulation is a sensible technique to use in your case.

What a treatment session involves
Treatment itself usually runs for around 35 to 45 minutes. Quiet music is played in the treatment room, and your therapist will explain exactly what they are going to do before they start, so nothing comes as a surprise. Treatments typically combine massage, stretching, spinal manipulation and medical acupuncture. Alongside manipulation, the practitioner may use joint mobilisation and guided movement, targeted stretching, and soft tissue work such as sports massage. Which of these is used depends on what the assessment found on the day.
Aftercare and exercise
What happens between appointments matters as much as what happens on the couch. Every patient is given a specific exercise programme using resistance bands, designed so that the flexibility and comfort gained during treatment is maintained rather than lost before you next come in. This reflects how we work generally. Every patient is different, so as well as treating the area we explain what is going on and why we think it happened. The aim is that you recognise the pattern yourself and can manage it over the long term, instead of relying on treatment indefinitely.
Is spinal manipulation suitable for everyone?
No, and we would rather say so plainly. Spinal manipulation is not appropriate for every person or every presentation, which is exactly why the full case history and assessment come first. If your therapist judges that manipulation is not suitable for you, they will tell you and, where useful, offer a gentler approach such as joint mobilisation, stretching or soft tissue work instead. There are also times when the right answer is not treatment at all. If anything in your history or assessment suggests you should be seen by your GP or another medical professional, we will say so and recommend you do that before continuing. Please tell us about any medical conditions, medication or recent investigations when you book, and bring anything relevant with you. Manipulation is not usually painful, though you may hear or feel a click from the joint, and some people notice mild short-term soreness afterwards in the way they might after exercise. Tell your therapist at any point if something feels uncomfortable. They will adjust or stop.
Prices and finding the clinic
  • Spinal manipulation on its own, 45 minutes, £60
  • Sports massage combined with spinal manipulation, 30 minutes, £55
  • Sports massage combined with spinal manipulation, 45 minutes, £65
  • Sports massage combined with spinal manipulation, 60 minutes, £75
  • Sports massage combined with spinal manipulation, 90 minutes, £115

All stated treatment times include a brief consultation and changing time. You will find us at Carlton Chambers, 5 Station Road, Bromley BR2 0EY, a three-minute walk from Shortlands station. The entrance is the red side gate to the right of the building. Treatment is carried out by Dharam Vyas, our clinic director, who holds a Level 5 Professional Diploma in Soft Tissue Manipulation and Corrective Exercise and a diploma in OMT Spinal Manipulation, alongside Atlanta Robinson and Dwaine Henderson. The Bromley clinic is rated 4.8 from 166 Google reviews.

Book an appointment

To book spinal manipulation in Bromley, or to ask whether it is likely to suit your problem, call us on 07896 257328. You can check session lengths and costs on our prices page before you call.

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