Ever since work-from-home arrangements began, many of us have glued to our desks.
Being seated in the same position for extended periods, neck aches and back pains are slowly becoming our worst enemy.
To alleviate this, some of us might have decided to replace our IKEA chair.
For others, this might mean making a trip to the chiropractor.
What Is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders, placing emphasis on treatment through manual adjustment and manipulation of the spine.
Manipulation is used to restore mobility to joints restricted by tissue injury, which is typically caused by situations like sitting without proper back support, or repetitive stress on different parts of the body.
In other words, it’s the therapeutic ‘crack’ and ‘pop’ we commonly hear in videos.
Chiropractic believes in letting the body heal itself without surgery or medication, through the alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure.
Chiropractic treatment is mainly used as a pain relief alternative for muscles, joints, bones and connective tissue, and is sometimes used in conjunction with other conventional medical treatments.
That being said, there are both believers and non-believers of chiropractic practices, with some articles suggesting that chiropractic adjustments alone might not be the most effective for lower back pain.
So do proceed based on your own judgement yeah!
Can I Treat a Chiropractor as My Doctor?
In Singapore, chiropractors are not registered as medical practitioners under the Medical Registration Act (MRA).
This means that they cannot practise medicine as doctors, and cannot advertise themselves as medical practitioners.
They are considered as alternative healthcare providers.
A new law was passed in 2011 to regulate allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists.
With chiropractors being excluded, it means that the chiropractic industry is not regulated.
That being said, chiropractors are encouraged to practise self-regulation through professional associations like the Chiropractic Association (Singapore), which has developed a code of practice, ethics and advertising guidelines for the profession.
As such, patients are advised to exercise their due diligence when consulting chiropractic practices.
When in doubt, one should consult a registered medical practitioner.
Chiropractic Services in Singapore
The prices and services vary across different chiropractic clinics.
These range from having just a one-time consultation to having a specialised treatment programme.
Given that the field is unregulated, it is important to note that price should not be the only factor to consider.
In fact, there have been cases of ‘hard-selling’, where customers were introduced cheaper packages only to be coerced to sign more expensive ones afterwards.
Do always check on the clinic’s reputation and reviews, especially before committing to any packages.
Here are some of the chiropractic clinics to consider:
| Chiropractic Clinic | Known For | Services | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Potential Chiropractic | Using a variety of adjusting approaches to help improve spinal biomechanics and reduce nervous system interference | Spinal Check-up: - Clinical History - Full Spinal Examination - Spinal Health Report | $59 (U.P. $80) | - |
| Healing Hands | Time-tested techniques enhanced with modalities | Initial Consultation | $75, $110 if by clinical director Dr. Marc | Not listed on website |
| 1-on-1 Consultation + 1 Chiropractic adjustment | $60 ($185 Value) | |||
| Light Chiropractic | Providing chiropractic care in Singapore since 2008 and done over 700,000 adjustments | Single Session Fee (First visit) | $60 (Consultation) + $190 (Adjustment) = $190 | Consultation (30 min) Adjustment (30-60 min) |
| Initial Chiropractic Care Package for Adults | $105 per session (for 12 sessions) $100 per session (for 24 sessions) $90 per session (for 48 sessions) | 20-30 min on average | ||
| Renewal Chiropractic Care Package for Adults | $90 per session (for 12 sessions) $85 per session (for 24 sessions) $80 per session (for 48 sessions) |
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| Chiropractic Care for Children (12 years old and below) | Free for 0-2 years old $120 for single session $70 per session (for 12 sessions) $65 per session (for 24 sessions) |
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| Macquarie Chiropractic | Evidence-based chiropractic care and pain relief | For Couples: Includes First Spinal Consultation and First Chiropractic Treatment | Promotional price: $96 (U.P. $640) (first 10 couples per month) | - |
| For Individuals: Includes First Spinal Consultation and First Chiropractic Treatment | Promotional price: $58 (U.P. $320) (first 15 individuals per month) | - | ||
| Natrahea | Using non-invasive treatments like Chiropractic, TCM, and Functional Wellness | Chiropractic Trial: -Spinal assessment - Correct spinal misalignments | $38 | Not listed on website |
| Singapore Pain Solutions | Only chiropractors recognised by National Bodybuilding Association World Fitness Federation Singapore | Initial Chiropractic Appointment | $165 (adult), $135 (child) | Not listed on website |
| Follow-up | $90 | |||
| 6 Chiropractic Adjustment Sessions | $450 | |||
| 5 Chiropractic Adjustment Sessions (For student/NSF under age 24) | $225 | |||
| 12 Chiropractic Adjustment Sessions | $720 | |||
| Standard Sports Massage | $100 | 45 min | ||
| Square One Active Recovery | Solution-Focused pain management | Initial Consultation | $300 | 45-60 min |
| Follow-up | $225 | 30-40 min | ||
| 45-Day Course | $1,125 | 30-40 min | ||
| 90-Day Course | $1,800 | 30-40 min | ||
| True Chiropractic | Providing best care and educating as many people as possible on chiropractic | Chiropractic Starter Program: - Initial Consultation and Assessment -Spinal Examination and Posture Screening - Doctor’s Report - 1 x Chiropractic Treatment | $38 (U.P. $270) | - |
Are Chiropractors the Same as Physiotherapists?
This is one question you might have.
Are chiropractors and physiotherapists… the same?
While both of them deal with pain management, chiropractors focus on the spine and its related structure, while physiotherapists focus on improving patients’ mobility through exercise rehabilitation programmes and assistive devices.
Chiropractors believe in detecting and correcting spinal misalignment in order to relieve pain, while physiotherapists believe that the root cause of problems like back pain and sprains are muscle-related.
However, they are both considered non-invasive and manual treatments.
When Should I Not Seek for Chiropractic Treatment?
Not everyone is suitable for chiropractic treatment.
If you suffer from the following, it is advisable to seek advice from specialists on the suitability of seeing a chiropractor.
- Severe osteoporosis
- Numbness, tingling or loss of strength in an arm or leg
- Cancer in your spine
- A known bone abnormality in the upper neck
- Herniated or slipped discs
- Arthritis
Seeking Chiropractic Treatment in Singapore
Aches and pains in the neck, shoulder and lower back are no longer uncommon, with chiropractic care gaining traction as an alternative therapy for pain relief.
Thanks to us sitting for extended periods in poor postures (guilty as charged).
With so many great deals going around these days, remember to take a deeper look before going for a chiropractic consultation.
If you’re looking for some ideas to make financially savvy lifestyle choices, you know the drill! 😉
