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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost?
Initial consultation
Which includes a physical exam, diagnosis and the first treatment costs €100 for an adult between the ages of 15-65 years. Persons over 65 years, those on permanent disability retirement or full time students recieve a 10% discount (€ 45). Children 15 years or younger, receive a 50% discount (€ 25).
Standard consultation
€50 for adults, €45 for over 65, disabled or student, €25 for children.
Pre-paid packages of 10 visits receive a further 20%-50% discount.
How can I pay?
We currently accept cash, cheque, or pre-paid bank transfer. To make a transfer please contact the clinic in advance to receive our NIB.
Is chiropractic covered by health plans?
Currently in Portugal, if you have Portuguese insurance - no. If you have international insurance – maybe. Depending on the country and insurance company and policy. You would have to contact your personal insurance company directly to find out.
What training do fully-qualified chiropractors receive?
Fully trained chiroprators have undertaken a full time 4 or 5 year degree at one of these accredited universities. They are taught subjects such as othopaedics, neurology, biomechanics, pathology, radiology as well as numerous chiropractic adjustment techniques.
Is chiropractic registered in Portugal?
Yes, since 2012
What does chiropractic treatment consist of?
Chiropractic treatment consists on chiropractic adjustments. Adjustments are high-velocity, low-amplitude forces applied directly to a joint in order to improve the movement and function of that joint. This force may be applied either by hand or by a device specific for chiropractic purposes.
What is the difference between chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy?
What happens in my first consultation?
At your initial consultation you will;
Be asked to complete a form giving your personal details, including name, contact details etc.
Explain the reason you are visiting our clinic, giving a summary and history of your symptoms.
Undergo a physical exam , to determine a diagnosis.
Present any other information such as x-rays or other tests.
Have the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan explained to you.
Consent to treatment and then if determined suitable by the chiropractor, your first treatment.
Given further information concerning chiropractic treatment in written form, for your better understanding.
Asked to make future appointments.
What do I need for my first consultation?
For your first consultation (and only the first), you will be asked to change down to underwear or shorts, ladies shall be given a robe such that their back may be observed. Please provide a pair of short pants.
Please also bring any relevant diagnostic tests.
How long are consultations?
Initial consultations may take anywhere from 30 – 60 minutes.
Standard consultations are from 10 – 20 minutes.
How many consultations will I need?
This will depend on several factors: the diagnosis, your age, lifestyle, and your expectations of the treatment. Generally if your treatment is solely for pain relief, somewhere between 2 and 15 treatments. If you wish treatment for other reasons, further treatment is generally required. This will be explained to you at your initial consultation.
Does chiropractic treatment hurt?
Generally no. Some techniques may have a brief mild discomfort, but usually not. Techniques are modified for exceptionally young or elderly patients, to minimise discomfort. Occasionally, there may be some discomfort for up to 24 hours after your first or second treatment. This can be because we are making changes that need to be made. It is a bit like going to the gym or doing exercise for the first time in a long time.
Is Chiropractic safe?
Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, joint pain of the arms or legs, headaches, and other neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small.
In 1979, the New Zealand government commissioned an inquiry into Chiropractic. They released their report after over 18 months of research, concluding that ‘spinal manipulation in the hands of a registered chiropractor is “remarkably safe”.’ They also commented that “chiropractors are the only health practitioners who are necessarily equipped by their education and training to carry out spinal manual therapy”. [1]
The Manga Report (1993), an investigation conducted by the Ministry of Health, Government of Ontario, Canada, states “There is no clinical or case-control study that demonstrates or even implies that chiropractic spinal manipulation is unsafe in the treatment of low-back pain.” [2]
The only region where the subject of safety is raised is in relation to the risk of stroke associated with neck adjustment. The most comprehensive study undertaken to evaluate risk of serious injury indicates that the incidence of artery injuries associated with high-velocity upper neck manipulation is extremely rare – about 1 case in 5.85 million manipulations. [3]
This is significantly lower than risks that have been reported for other commonly utilized health care procedures:
Strokes from birth control pills = 1 in 24,000 persons [4]
Fatalities caused by NSAIDS (Aspirin, Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Motrin) = 1 in 1,200
persons [5]
Fatalities in association with cervical spinal surgery = 1 in 145 surgeries [6]
References:
1 HASSELBERG PD. Chiropractic in New Zealand, Report of the Commission of Inquiry. Wellington: Government Printer, 1979
2 MANGA P, ANGUS D, PAPADOPOULOS C, SWAN W. The Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Chiropractic Management of Low Back Pain. Ottawa (Canada): Kenilworth Publishing, 1993.
3 HALDERMAN S, CAREY P, TOWNSEND P, PAPADOPOULOS C. Arterial dissections following cervical manipulation: the chiropractic experience. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2001; 165(7): 905-906.
4 GILLIUM LA, MAMIDIPUDI AK, JOHNSTON, SC. Ischemic Stroke Risk with Oral Contraceptives, a Meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Association 2000; 284(1).
5 TRAMER MR, MOORE RA, REYNOLDS JM, McQUAY HJ. Quantitative Estimation of Rare Adverse Events Which Follow A Biological Progression: A New Model Applied To Chronic NSAID Use. Pain 2000; 85: 169-182
6 ROME PL. Perspectives: An Overview of Comparative Considerations of Cerebrovascular Accidents. Chiropractic Journal of Australia 1999; 29(3): 87-102.