What is McTimoney Chiropractic and how is it different from the Chiropractic we do here in Eastbourne?
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The differences between McTimoney Chiropractic and the Chiropractors here at Lushington Chiropractic Clinic?
You may have noticed some chiropractors advertise themselves as McTimoney Chiropractors. You might be wondering what a McTimoney chiropractor is and how they differ from the Chiropractors here at Lushington Chiropractic Clinic in Eastbourne? This isn’t a straight forward question to answer as it involves a bit of over generalisation about Chiropractors and McTimoney Chiropractors. The trouble when explaining the differences between Chiropractic and McTimoney, is chiropractic is the name of a profession and not a technique or approach. Within the profession there are a variety of different approaches and Techniques. One Chiropractor may work very differently to another Chiropractor in terms of evaluation and treatment.
It is also worth mentioning that I have not trained using McTimoney technique. So, I am not an expert in that technique and may present information with an unintentional bias towards what I do. But I can tell you what I do know about McTimoney. This is based on my knowledge from speaking to different McTimoney Chiropractors at various seminars. Plus, the information I gathered from the McTimoney Chiropractic College website.
What is McTimoney Chiropractic?
McTimoney Chiropractors are graduates of McTimoney College Chiropractic. The college bases its training on a particular technique developed by a chiropractor called John McTimoney. The technique is quite distinctive and a separate branch of chiropractic. Their main tool is a specific type of adjustment that doesn’t cause the audible popping or cracking sound. It is very gentle and involves a flicking motion on specific joints within the spine. The course is a 5-year part time course, although recently they have added a full-time curriculum. There is less emphasis on learning soft tissue techniques, rehabilitation exercises or how to take x-rays within the curriculum.
Where did I train to become a Chiropractor?
I personally trained at the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (AECC) where there was a strong focus on evidence informed treatments. This included chiropractic adjustments (spinal manipulation), rehabilitative exercise, soft tissue massage and stretching techniques, alongside other useful strategies to help prevent injury. We were taught how to take and read x-rays. The type of adjusting I was taught and use, often results in an audible joint popping sound. This is caused by Nitrogen gas leaving the joint. I also use gentler techniques, for those who aren’t keen on the noise. My main aim with the adjustments is to increase movement within the joints and to ease muscle tension.
So what is the difference?
Starting with the adjustments used, the McTimoney chiropractors will focus their adjustments on misaligned vertebrae and will follow a specific McTimoney Chiropractic protocol to determine which areas of the body require an adjustment. Whereas my adjustments are based on a range of factors including posture, pain location and more importantly where movement is lacking in the spine. I use a range of techniques including Diversified Chiropractic, Flexion-Distraction, Activator and more. When I studied we actually covered seven different chiropractic treatment protocols as well massage, rehabilitation and other modalities (ultra-sound etc).Increasingly McTimoney Chiropractors will learn other techniques whilst at undergraduate level, or on additional post-graduate courses.
Around stiff joints there is normally a tight muscle. So here in Eastbourne, I use more soft tissue massaging techniques and stretching techniques to relieve the tension within the tight muscles. This is something a lot of McTimoney Chiropractors tend to avoid doing, unless they’ve done additional post graduate training.

One of the areas I am passionate about in chiropractic is the rehabilitation side of things. Being able to identify specific areas within the body that require strengthening, stretching or better muscle control through various functional tests. Is something I find useful in preventing injury. Traditionally this isn’t an area McTimoney Chiropractors would typically focus on quite as much. Although I have met some McTimoney Chiropractors with an interest for rehab at various seminars.
To find out more about McTimoney Chiropractic, please see our blog from Karen who trained at McTimoney here.
If you have any questions about the blogs or would like to know any more information. Do not hesitate to contact me here Lushington Chiropractic in Eastbourne.
Thank you for reading my blog,
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