Gentle And Effective Treatment For The Whole Body

John McTimoney

John McTimoney (1914 - 1980) was trained by Dr Mary Walker DC, a graduate of the first Palmer College Of Chiropractic in Iowa. Like others his approach was based on the belief that the main cause of disease and pain was the misalignment of bone. He commenced practice in Banbury in 1951 and devised a whole body chiropractic treatment using mainly high velocity thrusts. He was probably the first chiropractor to formulate an analysis and treatment procedure for animals.

Mainstream or Diversified Technique Chiropractic makes adjustments in order to increase the range of movement available in a compressed joint. The joint is taken to the end of, and beyond, its active range of motion and tension is added by making precise and controlled pushes beyond this barrier. This can be accompanied by a discernible “crack”, which comes from the sudden separation of the joint surfaces and the release of gases dissolved in the joint’s lubricating fluid. This treatment gives increased mobility to the joint’s range of movement. These adjustments are very specific and may only be made after detailed testing of that specific joint, neurological and orthopaedic tests, muscle testing, and possibly even x-rays. However, this detailed diagnosis can lead to the “whole body” overview and the philosophical side of Chiropractic being lost.

McTimoney Techniques are  a pure form of treatment. Only the hands are used, and assessment of spinal alignment is by static palpation alone - feeling the position of the bones without moving them. A full body assessment is undertaken at every visit and the practitioner treats “as found” each time. The adjustments made are fast and light, with the cumulative affect of working in conjunction with the body’s own healing power in order to find its natural position, rather than having adjustments imposed on it. To ensure that the adjustments are not enforced on the body but arise from its own reaction to the treatment McTimoney Chiropractors employ a three stage technique over the whole spine :

• Toggle - the initial thrust

• Torque - the pressure applied during the thrust

• Recoil - the immediate removal of the practitioner’s hands, which facilitate the patient’s natural reaction.

Joints are never taken beyond their natural ranges and “cracking” is very rare. Management of a patient evolves over regular treatment and they may be educated in exercises and other rehabilitative measures in order to counteract bad postural habits.

The McTimoney Chiropractic College runs courses to fully validated higher educational standards, including a BSc (Hons) in Health Sciences (Chiropractic). All students follow an extensive syllabus which includes anatomy, physiology, radiography, pathology, biomechanics and orthopaedics, as well as the philosophy and practice of Chiropractic.

On Graduation, new professionals join The McTimoney Chiropractic Association. The MCA protects and supports McTimoney Chiropractors and upholds the essential principles of Chiropractic. It is the second largest professional Chiropractic Association in the UK and, as well as licensing and insuring members, it also governs their ethical and professional conduct.

The logo depicts Cheiron, who was the wisest of the Greek centaurs. A teacher and a healer, Cheiron was tutor to both Achilles and Jason. Apart from his obvious connection with teaching and healing, Cheiron admirably illustrates the dual application of the McTimoney technique to both humans and animals. The Latin motto, In Manu Vis Medendi, means 'in the hands is the power of healing'. By correctly training the hands as an instrument of innate intelligence, healing can be encouraged to take place by the detection and correction of bony subluxations (slight displacements). Cheiron and the motto form the emblem of McTimoney chiropractors and may be displayed only by qualified practitioners who have successfully completed their training in the McTimoney College of Chiropractic.