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Published on November 1, 2007

Banalucka Tiramongkon, the director of Dspine Chiropractic Institute, led the visit to the Baan Rajvithi orphanage. She said about 30 per cent of the children showed signs of scoliosis, or deformity of the spine, which could lead to nervous-system problems later in life.

Banalucka said the high cost of chiropractic visits, which range between Bt1,000 and Bt1,500 per treatment, means that many orphans and other poor children do not have access to treatments that would benefit them later in life.

"If children do not receive treatment at the earlier stages, they could face serious problems with their nervous systems," she said.

Chiropractic is a speciality of the healthcare profession which seeks to diagnose and treat mechanical disorders of the spine and musculo-skeletal system. The discipline also deals with problems that are not directly related to the spine such as ankle, knee, elbow and shoulder conditions.

Chiropractor Tom Smith said the goal of a practitioner is to effectively treat a patient without having to resort to surgery or pharmaceuticals.

Patients are recommended to see a chiropractor regularly for at least four weeks after their initial treatment and every three to six months thereafter. The visit to the Baan Rajvithi orphanage was a one-off project, and there are not any established plans to return for follow-up treatment.

Smith said acute ailments caused by lower back pain, a slipped disc, sports injuries, neck pain, headache or stress, numbness, or poor posture should be diagnosed and treated in the early stages to prevent more severe symptoms.