What does a chiropractor do?
A chiropractor is a healthcare professional, regulated by law, who focuses on problems with the muscles, bones and joints, especially the back and neck. Chiropractors use hands-on techniques, including spinal manipulation, alongside exercise and advice. They are not medical doctors, and every chiropractor in the UK must be registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC).
Most people see a chiropractor privately. The NHS lists chiropractic with complementary therapies and says it may not be safe for everyone, so read the safety note on this page before you go.
- Regulated by
- The General Chiropractic Council (GCC). Chiropractor is a title protected by law.
- Training
- A degree approved by the GCC. Most courses last 4 years full time.
- First visit
- Your history, an examination, then a plan and cost you agree before any treatment.
- Typical cost
- We have not found a reliable UK average. Agree the cost at the first visit.
- On the NHS
- Mostly private. The NHS lists chiropractic with complementary therapies.
What a chiropractor does
Chiropractors focus on problems with the muscles, bones and joints, especially the back and neck. They use hands-on techniques, including spinal manipulation, alongside exercise and advice.
A chiropractor explains what they found and the options, including care from another professional, before you agree to any treatment. They will usually give you advice and exercises as well.
For low back pain, NICE guidance names treatments rather than professions. It recommends exercise, and hands-on treatment only as part of a package that includes exercise. It also says not to routinely offer scans or X-rays for low back pain outside specialist settings.
What people see chiropractors for
These are problems people commonly see chiropractors for. We only list conditions the Advertising Standards Authority accepts chiropractors can mention, so this list is shorter than some clinic websites. It is not a promise that treatment will work for you.
- Everyday back pain and lumbago, for example from posture or long hours sitting
- Neck pain and stiffness from everyday causes, such as posture or sitting awkwardly
- Shoulder problems, including rotator cuff problems
- Joint pain, including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis, alongside exercise and other treatment
- Sciatica
- Headache that comes from the neck
- Minor sports injuries, and short-term care of ankle sprains and plantar fasciitis
- Muscle spasms, cramp and general aches and pains
If your pain started after an accident, a fall or a knock, or you are not sure it is safe to wait, check where to go first. Read physio, GP, NHS 111 or A&E.
What a first appointment is like
The General Chiropractic Council describes a first visit like this.
Your history
The chiropractor asks about your condition, your lifestyle and your current and past health.
Examination
They will usually examine you. If you need to remove some clothing, you will be offered a gown.
Findings and options
They explain what they found, the treatment options, the benefits and risks, and the alternatives, which may include seeing another healthcare professional.
Plan, cost and consent
You agree the timescale, the cost and how you will pay, and hear the cancellation policy. Only when you are happy and understand what treatment involves, including the cost, will they ask for your consent to start.
Before you go
The NHS says:
Chiropractic or osteopathy may not be safe for you if:
- you're taking blood thinning medicines or are at increased risk of bleeding or stroke
- you have bones or joints that are very weak or seriously damaged
- you have a condition affecting your nerves, like peripheral neuropathy
Tell the chiropractor about any health conditions and medicines before treatment. The NHS also says to ask a GP for advice about symptoms that do not go away or keep coming back, and not just to talk to a therapist.
The NHS lists osteopathy and chiropractic with complementary therapies. In its words, “Herbal medicines and complementary therapies are not tested in the same way as standard medicines to see how well they work.”
Training and regulation
Chiropractic study in the UK is at degree level, and most courses last 4 years full time. Most are master's degrees, and there are part-time and postgraduate routes too.
Every chiropractor in the UK must be registered with the General Chiropractic Council, and it is against the law for anyone who is not registered to call themselves a chiropractor. Chiropractors renew their registration every year, by 1 December.
You can check any chiropractor yourself on the General Chiropractic Council register.
What a chiropractor costs
We have not found a reliable, published UK average for chiropractic fees, so we do not quote one. The General Chiropractic Council says your first visit is when you should discuss costs and timescales and agree how you will pay.
Under the GCC's code, a chiropractor should agree a care plan with you separately from any payment plan, should not ask you to pay for more care than that plan, and should explain refunds for care you do not use.
How Limberly checks chiropractors
Every chiropractor on Limberly must be on the General Chiropractic Council register. Each chiropractor has a 5-digit registration number, and the register has a page for each one. Before a chiropractor's profile goes live, we look up their number on the register and confirm their name and that they are registered as practising.
Chiropractors must renew by 1 December each year, so after that deadline we check every chiropractor on the register again. A register check confirms registration. It does not measure how good a practitioner is.
Physio, osteopath or chiropractor?
All three are regulated by law and overlap for many back, neck and joint problems. They differ in approach, in how the NHS treats them and in how you get to see one.
Warning signs by body area
Our body-area guides list the NHS self-care and the warning signs for each area. They are written about physiotherapy, and the warning signs apply whoever you plan to see.
Questions people ask about chiropractors
What does a chiropractor do?
Chiropractors focus on problems with the muscles, bones and joints, especially the back and neck. They use hands-on techniques, including spinal manipulation, alongside exercise and advice. At the first visit they take your history, examine you and agree a plan and cost with you before any treatment.
Is a chiropractor a doctor?
No. Chiropractors are not medical doctors. Some use the courtesy title Doctor of Chiropractic, which is not a medical qualification. Every chiropractor in the UK must be registered with the General Chiropractic Council, and it is against the law for anyone who is not registered to call themselves a chiropractor.
Is a chiropractor worth it?
That depends on what you want from an appointment. The NHS lists chiropractic with complementary therapies, which it says are not tested in the same way as standard medicines. For low back pain, NICE recommends exercise, with hands-on treatment only as part of a package that includes exercise. Agree the plan, the cost and the number of sessions at the start.
Is chiropractic safe?
The NHS says chiropractic may not be safe for you if you take blood thinning medicines or are at increased risk of bleeding or stroke, have bones or joints that are very weak or seriously damaged, or have a condition affecting your nerves, like peripheral neuropathy. Tell the chiropractor about any health conditions and medicines.
Do chiropractors see people with sciatica?
Yes, sciatica is one of the problems people commonly see chiropractors for. At the first visit the chiropractor assesses you and explains the options, which may include another professional. Some symptoms that come with sciatica need urgent help, so check the warning signs for lower back pain first.
Do I need an X-ray before seeing a chiropractor?
Usually not. For low back pain, NICE guidance says not to routinely offer imaging, such as X-rays or scans, outside specialist settings. A chiropractor may suggest further tests after examining you. If they do, ask why it is needed and whether it would change your care.
How much does a chiropractor cost?
We have not found a reliable published UK average, so we do not quote one. The General Chiropractic Council says your first visit is when you should discuss costs, timescales and the cancellation policy, and agree how you will pay.
Chiropractor or osteopath: what is the difference?
They are separate professions with separate regulators and degrees. Both use hands-on techniques alongside exercise and advice, and the NHS lists both with complementary therapies. Chiropractors focus especially on the back and neck and often use spinal manipulation. Compare physios, osteopaths and chiropractors.
How do I check a chiropractor is registered?
Search the General Chiropractic Council register by name, postcode or 5-digit registration number. Chiropractors renew every year by 1 December, so check the entry shows they are practising now.
Are you a chiropractor?
Registered chiropractors can list their practice on Limberly. Tell us about your practice and your GCC registration, and we check the register before your profile goes live.
Sources
- NHS: Herbal medicines and complementary therapies page reviewed
- GCC: Seeing a chiropractor for the first time
- GCC: Studying to become a chiropractor
- GCC: Retention (yearly renewal)
- GCC: Code of Professional Practice (from 1 January 2026)
- GCC: Using your registered name, number and courtesy titles
- GCC: Find a chiropractor (the register)
- NICE NG59: Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s
- CAP: Health: Chiropractic
This is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. A GP, physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor can assess your own situation.