FAQ

Does Dr Lin’s treatment hurt?
Similar to the effects of strenuous physical exercise, a select few movements or exercises can be uncomfortable to certain patients. However, every effort is made to work with the corrective protocol around the tolerance threshold of each patient while maintaining the goal to achieve spinal structural change, in as short a time as possible.
The reality for many SpinoConcept patients is that the pain they have been tolerating in their body prior to coming to the clinic far out ways the short-term uncomfortable sensation of a select few maneuvers/procedures. For many years the patient's muscles, joint capsules, nerve fibres and ligaments became accustomed to their poor structural profile. Changing this is vital to the long-term health of the patient and every attempt is made by being as informative and reassuring as possible to each patient.

Why should I care about my posture?
Posture is an outward representation of the inside condition of the spine. Research has demonstrated that normal posture is essential for the body to function optimally. The famed school song "the foot bone's connected to the leg bone, the leg bone's connected to the thigh bone, the thigh bone's connected to the pelvic bone…" makes an important statement about the interconnected relationship each bone has on structure, and ultimately posture. When your spine is at balance and posture is optimized, clinically we witness many long-term advantages to your wellbeing and physical outlook in the future.

How long will it take for my body to achieve the desired structural results?
This will depend on your personal history, genetics, current physical condition, level of stress, and how well you follow the recommendations. The physical impact on the spine's prolonged exposure to stress can place certain limits on the success outcomes.
The SpinoConcept team has achieved outstanding results with most patients in 3-6 month,  and also managed to deliver results in extreme patient cases where other practitioners had deemed their condition untreatable.

Healing is a process, and like every process in nature, healing takes time. It is unreasonable to expect permanent correction of a structural condition in an instant after we have abused the body and ignored the spine for decades. It is also incorrect to expect something as complex as the spinal system to be fixed once and continue its function at full capacity without any maintenance care.

The SpinoConcept team prides themselves on communicating to patients their current condition, the likely treatment course, along with a tailored regimen for realistic outcomes.

What is the frequency of treatment?
Just as you have adapted to abnormal, we have to work efficiently to re-adapt your body back to normal. Generally for a typical case, patients are seen 1-2 times/ week, depending on their progress and what phase of care they are in.

Once the inflammation has settled and general joint mobility (ranges of motion) has improved as quickly as the body will allow, treatment frequency increase will usual follow.

It is a ‘unwinding’ & re-adaptive phase, which requires the surrounding muscle, ligaments and tissue to be re-modelled, conform and adapt to support proper structure.

Do I have to have receive supportive/maintenance care?

This is entirely up to you!

Using the gym example again, if after months of working out you feel fit and look great, is it wise to just stop working out and expect to keep the results? You might not have to work out with the same intensity that got you into shape, but it would be smart to maintain your progress, right?

Do I have to be under chiropractic care for the rest of my life?
Put simply, you do not have to do anything for the rest of your life- in everything we have choice. You can choose not to brush your teeth, not to change the oil in your car, not to make repairs to your home, not to eat a healthy diet, and not to exercise at all.

But, there are consequences for your actions, or inactions. If you want to get the most mileage out of your body, we believe you need to maintain the body for optimal health. The spine is no exception. Many of our patients choose to undertake regular 'spinal tune-ups' as a part of their health regimen.

Why should I have my spine examined if there is no pain?
Like our teeth, the spine can degenerate over time without any signs and symptoms to alert you to underlying problems. If you only went to see a dentist for pain relief, then you run the risk of ignoring problems such as cavities or gum disease well before any alarms of pain arise.
There are a range of causes for structural spine and pelvic problems in the body- starting with the many bumps and falls as we learnt to walk & run, Over time, our bodies endure knocks, jolts and hits on top of the prolonged pressure of poor posture that all can have an immense impact on the structural integrity of the spine and pelvis.
Whether you are in pain or not, having the structure of your body assessed can give you peace of mind or alert you to any underlying problems that would have gone unnoticed until serious structural problems surface.

Why do some people repeatedly visit a Chiropractor over prolonged periods of time?
Looking after your spine is a life-long task- but the treatment you receive should be oriented towards the restoration of your structural balance, instead of just pain relief.

There is a proportion of the public would not expect any other treatment outcome than just the removal of pain, and subsequently chiropractic treatment becomes part of their weekly or monthly goal to live with “less pain”.

After learning the fundamental law of matter that 'structure determines function', many patients choose to maintain the health of their structure for optimal health & performance - similar to regular dental cleans or medical check-ups.

Is Corrective care the only option?
We advise our patients of all the various options of care available to them during the report session and outline the best long-term solution for their condition.

If you simply want to get rid of your pain and be done with your care as soon as you feel better, then you may wish to pursue 'relief care' option or seek alternative providers at a standard chiropractic clinic.

We offer integrated care which takes longer and requires more commitment and effort from our patients. However, in our view it is far superior and cost-effective in the long-term than just 'Patch/Relief Care'.

Do you encourage pharmaceutical drugs and medical surgery ?
In short, No. However, there is a role and need for both.

At SpinoConcept, we are more interested in finding and correcting the cause of a problem rather than covering up the symptoms with a synthetic chemical that are known to cause unwanted side-effects.

With proper analysis and understanding of the pathogenesis of the condition, many patient respond well with conservative and non-invasive procedures.

Surgery is undoubtedly financially, emotionally, and physically stressful and should only be considered as a last resort to spinal treatment.

Insurance

Does Insurance Cover CBP® Chiropractic Treatment?
Almost all private health insurance companies offer chiropractic coverage depending on the level of individual health cover plans. The rebate is determined by either a fixed rate or calculated percentage up to a maximum amount per policy year.

Often we see patients making decisions that are influenced by the private insurance companies. In other words, the insurance companies dictate what services the patient can/cannot have and how many treatments the patient will need, rather than the patients making informed decisions in the best interest of their own health.

Ultimately it is up to the patient to determine how much their health is worth.

What about Medicare coverage?
Currently, the Federal Government only has funding for a maximum of five chiropractic treatments per calendar year. The referral needs to be initiated by your GP

 In order to be eligible, the patient must have chronic conditions that require co-management by at least 3 health professionals (e.g. GP, Dietitian & Chiro or GP, Diabete Educator, Chiro etc) and be on an EPC (Enhanced Primary Care) plan. Medicare covers 80% of MBS fee (or up to $60) per visit.

Get the facts.

How long does it take to become a qualified Chiropractor?
To become a registered chiropractor in Australia you must have completed a minimum of 5 years relevant university education, obtaining two degrees. In a recent American comparison of the hours of study of three chiropractic and three medical schools, found that the chiropractor curriculum totalled an average of 4,800 hours, while medical schools averaged 4,667 hours. It was interesting to note that while medical students have more extensive clinical training, chiropractic students receive, on average, more hours of pathology (205 vs. 162), anatomy (570 vs. 368) and physiology (205 vs. 142)*
* (Reference: Coulter, et al., A comparative study of chiropractic and medical education, Alternative Therapies 1008;4(5):64-75)
These significant qualifications are recognised by chiropractors being permitted to use the title 'Doctor'. The training also means:

Chiropractors are primary health care practitioners – in the same category as general GP (general practitioners) & dentists.
A chiropractor is educated to refer for 2nd opinions and further investigations if necessary
A chiropractor understands to body as a whole, not merely a back therapist
Chiropractors can refer for x-rays, but are also trained and qualified to take x-rays and make diagnosis from the images

Which Australian universities have chiropractic degree programs?
Currently there are three universities in Australia that have chiropractic degree programs. RMIT University in Melbourne, Victoria offers a 5-year program as a three year Bachelor of Applied Science in Complementary Medicine (Chiropractic) which, on completion, provides entry into a two year Master of Clinical Chiropractic. Macquarie University in Sydney, New South Wales has a three year Bachelor of Chiropractic Science which provides the basis for entry into a two year Master of Chiropractic. Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia offers a five year Bachelor of Chiropractic. Successful completion of the whole program of study is required for professional registration as a chiropractor.