About
DR. MATTY F.Y. WONG
Biography
Dr. Matty F.Y. Wong is a registered chiropractor in the USA and Hong Kong. She received her Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from National University of Health Sciences, Chicago, Illinois, USA in 1993. She undertook further certified program in Cox® Decompression Manipulation and brought this state of the art spinal care to Hong Kong as the first actively certified Cox® practitioner.
As President and founding member of the China Hong Kong Macau Chiropractic Association (CHKMCA), Dr. Wong actively promotes the association and the chiropractic profession in Hong Kong and Macau.
Dr. Wong is a recognized practitioner in spinal care and works closely with media organizations speaking regularly at forums and in media interviews. She has written hundreds of articles on spine related topics in numerous newspapers and magazines.
Major Development
1994-2017
First opened in Central district, Founder of Disc Decompression Chiropractic Center
2015
Founder of The Hong Kong Chiropractor and Neurosurgeon Medical Center. It is the first integrated spine center combined with Neurosurgery and Chiropractic treatment for back and spine pain. It is the newest medical approach of the complete model for spine care.
2018-now
Founder of Excel Medical Group, The first MRI-integrated brain and spine centre in Hong Kong. Moved to the current 8000 square feet premises which occupy 18 and 19 floor of Euro Trade Centre, central.
What is Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic services are used most often to treat common musculoskeletal complaints, including back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.
Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation and other alternative treatments. The theory is that proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine, will enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication. Manipulation is used to restore mobility to joints restricted by tissue injury caused by a traumatic event, such as falling, or repetitive stress, such as sitting without proper back support.
Chiropractic treatment is primarily used as a pain relief alternative for muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissue, such as cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. It is sometimes used in conjunction with conventional medical treatment.
History of Chiropractic
Chiropractic as a profession began in 1895 when its founder, Daniel David Palmer, “adjusted” the spine of a deaf janitor and claimed to restore his hearing. Spinal manipulation was not an unknown treatment in 1895, and Palmer never claimed to be the first to use manipulation for the cure of disease. He did claim, however, to be the first to use specific contacts as short-leverage points for making more specific spinal “adjustments.”
Early Years
Chiropractic Today
Chiropractic Education
When To Seek Chiropractic Care
Over the last few decades, more and more research has been done showing the effectiveness of chiropractic care for many different health symptoms and conditions.
Chiropractors Treat
Common Symptoms
- Upper, Mid or Low Back Pain
- Neck Pain & Stiffness
- Shoulder Pain
- Numbness/Tingling
- Dizziness
- Extremity Pain (Arm & Leg)
- Hip Pain
- Knee Pain
- Ankle/Foot Pain
- Headaches
Chiropractors Treat
Common Conditions
- Disc Herniation
- Sciatica
- Muscle Spasm
- Pinched Nerve
- Tendonitis
- Stress
- Fibromyalgia
- Sprains/Strains
- Scoliosis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Discomfort Caused by Pregnancy
- Arthritis
- TMJ Syndrome/Dysfunction
Chiropractic First Visit/Post Visit
If you are new to chiropractic care, you may have questions, such as: What is a chiropractic adjustment? Will it hurt? Will I have to get tests done? What questions should I ask my doctor? What is expected in follow-up care? Here’s a quick overview of what to expect.
Pre-Visit
What To Expect – First Visit
The main goal of your first visit is to have an examination and reach a diagnosis. You will be asked about problems you have been encountering and about the nature of your pain. The examination may include a few tests, such as an X-ray, to evaluate your health status.
Once you have been diagnosed, your chiropractor will develop a personalized treatment plan. The plan may include how many treatments you will need and what other procedures might occur. Depending on what is causing your pain and the severity of the issue, you might receive treatment the same day. Or, adjustments and treatments may be scheduled for another time. Learn more about what to expect before your visit here.
Does Chiropractic Care Hurt?
Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. Techniques emphasize minimal force and gentle pressure. Many patients report a popping sound during their adjustment. The popping noises sometimes heard are your joints releasing tiny pockets of gas. This is completely normal.
Be a Partner in Your Treatment
Try to be as relaxed as possible and allow your chiropractor freedom to make the adjustments. Your chiropractor will talk you through adjustments to explain the process. Remaining relaxed will pay off, as almost all patients find great relief when normal flexibility is returned to the affected vertebrae
Post-Visit
What to Expect – Post Visits
How Will I Feel After My Session?
After your first session, if you are like most people, you will feel more relaxed and less concerned. Many people find they breathe more fully. Some patients continue to move and stretch in various ways to release any tension they may be holding. Occasionally a feeling of “letting go” may occur, allowing you to unwind chronic tension patterns. Over several sessions you will likely feel more relaxed.
What If I Feel Sore?
Any adverse effects are typically minor and brief in length. The likelihood of initial soreness or increased pain after a chiropractic adjustment has been found to be similar to that of starting an exercise program. There are several ways you can speed up the healing process after a chiropractic treatment. Self-care plans will help you restore your body to good health and help you experience the results of the treatment more quickly.
To promote healing after an adjustment, your chiropractor may instruct you to:
• Use an ice pack on the treated area (for any swelling or redness)
• Try light stretching exercises
• Sleep on a suitable mattress
• Avoid heavy lifting
• Refrain from intense physical exercise for at least 3-5 days
• Eat a balanced diet
• Drink plenty of water
Scheduling A Follow-up Session
Patients sometimes make the mistake of receiving treatment once and then fail to follow up with their chiropractor for the recommended treatments afterward. For optimal results, you should complete the treatment plan that you discussed with your chiropractor.
Staying Healthy
Maintaining Good Back Health
You can develop habits that promote and maintain good back health. Here are 10 suggestions as you go about your daily activities.
Lift Safely
Safe lifting involves using your legs to spare your back. Bend your knees, tighten your abdominal muscles, and keep the object being lifted close to your body. For more tips, see Safe Lifting Techniques, which provides an illustrated step-by-step guide.
It is also a good idea to be aware of unsafe lifting techniques, so that you can avoid them. Unsafe lifting techniques usually involve positions that will cause you strain when you add a load to them.
Minimize and Avoid Twisting Motions
The use of twisting motions should be carefully monitored, and scaled back or eliminated as appropriate. When lifting heavy objects, twisting should be avoided. When doing heavy work, such as housework, try to keep twisting to a minimum. In other activities, pay close attention to how you are moving your spine, as well as any warning signs such as pain or tightness, that may indicate trouble. Scale back on the twisting according to the warning signs your body gives you.
Drink Plenty of Water
Our bodies are comprised of approximately 70% water. Enough water keeps us fluid, rather than stiff. Drinking plenty of water enhances the height of intervertebral disks, keeping them the healthy shock absorbers they are. Water is necessary for nearly every bodily process so is good to have in generous supply, at least 6-8 8-ounce glasses per day. It is almost impossible to drink too much water.
Live an Active Life and Strengthen Your Abs
Exercise and activity keep the muscles of the spine strong. The most important muscles to strengthen to avoid back pain are the abdominals. Include stretching in your fitness program to avoid stiffness, which causes pain. Another reason to stay flexible is that stiff muscles are a precursor to injury.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is generally an excellent way to prevent all kinds of diseases and discomforts. For the spine, it avoids compression and loading of the intervertebral disks, prevents postural abnormalities, such as anterior pelvic tilt, and interrupts a sedentary lifestyle, with its accompanying stiff and/or weak muscles.
Find the Best Sleeping Positions
Finding a sleeping position that works for you can help you avoid placing unnecessary strains on your back or neck. Doctors tend to vary when recommending ideal sleep positions, so being guided by your comfort levels and using your own judgement are good accompaniment to his or her advice.
Warm Up
For those who exercise, and that should be everyone, warm-ups are a must. Warm-up means 5-10 minutes of light aerobic activity just prior to the exercise session. The purpose of a warm-up is to acclimate the muscles to a more intense activity level gradually enough to prevent injury, and therefore, pain. Recommendations by experts vary as to whether the warm-up period should include stretching.
Cool Down
The cool down period after an exercise period must include stretching. During cool down, your muscles are still warm from exercising, and are very receptive to stretching. Stretching will be less painful during cool down, as well. Stretching relieves muscle tightness, which is one cause of back pain. Stretching also helps to balance the action of muscles, enhancing ideal alignment, and relieving joint strain.
Purposely Interrupt Long Periods of Sitting
If you sit for long periods of time, force yourself to get up from your chair as much as your work environment will permit. Sitting loads the spine and compresses the disks, leading to disk problems. Slaving over a computer for long periods of time can also cause posture problems, such as kyphosis, and neck problems.
FAQ
Chiropractic care is a health care profession based on interactions of the spine and nervous system, as well as the surrounding muscles.
Yes. Doctors of Chiropractic (also known as chiropractors) are not medical doctors, but go through a similar education process to become licensed in the field of chiropractic care. In fact, educational requirements for chiropractors are among the most stringent of any health care profession.
Chiropractors are known for their expertise in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain, and headaches. They also treat sports injuries and other disorders involving muscles, ligaments and joints. The benefits of chiropractic care go beyond this and extend into general health as our core body structure affects overall function and health.
A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific, controlled force in a precise direction that is applied to a spinal joint not moving properly or “locked up.” The purpose of this natural and safe procedure is to correct structural alignment and eliminate interference in the nervous system. For the patient, this means improved spinal function, reduction in pain, and an overall improvement in health and wellness.
Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort because minimal force and gentle pressure are used. In fact, most patients feel relief immediately following treatment. Any reported soreness after an initial adjustment has been described as similar to that associated with starting a new exercise program. Drinking plenty of water, using an ice pack, and engaging in light stretching after your first visit can help ease any discomfort promote healing.
Chiropractic care is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of most back and neck problems. Spinal adjustments are extremely safe when performed by a licensed chiropractor.
The noises you hear resembling popping sounds are your joints releasing tiny pockets of air. A chiropractic adjustment does not affect the bones of either side of a joint; it affects the connective tissue that holds the joint together.
Each patient’s care is unique and therefore customized to meet their specific condition and needs. Your chiropractor will modify adjustments based on your size, weight, age and health condition.
For many, back pain can become chronic if left untreated. Chiropractic care has been shown to ease and even eliminate back pain for many patients.
Many pregnant women find that chiropractic adjustments improve the pregnancy experience and make delivery easier. Adjustments are adapted to accommodate the stage of pregnancy and the unique needs of each patient.
More than 80 percent of people experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, it is one of the most reported reasons people miss work and is the second most frequent reason patients visit the doctor.
Chiropractors are trained to adjust in a very specific location and direction. As a result, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself correctly and accurately.