Nadine Cheli, (née Harrison)

“I’ll do everything I can to support and empower you in your recovery. My aim is not only to get you feeling better, but to also give you the skills to help yourself.”

Photo of Nadine Harrison Chiropractor at work

Nadine Cheli, (née Harrison) - Chiropractor

Nadine offers you an honest and supportive approach to recovering from your muscle, joint and nerve pains, and taking back control!

She has vast clinical experience including further training in helping people with persistent pain and in caring for pregnant women.

Nadine was honoured to receive the “Chiropractor of the Year” award in 2017.

 

“I’ll do everything I can to support and empower you in your recovery. My aim is not only to get you feeling better, but to also give you the skills to help yourself.

I especially like helping people with back pain and sciatica, neck pain and associated headaches, and shoulder complaints. I’ve undertaken further training to look after children, teenagers and women during pregnancy.

Pain is sometimes very persistent! Back pain in particular can be challenging to recover from and prevent. I understand this, and find it very rewarding helping people relieve persistent pain; I’m currently completing a Diploma in Pain Management.

I qualified with Distinction in my Masters in Chiropractic in 2014 and spent 2 years working in private practice before moving to live in Botswana. Here, I volunteered for the global charity “World Spine Care” for a year, leading the team for a spinal pain department. I gained unique professional experience from working in a hospital as well as rural clinic setting, and had some incredible life experiences! I was honoured to receive the “Chiropractor of the Year” award in 2017 from the British Chiropractic Association when I returned home.

I now live in Oxfordshire and enjoy bringing all my experiences together to provide the care I give today; I also love triathlon, and cooking!”

Practitioner Summary

Training and Continued Professional Development:

  • Masters in Chiropractic, Distinction, Anglo European College of Chiropractic, 2014
  • Post Registration training, Royal College of Chiropractors, 2015
  • Post Graduate Certificate Professional Development (Chiropractic), Distinction, Anglo European College of Chiropractic, 2015
  • Niel Asher Technique for Frozen Shoulder, 2015
  • Dry Needling, John Reynolds, 2015
  • Care of the Pregnant Pelvis, Elisabeth Davison, 2018
  • Paediatric Musculoskeletal Essentials, Anglo European College of Chiropractic, 2019
  • Diploma in Pain Management, Royal College of Chiropractors, 2020 – Present

Experience and Awards:

  •  Prize for Best Clinical Proficiency, Anglo European College of Chiropractic, 2014
  • Graham Heale Award for Best Post Registration Training Candidate, Royal College of Chiropractors, 2015
  • Clinical Supervisor, World Spine Care, 2016 – 2017
  • Chiropractor of the Year, British Chiropractic Association, 2017


  • Back pain
  • Sciatica
  • Neck pain and associated headaches
  • Shoulder complaints
  • Helping people with persistent pain; including back pain and neck pain
  • Helping pregnant women
  • Improving strength and flexibility, and returning to fitness / exercise

When we meet, you’ll be well listened to and the full history of your pain/problem will be explored. We’ll also chat through your general medical health, and other factors such as sleep, exercise and stress levels, which helps establish a picture of your overall health and guides the sort of treatment that will likely help you.

You’ll be examined thoroughly. This involves assessing your posture and movements. We will carry out an assessment of your nerve function if necessary, and use tests known as orthopaedic tests to see if certain positions and movements provoke pain. If at this stage an XRay or MRI is needed I am able to make a direct referral.

I’ll carefully explain things and we’ll make a plan of action. No two cases are the same, after listening to you and examining you I will be able to make recommendations based on your needs.

I use hands on treatment skills, including massage, joint mobilisation (moving the joint with a rhythmic motion), joint manipulation (that sometimes makes the popping sound), stretching techniques, and dry needling (a medical form of acupuncture).

Exercises are usually needed for gaining both strength and flexibility. These are key in making a full recovery and preventing a flare up.

Prevention advice is also given to reduce the chances of your pain coming back. This might include advice on your pillow and mattress, driving position, desk posture, simple nutrition advice, and strategies to cope with stress.

What can chiropractors treat?

There is research evidence supporting that each of the below conditions may be effectively treated with chiropractic care.

  • Back pain (acute and chronic)
  • Neck pain
  • Headaches associated with neck pain
  • Migraine prevention
  • Sciatica
  • Shoulder pain / frozen shoulder
  • Elbow pain; Tennis elbow / golfers elbow
  • Hips and knee osteoarthritis
  • Minor sports injuries
  • Plantar fasciitis (painful foot condition)
  • Muscles spasm, Cramps, tension, inability to relax

What is the difference between a Chiropractor and an Osteopath?

The short answer is … not a lot. Chiropractors and Osteopaths both treat similar conditions. Their treatment techniques may vary from person to person. Chiropractors tend to do more manipulation, but this is a sweeping generalisation. My best advice is to find someone you feel comfortable with, and who is experienced treating the problem you have.

Will it hurt?

Most often, treatment is a positive experience. Of course, many people are in pain when they start to see me. You may feel your pain is slight provoked during examination as we try to work out exactly which bit hurts and what makes it better or worse. Hands on treatment is guided by you; you’ll often feel a sense of relief, and some people describe a “good pain”; a sense of discomfort that feels good is being done. You might feel a little sore or achey for 24 hours after treatment; similar to after you’ve exercised. Exercises prescribed to you also might make you feel you’ve done a little hard work, but the overall effect is most often one of relief and improvement. Very rarely people have increased pain, that then settles down within around day.

Is it safe?

Yes. Chiropractic treatment is very safe for people of all ages. The most common side effect is a short amount of post treatment discomfort; similar to after you have exercised. After your initial consultation we can conclude how best to treat you based on your general health. Serious side effects from chiropractic treatment are very rare and we will chat through benefits and risks before starting with treatment.

What’s the popping sound?

Sometimes, as muscles and joint begin to move more, gases and liquids in between the joint move into the increased space and a popping sound is heard. It is similar to having a bath full of water; when you pull the plug, you create space and the water “glugs” into this space. A popping sounds is particularly common with manipulation where the freeing up of movement is achieved quickly. It is not your bones cracking.

How long does it take to get better?

The answer will be different for each person. Factors that affect improvement include: your age, how long you’ve been in pain, your overall health, what you are trying to achieve from treatment.

At most recent audit people under my care felt, on average, 70% better, 4 weeks after their first appointment.

How is a Chiropractor trained?

I completed four years at University completing a Masters in Chiropractic, including a supervised clinical year in a teaching clinic. In the first two years we cover in depth anatomy, physiology, pathology, and orthopaedics, very similarly to physiotherapy/osteopathy, nursing and medicine training. After 2 years you work more specifically on the musculoskeletal conditions that people come with to a chiropractor, how to assess and treat them, and differentiating them from conditions that need to be referred, say to a GP. Chiropractors have statutory regulation under parliament, are fully insured to work with people in a primary health care setting and undergo yearly continued learning and re-assessment.

Do I need a referral from my GP?

No. Chiropractors are known as “Primary health care professionals”; they are trained to diagnose conditions, as well as treat them. If I am unsuitable to help you, I will refer you on to the appropriate professional, such as your GP, with a written letter of my thoughts and findings.

Is treatment covered by my insurance?

I work with most major insurance companies; for full information please get in touch before commencing treatment. Some of those covered are:
AXA PPP
Aviva
Vitality
Cigna
Healix Healthcare
WPA
Most healthcare cash plans provided through work places are covered.

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