Prab Chandhok graduated with a Masters from the AECC in 2001. He returns to The Waldegrave after 15 years in Surrey. Prab is an Internationally Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner, Fellow of the Royal College of Chiropractors, and served on medical teams for the 2012 Olympics and 2017 World ParaAthletics Championships. Certified in Extremity Chiropractic (non-spinal), care during pregnancy and for children. Trained in dry needling and instructing patients with their ergonomics, alongside strategies minimising recurrence wherever possible. Awarded The British Chiropractic Associations’ Chiropractor of the Year, 2007.
What led you to you wanting to become a chiropractor?
One moment I was on a path to becoming a pilot with the RAF, and then having met former Waldegrave Clinic Chiropractor Tony Metcalfe when representing the RAF at a Hampton School Careers evening I came to observe what Chiropractors do.
That afternoon changed my life, seeing the difference chiropractic can make without medication or surgery, bringing a smile back to people in clear pain was a clear career choice that excited me.
What has surprised you most about the profession as a practitioner?
How patients with the same types of issue can have such varied causes for their condition. It is what makes being a chiropractor so incredible and interesting.
No two patients are ever the same and together we do the detective work to get to the bottom of it, identifying their specific mix of causes which helps set a plan to get back to optimum function and reducing symptoms.
What have been the unexpected benefits you have enjoyed?
So many to write about, from working with elite athletes at the 2012 London Olympic Games, 2017 World Para Athletic Championships and Disabled Strongman World Championships, to helping everyday inspiring people, young and elderly achieve their goals whether they be putting on their shoes without pain, playing with their grandchildren or becoming a world champion.
What has been your most momentous moment?
Helping athletes achieve their highest ambitions always puts a smile on my face and gives that immense sense of pride, though my most momentous moment was one that was rather unexpected.
It was just another day in clinic, a thorough history and examination of a patient set my internal alarm bells ringing. What followed was an immediate referral of the patient to the nearest hospital and my suspicions being confirmed that he had a life threatening abdominal aortic aneurysm leading to urgent surgery.
The story was reported on in the Surrey and Hampshire star and the Daily Mail titled “Life Saving Chiropractor”. The best part of this story was seeing the gentleman enjoy his daughters wedding and knowing his grandchildren in the years to come. It is moments like this that made all the rigorous yet excellent training worthwhile.
What glimpse of wisdom can you offer about health/the body?
We are habitual creatures, when it comes to function and fitness we become fit for what we do daily. If we sit at a desk all day our bodies adapt, if we are active and on our feet all day we adapt.
It is the change to our normal lifestyles that brings the potential for an issue to arise, so the best way to minimise that risk is to maintain a balanced lifestyle which incorporates healthy choices in how we move, what we eat and how we think, keeping us ready for all types of activities.
For example we rarely see a builder come in for a pain that happened while working, its usually during holidays when they do something simple, yet unsuspecting like bend down to pick up a letter off the floor! So ensure your chosen lifestyle is a good balance of physical activity and rest.
Outside of work what do you enjoy in life?
We are habitual creatures, when it comes to function and fitness we become fit for what we do daily. If we sit at a desk all day our bodies adapt, if we are active and on our feet all day we adapt.
It is the change to our normal lifestyles that brings the potential for an issue to arise, so the best way to minimise that risk is to maintain a balanced lifestyle which incorporates healthy choices in how we move, what we eat and how we think, keeping us ready for all types of activities.
For example we rarely see a builder come in for a pain that happened while working, its usually during holidays when they do something simple, yet unsuspecting like bend down to pick up a letter off the floor! So ensure your chosen lifestyle is a good balance of physical activity and rest.
What will always bring a smile to your face?
Making a difference in the world and the lives of the people I meet along the way, and simply spending time with the people that make life so meaningful.
What have been the unexpected hurdles you have had to face?
Learning how to help motivate people who want to get better though don’t always remember to do their self care or address longstanding lifestyle issues, it’s a challenge but has been great to see the results when they see the benefits on the other side.
