A RIDSDALE family has been visiting the same chiropractor for 20 years – ever since it opened.

As Hexham Family Chiropractic celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, staff presented gifts of thanks to the Famelton family who have been loyal clients since day one.

The practice, located in Hencotes, was opened in 1995 by Australian Kim Furness, and is currently owned by American Aaron Bolesta.

And while the owners may have changed during the past two decades, some of the clientele hasn’t, with the Fameltons fully fledged supporters.

The family attend regular sessions together, parents Stuart and Julie joined by son Jack and daughter Lauren.

Mrs Famelton said: “We both had parents who used the practice, so we started going as both of us were struggling with bad backs.

“And we just kept coming regularly as regular maintenance prevents problems rather than just waiting until you are in pain to visit.

“We have always found them to be very good and it’s a nice welcoming place which is family friendly, which is great now we have children.”

While chiropractors are widely known for helping with back problems, they are also trained to assist various other ailments.

Included is treatment for neck, shoulder, hip, knee and joint pains, as well as arthritis, scoliosis, sciatica, headaches and migraines.

Current chiropractic assistant Nancy McGuiness discovered this was the case when she started working there 10 years ago.

She said: “When I worked in a bank, I was getting migraines and I would never have thought to have come through the practice door because I thought they only dealt with bad backs.

“I was made redundant from the bank but I started working here part-time and, as part of the job, I got examined and x-rayed.

“They found the problem and the chiropractors cured the migraines, and I was more amazed than anybody else!

“People don’t really know the full role of chiropractors but I’m living proof of what they can do.”

Clients to the practice will be given small gifts during the anniversary week of June 15 to 19.