Chiropractic Munksgaard
Back pain? Visit this Hague chiropractor.
Chiropractor Per Munksgaard treats back pain, neck pain, headaches, herniated discs and joint pain. A prudent fight against pain and a troublesome image.
DATE
21 February 2022
TEXT
Maja Landeweer
IMAGE
Fleur Beemster
Chiropractic Munksgaard
Back pain? Visit this Hague chiropractor.
Chiropractor Per Munksgaard treats back pain, neck pain, headaches, herniated discs and joint pain. A prudent fight against pain and a troublesome image.
In the Netherlands, chiropractic is still relatively unknown. In his practice, including in The Hague, back and neck specialist Per Munksgaard often sees patients late as a result. "Fortunately, we can usually help reduce pain symptoms," he says.
'Hernia complaints are a big problem in our society'
Munksgaard is originally from Denmark, where chiropractic is as well known as physiotherapy, as in many other countries. He took basic medical training there before continuing his studies to become a chiropractor in America.
Chiropractic
Munksgaard often has to explain the difference with physiotherapy. This is partly in the level of education. Chiropractic is a 5-year university study, physiotherapist you are after 4 years of college. Furthermore, a physiotherapist focuses more on the muscles and the chiropractor specialises in the nervous system.
Per Munksgaard at the decompression table the clinic uses to successfully treat hernias.
A chiropractor does a thorough examination, says Munksgaard. "During the initial consultation, there is a detailed discussion and various examinations and tests take place. We are trained to diagnose ourselves and then determine whether we can help: yes or no."
'Then when they can finally sleep through another night, it's party time'
"We want to know the cause of the complaint. And only then treat it." This can prevent a lot of misery, he knows. "We had a woman here who was treated elsewhere for a calf muscle strain, when it turned out she had been walking around with a hernia for three months. By the way, a referral from the GP is not necessary."
Per Munksgaard
Per Munksgaard's patients come from all over the Netherlands, from Zwolle to Zeeland and from Eindhoven to Texel. He has many loyal patients. Some of them have just reached the respectable age of ninety. "I have been seeing them for 30 years and they have aged 30 years, but not worse," he says.
"It's actually just like with your teeth," says the chiropractor. "You shouldn't wait until you have a cavity before you go to the dentist, you go for a check-up before, to prevent damage."
Your back and your teeth, you only have one of each, and prevention is better than cure, he argues. Although that idea is by no means yet established in the Netherlands. For many people, the chiropractor is the last resort. If they have already tried everything from physiotherapist to hospital examinations, they report in. "It's nice to be able to help people," says Sacha Munksgaard, Per's life and business partner, who keeps the practice running behind the scenes. "We regularly see people who would rather not have hernia surgery. Fortunately, it is usually not too late and we can use other treatment methods to alleviate symptoms."
Hernia complaints
Chiropractic Munksgaard treats back pain, neck pain, headaches, herniated discs and joint problems, among others. "Herniated discs are a big problem in our society," Per Munksgaard observes. "It can be caused by overuse, but often also by sitting for long periods of time."
The practice at 38 Groot Hertoginnelaan.
As one of the few clinics in the Netherlands, Munksgaard uses decompression therapy. This can relieve or cure most hernias in a safe and painless way. The patient lies on the decompression table, which slides apart slightly. This creates space between the vertebrae and reduces nerve entrapment. "People are in pain 24/7. Then when they can finally sleep through another night, it's party time." Per and Sacha Munksgaard sit at the desk of a spacious, bright consulting room in their practice on Groot Hertoginnelaan in the stately Duinoord district. It is one of their two Hague practices; the other practice is located in the Vinex district Wateringse Veld.
Five locations
In total, Chiropractie Munksgaard has five locations. Apart from The Hague, the company is also in Heemstede, Amsterdam and Zaanstad. The couple took over the Hague practice 11 years ago. The 1973 practice - 'one of the oldest in the Netherlands' - was then still in Scheveningen, but the new owners soon moved it to Groot Hertoginnelaan. Per Munksgaard: "Here we are much more accessible. In summer, you hardly get into Scheveningen by car."
There is no question of roughhousing with the chiropractor. "In the Netherlands, we still have an awkward image. People think treatment is painful, but it's really all very gentle. Satisfied patients often say: you are the best kept secret in healthcare."
text Maja Landeweer image Fleur Beemster
In the Netherlands, chiropractic is still relatively unknown. In his practice, including in The Hague, back and neck specialist Per Munksgaard often sees patients late as a result. "Fortunately, we can usually help reduce pain symptoms," he says.
'Hernia complaints are a big problem in our society'
Munksgaard is originally from Denmark, where chiropractic is as well known as physiotherapy, as in many other countries. He took basic medical training there before continuing his studies to become a chiropractor in America.
Chiropractic
Munksgaard often has to explain the difference with physiotherapy. This is partly in the level of education. Chiropractic is a 5-year university study, physiotherapist you are after 4 years of college. Furthermore, a physiotherapist focuses more on the muscles and the chiropractor specialises in the nervous system.
Per Munksgaard at the decompression table the clinic uses to successfully treat hernias.
A chiropractor does a thorough examination, says Munksgaard. "During the initial consultation, there is a detailed discussion and various examinations and tests take place. We are trained to diagnose ourselves and then determine whether we can help: yes or no."
'Then when they can finally sleep through another night, it's party time'
"We want to know the cause of the complaint. And only then treat it." This can prevent a lot of misery, he knows. "We had a woman here who was treated elsewhere for a calf muscle strain, when it turned out she had been walking around with a hernia for three months. By the way, a referral from the GP is not necessary."
Per Munksgaard
Per Munksgaard's patients come from all over the Netherlands, from Zwolle to Zeeland and from Eindhoven to Texel. He has many loyal patients. Some of them have just reached the respectable age of ninety. "I have been seeing them for 30 years and they have aged 30 years, but not worse," he says.
"It's actually just like with your teeth," says the chiropractor. "You shouldn't wait until you have a cavity before you go to the dentist, you go for a check-up before, to prevent damage."
Your back and your teeth, you only have one of each, and prevention is better than cure, he argues. Although that idea is by no means yet established in the Netherlands. For many people, the chiropractor is the last resort. If they have already tried everything from physiotherapist to hospital examinations, they report in. "It's nice to be able to help people," says Sacha Munksgaard, Per's life and business partner, who keeps the practice running behind the scenes. "We regularly see people who would rather not have hernia surgery. Fortunately, it is usually not too late and we can use other treatment methods to alleviate symptoms."
Hernia complaints
Chiropractic Munksgaard treats back pain, neck pain, headaches, herniated discs and joint problems, among others. "Herniated discs are a big problem in our society," Per Munksgaard observes. "It can be caused by overuse, but often also by sitting for long periods of time."
The practice at 38 Groot Hertoginnelaan.
As one of the few clinics in the Netherlands, Munksgaard uses decompression therapy. This can relieve or cure most hernias in a safe and painless way. The patient lies on the decompression table, which slides apart slightly. This creates space between the vertebrae and reduces nerve entrapment. "People are in pain 24/7. Then when they can finally sleep through another night, it's party time." Per and Sacha Munksgaard sit at the desk of a spacious, bright consulting room in their practice on Groot Hertoginnelaan in the stately Duinoord district. It is one of their two Hague practices; the other practice is located in the Vinex district Wateringse Veld.
Five locations
In total, Chiropractie Munksgaard has five locations. Apart from The Hague, the company is also in Heemstede, Amsterdam and Zaanstad. The couple took over the Hague practice 11 years ago. The 1973 practice - 'one of the oldest in the Netherlands' - was then still in Scheveningen, but the new owners soon moved it to Groot Hertoginnelaan. Per Munksgaard: "Here we are much more accessible. In summer, you hardly get into Scheveningen by car."
There is no question of roughhousing with the chiropractor. "In the Netherlands, we still have an awkward image. People think treatment is painful, but it's really all very gentle. Satisfied patients often say: you are the best kept secret in healthcare."
