Cymru Chirporactic has opened for business in Pontypool.

Established by fully-qualified and registered chiropractor Dr Trevor Horan, the new clinic will help to treat the people of Pontypool and the surrounding areas for back pain, trapped nerves, sciatica, neck pain, headaches, joint problems and other related conditions.

Having previously worked in clinics in Newport, Cardiff and Cwmbran, Dr Horan researched the area and realised that there was an opportunity for him to open his own clinic serving the people of Pontypool.

Working with Tim Williams, business adviser for Newport & Gwent, Dr Horan has carefully researched and planned the new clinic on Commercial Street so that it is fully equipped and designed to provide customers with a first class service.

In its first year, Dr Horan is keen to begin to establish a good reputation for the clinic and build his patient base. He intends to forge strong working relationships with local GP practices and associated clinics so that their patients can benefit from his expertise.

Local businesses and organisations will also be contacted and encouraged to use the services provided. In the UK, back pain is the largest single reported cause of absence from work and leading cause of disability. Sickness absence due to back and neck pain alone accounts for a loss of 1.2 million working days, at a cost of £100m a year, in small and medium-size businesses.

40 per cent of the population are affected by back pain (16 million)

2.5 million people have back pain every day of the year

119 million working days are lost

Overall burden to industry = £5bn

1.2 million people are affected by musculo-skeletal pain and 500,000 by work related stress

According to industry figures, average sickness absence in a company of 3,000 is 150 employees (five per cent of the workforce) each year, for, on average, two working weeks at a cost of £100 per day. Of the total days lost, 30 per cent is due to musculoskeletal problems and 60 per cent of these are back and neck related. Or put another way, at any given time 1.5 per cent of the workforce will be off due to a musculoskeletal problem and one per cent due to back and neck related injuries only.

Dr Horan said: "Chiropractors have worked with numerous companies to significantly reduce sickness absence costs and costs due to lost productivity. They have shown and documented, that employees are often able to remain working effectively in the work environment, whilst continuing their treatment. There is a strong business case for companies to consider the use of the services of a chiropractor and I hope to work with local employers to benefit both their employees and businesses.

"Without treatment people with severe low back pain or Repetitive Strain Injury may have to leave their jobs and even with milder symptoms they may be in constant pain or have to take large numbers of days off every year - or work inefficiently. Not providing an adequate service for the workforce may prove false economy."

Dr Horan is also keen to work with local sports clubs. He has experience of working with both amateur and professional clubs, in optimising performance and injury prevention and also provides a specialist orthotic consultancy.