Welcome new, veteran and prospective chiropractic patients!
Thank you in advance for taking the time to discover chiropractic and its powerful effects on human health.
Each
year more than 4 million Canadian choose chiropractic for safe, natural and
effective relief from back pain, neck pain, headaches, extremity pain, poor
overall health, low energy levels and much more.
Chiropractic today is one of the largest primary-contact health care professions
in Canada with over 6000 practicing chiropractors.
Chiropractic is a regulated health profession recognized by statute in all Canadian provinces and American states. The benefits of chiropractic care are well recognized by other health care practitioners. In a 1995 survey, 44 % of Ontario and Alberta physicians indicated that they refer patients for chiropractic treatment.
According to The Association of Chiropractic Colleges, "Chiropractic is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs and surgery. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health." In addition, Doctors of Chiropractic recognize the value and responsibility of working in cooperation with other health care practitioners when in the best interest of the patient.
Because chiropractic treatments are primarily applied to the spinal region, many individuals incorrectly assume that chiropractors treat only back and neck ailments. While we do quickly and effectively eliminate back and neck pain, it's not the only goal. The objective is to restore and optimize human health. In fact, according to a statement from The Association of Chiropractic Colleges, "The purpose of chiropractic is to optimize health."
How does
chiropractic work?You may be wondering... how can the same chiropractic treatment which effectively treats my back pain also optimize my health? The answer can be found by looking into the relationship between the spine and the nervous system. A healthy, well aligned spinal column moving with full range of motion allows the nervous system to perform properly, which is vital because the nervous system is the master controller of all living cells, tissues and organs; orchestrating and coordinating all cellular functions. The spinal column encases the nervous system (spinal cord and nerve roots) and is responsible for its protection.
Because of this intimate relationship, biomechanical and structural problems in the spinal column can irritate parts of the enclosed nervous system. This irritation can result from noxious inflammatory biochemicals released during tissue injury or may result from direct mechanical pressure. In either case, the functioning of the nervous system is negatively influenced as is the functioning of the cells, tissues and organs which are supplied by the affected nerve(s).
The resulting ailment(s) depends on the cells, tissues and organs affected as well as the extent of nervous system compromise.
In short, because the body's innate recuperative powers are affected by and integrated through the nervous system, correcting spinal abnormalities which irritate the nervous system can lead to a number of favorable results in patients suffering from various, seemingly non-spinal health conditions.
Chiropractic can be an integrated part of sport performance care and posture correction program. Chiropractic can benefit everyone from infants, pregnant women, athletes and the elderly.
What
Chiropractors Do?Chiropractors practice a drug-free, manual approach to health care that includes patient assessment, diagnosis and treatment. In particular, chiropractors assess patients for disorders related to the spine, pelvis, extremity joints, and their effect on the nervous system. When examining and treating patients, chiropractors take a holistic approach which includes providing a differential diagnosis for the patient’s presenting condition(s) and identifying and correcting the cause(s) of the patient's health ailment.
Chiropractors use many specialized techniques to identify and treat these spinal abnormalities and optimize overall health. In addition to spinal adjustive techniques, chiropractors are also trained to recommend therapeutic exercise, to utilize other non-invasive therapies, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.
Short-term and regular chiropractic care have a number of benefits including:
What to expect on the first
visit?Chiropractors are very concerned about the role your spine plays in your overall health. Your chiropractors need a complete picture of your health in order to provide the best possible treatment for you as an individual.
STEP 1: You will be asked about personal and family medical history, including surgeries, medications, lifestyle activities and your symptoms (or body signals)
STEP 2: Your chiropractor will perform a physical exam utilizing orthopaedic, neurological and chiropractic tests, including reflexes, muscle strength, posture, blood pressure, co-ordination, and palpation, and possible referral for x-ray.
Upon completion of history taking and physical examination, provided that yours is a chiropractic problem, a proper treatment can be determined for you. Should your problem not be a true chiropractic problem, we will refer you to other appropriate health care provider.
Early treatment from a chiropractor can get you back on your feet. Your spine is one of the strongest parts of your body, but because it carries so much weight, it is also susceptible to injury. Accidents, stress, work, poor posture, repetitive strain/cumulative strain, sports or sprains can all cause back misalignment. When you injure your back, the symptoms (or body signals) can appear in other areas.