What should I expect on my first visit?
What is Chiropratic?
Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from an MD?
How is chiropractic manipulation performed?
Is chiropractic manipulation a safe procedure?
Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?
Is every patient's treatment the same?
Does chiropractic treatment require x-rays?
Why do chiropractors take X-rays?
Can chiropractic treatment provide a preventative function?
What kind of education and training do chiropractors have?
Is chiropractic regulated in Canada?
Is chiropractic covered by government health plans?
What conditions do chiropractors treat?
Do chiropractors refer patients to medical doctors when necessary?
Do chiropractors take a medical history?
Once you go to a chiropractor, don't they make you keep going for the rest of your life?
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What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a a primary contact branch of health care specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and overall management of conditions which are due to : Mechanical dysfunction and injury of the soft tissues – joints (ligaments, cartilage) – muscles (myofasicial tissue) – tendons – discs (inter-vertebral disc) – and nerves.
Chiropractors use either their hands or high tech instruments to manipulate/adjust the spine or extremities (shoulder, wrist, knee etc.), in order to restore or enhance function. Often the chiropractor will adapt the procedures to meet your specific needs.
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Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from an MD?
No. A patient does not have to be referred. Chiropractors are legislated as primary contact health professionals in every province in Canada. This means that patients can consult them directly. However, chiropractors often work closely with MDs, 44 per cent of whom refer their patients to chiropractors.
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What should I expect on my first visit?
The Consultation:
The major objective in your first visit is to render an accurate diagnosis so as to determine which one of our therapies will benefit you most. We start off by taking a thorough history which includes all relevant health and lifestyle information. Past medical history and family history is also investigated. All pertinent information regarding your presenting complaint or symptoms is explored.
The Assessment:
A detailed physical assessment is performed which includes: orthopedic, neurological, postural, range of movement, functional strength testing, balance, and other relevant diagnostic procedures including x-rays.
Computerized Postural Analysis:
Posture reflects the additional forces acting on your body. These forces, both gravitational and tension, combine to make your body less efficient, more prone to injury, and increase the development degenerative joint disease.
Posture analysis will quickly determine the health of your spinal cord by measuring your posture. Your posture is then tracked and the information used to diagnose and treat your condition.
Diagnosis and Report of Findings:
Once we have rendered an accurate diagnosis, a detailed report of our findings is fully explained to you. Then after your consent is given a special treatment program tailored to your needs is initiated or you are referred to the appropriate health care provider, who may best assist your condition.
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How is chiropractic manipulation performed?
Chiropractic manipulation is a manual procedure which utilizes the highly-refined skills developed during four intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractor uses his/her hands to manipulate the spine in order to restore or enhance spinal functioning.
Manipulation is a highly controlled procedure which rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.
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Is chiropractic manipulation a safe procedure?
Yes - Chiropractic treatment is a drug-free, non-invasive approach to common musculoskeletal conditions such as neck and back pain. As such, it is a very low risk therapy. In extremely rare situations - between one or two out of one million treatments - there is a possibility that manipulation of the upper neck may contribute to a stroke.
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Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?
There are many reasons why a child might benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from participating in sports which can cause back pain and discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is highly skilled and, in the case of children, is very gentle.
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Is every patient's treatment the same?
The treatment a patient receives is related to the specific condition diagnosed by the chiropractor, and will vary from person to person depending on each person's unique situation. Like M.D.'s chiropractors follow generally accepted protocols and guidelines.
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Does chiropractic treatment require x-rays?
Guidelines have been developed by the chiropractic profession with regard to the use of X-rays as a diagnostic tool. X-rays provide vital information to help determine a diagnosis but they are not required in every case. In fact, at CMCC from 1997 to 1998 fewer than 20 per cent of chiropractic patients received X-rays, and only 6 percent of patients under the age of 16 required an X-ray.
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Why do chiropractors take X-rays?
Chiropractors are trained in physical diagnosis including the use of X-rays. The science of radiology is a major component of chiropractic education, and chiropractors are licensed in each province, through chiropractic legislation, to take and interpret X-rays for their patients. An important reason for the use of X-rays is to detect contra-indications for spinal manipulation.
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Can chiropractic treatment provide a preventative function?
Clinical experience suggests that individuals with chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis or recurrent neck pain, back pain or headaches experience less frequent and less severe symptoms when under regular chiropractic care. This also applies to individuals in highly stressful situations and those who experience repetitive physical and postural strain from their daily activities.
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What kind of education and training do chiropractors have?
Chiropractic education in Canada follows a formal University degree program and involves 4 years of further education consisting of courses in anatomy, clinical sciences, pathology, histology, orthopedics, neurology, chiropractic sciences and technique, clinical diagnosis and treatment, physiology, nutrition, and research, as well as clinical internship. Some chiropractors have additional post-graduate training, of up to 3 years, and become Chiropractic Specialists.
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Is chiropractic regulated in Canada?
Like medicine and dentistry, chiropractic is a self-regulating profession, and each provincial chiropractic regulatory body has the authority to grant a license to practice chiropractic. There are Chiropractic Acts in all 10 provinces and the Yukon Territory which establish a self-regulatory process which includes extensive testing for licensure. In all provinces, licensure requirements include a minimum of two years pre-professional university studies, graduation from an accredited chiropractic institution (4 or 5 years), and passing national and provincial board examinations.
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Is chiropractic covered by government health plans?
OHIP does not cover chiropractic visits, although Extended Healthcare Insurance does.
WCB: if your injury occurs at work and a claim is made, WCB (Workers’ Compensation) will cover the entire cost of treatment.
Automobile Insurance: if your injury is the result of a motor vehicle accident, you will have fully, 100% coverage for all treatment.
Patient payment: if you do not have Extended coverage, WCB, or an insurance company is paying as a result of an accident, you are responsible for the treatment expense.
Please ask us for a detailed Fee schedule.
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What conditions do chiropractors treat?
- Lower back pain
- Mid back pain
- Neck pain
- Migraines and other types of Headaches
- Discs
- Ligaments
- Tendons
- Neuromusculoskeletal (soft tissue)
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Do chiropractors refer patients to medical doctors when necessary?
Yes, like medical doctors, chiropractors refer patients to other professionals when they feel it is appropriate. Chiropractors are well trained to recognize risk factors as well as individual disease patterns and will not hesitate to make a referral when it is in the best interest of the patient's health.
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Do chiropractors take a medical history?
Like M.D.'s, the chiropractor will take a detailed health history during the first visit, prior to initial treatment. This will include details on lifestyle and risk factors to give the chiropractor a full picture of the patient's health in order to determine the best treatment. As well, a detailed health history is important to rule out any contra-indications and fully investigate risk factors before a diagnosis and treatment recommendation can be reached.
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Once you go to a chiropractor, don't they make you keep going for the rest of your life?
The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what sends patients back to the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, preventative and/or maintenance care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary.
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