What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a specialized treatment delivered by highly trained professionals. In Canada, chiropractors are required to complete a minimum of 3 years university education, followed by a 4-year Doctor of Chiropractic program at an accredited chiropractic college.

The Chiropractic profession treats health problems directly and indirectly related to the spine. The chiropractic approach is to examine for and treat common health problems arising from changes in spinal function. Its success has fueled its growth to become the 3rd largest health profession in North America. The chiropractic approach to better health is to detect, reduce and prevent nervous system dysfunction (subluxation). The chiropractic profession focuses on natural, preventative health care

I know people who go to their chiropractor even though they don’t have symptoms. Why?

Do you wait for symptoms (i.e. a blown engine) before you change the oil in your car? Should you wait until a wall falls down before you check for termites? Should you wait until you have a heart attack to start eating properly? Let’s take a look at a high performance racecar; getting your spine adjusted periodically, once your problems have been fixed, is no different than a “Pit-Stop”. It keeps your body functioning properly and decreases your chances for cumulative injuries. The reason people go to their chiropractors when they don’t have symptoms is because they like not having symptoms. Unfortunately, some people’s idea of preventative care is “hoping” that they don’t wear out. It is much wiser to “ensure” that you don’t wear out by treating your body like a high performance racecar. Most people treat their bodies like they have another one in the bank!

I heard if you go to a chiropractor you have to go forever?

I heard if you don’t want your teeth to fall out you have to brush them everyday… forever! I heard if you want to keep your physical fitness you have to exercise 3 days a week… forever. I heard that if you want to stay healthy you have to eat right, 3 meals a day, forever. When do you stop maintaining your car? It’s a hunk of metal that will be thrown away in 10 years. You only have one human body. If you don’t take care of it, where will you live? Most people who don’t see chiropractors are used to seeing their medical doctor only 1 visit. They get a prescription and that is it. Chiropractic is not about taking drugs to alleviate symptoms. It is about the health and well being of the most important structure in your body-the spine and what it protects, your nervous system. Chiropractic patients usually choose to ‘get adjusted’ once a month forever because they have been in pain before and they much prefer the way they feel when they are adjusted.

How will the adjustment help me?

Chiropractic adjustments help eliminate interference that prevents your body from communicating and thus healing itself. Misaligned vertebrae interfere with your nervous system, which affects organs and muscles throughout your body. Your chiropractor locates and corrects any misalignments, which can alleviate painful symptoms elsewhere in the spine and facilitates the body's ability to function properly and heal itself.

What makes the "crackling noise" when an adjustment is delivered?

While some people may get nervous about the "pop" that an adjustment can produce, the sound is not coming from the bones themselves. It's coming from a lubricant called synovial fluid that's found in every joint. That fluid contains dissolved gases. Shifting the joint with an adjustment into proper motion and alignment releases the built up pressure that has resulted from the joint being subluxated. This causes a shifting of the fluid and gasses in the joint to make a crackling noise.

Is it true that chiropractors do not prescribe medication or perform surgery?

Yes. Chiropractors don't prescribe medication or perform invasive procedures. They believe the body has the ability to heal itself, and therefore focus on providing it with the right elements for self-restoration. This makes chiropractic one of the safest of all treatments. If your doctor of chiropractic identifies a problem that should require immediate medical attention you will be referred out to the proper provider. Your health and safety are always our main concern.

How does chiropractic care help pregnant women?

Pregnancy places additional weight and stress on women's bodies. Chiropractic treatment can help relieve pregnancy-related low back, leg, neck and shoulder blade pain.

It may also reduce incidence of headache and nausea. It has also been shown that women under chiropractic care while pregnant have significantly less labor time and the chances of complications with delivery.

For all you Mom’s out there, doesn’t that sound good?

How Safe is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic is recognized as one of the safest types of health care in the world

Numerous studies, including those funded by governments, universities and nonprofit research institutions, have proven it to be a safe and successful primary therapy for neuromusculoskeletal conditions -- a therapy that is much safer, in fact, than most medical procedures used to treat the same conditions.

Chiropractic is also widely used as a complementary mode of care for a variety of other conditions and diseases and to promote overall health, function and well-being

How does the safety of chiropractic compare to other medical procedures?

In comparison to allopathic medicine, which uses drugs and surgery as an integral part of treatment, chiropractic presents far less risk. Consider, for example, that in the United States an estimated 140,000 people die each year from drug-related reactions. And the risk of death due to gastrointestinal complications from taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen is 400 times greater that the complication rate for people who receive cervical manipulation, while the mortality rate for people who undergo cervical spine surgery is 7,000 times higher.

Human error is another factor that tilts the safety balance in chiropractic's favor. In the United States, it is estimated that up to 98,000 Americans die yearly from medical errors -- a doctor accidentally making the wrong incision, a nurse administering the wrong medication, and so on.

But with all forms of treatment, whether allopathic or alternative, any risks, however slight, should not be ignored. While the methods used by chiropractors have proven to be safe in almost all cases, it is a constant concern for chiropractors to evaluate their patients to determine if treatment will cause an adverse reaction.

Does the adjustment hurt?

Most chiropractic adjustments are painless; in fact, most of the time the adjustment feels good and provides immediate relief.

If you've had a recent injury, however, adjustments can irritate inflamed tissue and cause minor discomfort. It’s during these times that we employ gentle adjunctive therapies in order to prepare your body to get adjusted. I call this phase Pre-hab. It’s when you are hurting so much you aren’t ready for rehab.

Using ice after any irritation or acute injury is usually recommended. Some people also experience odd sensations in their muscles or extremities after adjustments. This is a normal reaction to the relieving of pressure on nerves and is usually no cause for concern.

It is thought by some scientists to be an increase in circulation once the irritation is removed from the nerve.