Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chiropractic care?

A: Chiropractic care is a health care profession based on interactions of the spine, joints and nervous system, as well as the surrounding muscles. Chiropractic focuses on these interactions and will treat a patient with the intention of optimizing joint, muscle and nervous system interactions.

Do you have to continue to go see a chiropractor for the rest of your life once you start?

A: No, once the initial injury has been treated and you are asymptomatic with no signs of dysfunction,asymmetry or compensation, you will be discharged from your current injury. Many chiropractors will advise people if they would like to come in on a maintenance basis to have their body checked out to avoid any future injuries. Movement patterns, muscle tone and joints will be assessed. Similar to a medical check up or dental check up, you would come in for a spine and movement check up.

What is the popping noise?

A: The popping noises you hear are the joints releasing tiny pockets of air. A chiropractic adjustment does not affect the bones of either side of a joint; it affects the connective tissue that holds the joint together. Similar sounds can be heard in your day to day life.

What types of pain do chiropractors treat?

A: Chiropractors are known for their expertise in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain, and headaches. They also treat sports injuries and other disorders involving muscles, ligaments and joints. The benefits of chiropractic care go beyond this and extend into general health as our core body structure affects overall function and health. Chiropractors will also analyze how you move to find out if there are any counterproductive lifestyle factors or performance factors contributing to your pain

What is a chiropractic adjustment?

A: An adjustment is a highly-skilled and precise movement usually applied by hand to the vertebrae of the spine or other joints of the body that appears to be dysfunctional or “locked up”. An adjustment to the joint restores proper movement and improves function. When a joint is adjusted, an air bubble may escape causing a popping noise, similar to when you crack your knuckles.  Depending on the nature of the problem, your chiropractor may also utilize joint mobilization, muscle release techniques, muscle stimulation and therapeutic exercises to relieve your pain and get you moving again.

provided by the Ontario Chiropractic Association

Do adjustments hurt?

A: Chiropractic adjustments are highly controlled treatment techniques that rarely cause discomfort because minimal force and gentle pressure is used. Most patients feel relief immediately following treatment. Any reported soreness after an initial adjustment has been described as similar to that associated with starting a new exercise program. Drinking plenty of water and engaging in light stretching after your first visit can help ease any discomfort promote healing.

Are Adjustments Safe?

A: Chiropractic care is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of most neck, back and extremity joint problems. Spinal adjustments are extremely safe when performed by a licensed chiropractor.

Is it safe to adjust myself?

A: Chiropractors are trained to adjust in a very specific location and direction. As a result, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself correctly and accurately. Adjusting yourself can feel good at the time but you have a higher chance of injury due to the lack of specificity of the joint that you are trying to crack. Licensed chiropractors through specific assessments can feel exactly which joints require treatment.

How are chiropractors educated?

A: Following a minimum of three years of university education, chiropractors acquire their skills through a rigorous four-year, full -time accredited academic program including internship.  Chiropractors must then pass comprehensive Canadian qualifying examinations in order to become licensed to practice in the province of their choice.  Chiropractors are regulated health professionals. The governing body to regulate chiropractors is the College of Chiropractors of Ontario.

provided by the Ontario Chiropractic Association

Is chiropractic care covered by health insurance?

A: Chiropractic care is covered extensively by third party payers. These include employee benefit plans, the federal public service, worker’s compensation boards, the automobile insurance industry, extended healthcare benefits, the RCMP, Canadian Forces and Veteran’s Affairs Canada.  Check your health plan to determine the coverage available to you for chiropractic care. Chiropractic services are also partially funded by the provincial health plan of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

provided by the Ontario Chiropractic Association

What is a subluxation?

A: Subluxation is a term used to describe a problem with a spinal joint. The World Health Organization defines a “subluxation” as a functional problem related to a joint and the structures associated with the joint such as the muscles, tendons and nerves. Dysfunction can present itself in various ways such as pain, inflammation and restricted movement of the joint. Some types of dysfunction, such as a sprain, will not appear on an x-ray. Chiropractors are trained to identify dysfunction that does not appear on imaging through the use of manual examination and non-imaging diagnostic tests.

provided by the Ontario Chiropractic Association

Do I need a REFERRAL to see a chiropractor?

A: No.  A patient does not need a referral from a family doctor.  Chiropractors are legislated as primary contact healthcare professionals in every province in Canada.  This means that patients can consult them directly.

provided by the Ontario Chiropractic Association

Glossary

I have created a glossary with terms you may have heard while being treated.

Arthritis:

Arthritis is a term often used to describe any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In some types of arthritis, other organs are also affected. Typical Arthritis, usually affiliated with age is referred to as Osteoarthritis, which means age related wear and tear changes to joint tissues. Other types of arthritis are termed Inflammatory in nature. Conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis or Enteropathic Arthritis.

FunctionaL

The idea that a movement or exercise is functional will indicate that it represents an action or skill that an individual must perform in their daily life. Everyone has different daily movement requirements so an exercise that is functional for someone may not be considered functional to someone else. A squat is considered a functional exercise because majority of the population must perform a squat like movement in there daily life. These exercises are considered to be practical and useful exercises

Fascia:  

A band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily collagen, beneath the skin that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs. Fascia links structures together allowing communication between them. For things like balance, coordination, proprioception & injury prevention, fascia plays a crucial role. It has been known to be very rich is sensory receptors. The best word to describe fascia is WET! It is layers and layers of connective tissue that are found over top of one another. When fascia functions properly, the layers can slide very easily over each layer. If the layers are dysfunctional, the fascia can become restricted resulting with perceived tightness, decreases in performance, decreases in strength and increased chances of injury. Things like nutrition, water intake, daily stress, exercise and previous injury will all determine the functional capabilities of your fascia. Current research will state that the fascia can be broken down into 3 types. Superficial Fascia, Visceral Fascia and Deep Fascia.

Mobility:

Ability to move freely and easily. Measured using Range Of Motion (ROM), mobility has been a concept that has replaced flexibility in recent years as being something that is required for optimal performance and optimal living. It encompasses all tissues that will effect ROM, specifically, muscle tissue, tendons, ligaments and fascia.

Flexibility:

This refers to movement or ROM and how muscle tissue effects it. This is a subcategory that belongs under Mobility. The two are closely related

Irritation:

A state of inflammation or painful reaction. A mechanical stimulus or agent which induces the state of irritation. In this situation, a mechanical force that is excessive or different than what the tissue is used to. Excessive tension, compression, shear or torsion will result with tissue irritation. This situation will typically create an overloading effect. An excessive but manageable force will result with the tissue adapting (think of muscle growth with resistance training). If the force is too excessive, the tissue becomes overloaded too much and may become damaged or weakened too much (lifting too much weight too fast) which results with an injury.

TENDINITIS:

Tendinitis in its simplest definition is inflammation or irritation of a tendon — the thick fibrous cords that attach muscles to bones. The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside a joint where the tendons are found. While tendinitis can occur in any of your tendons, it's most common around your shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees and heels. Can be linked to a number of factors like overuse, nutrition and inadequate rest, this group of conditions should be managed with a healthcare provider,

Bursitis:

Bursitis is a painful condition that affects the small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae. These bursae cushion the bones, tendons and muscles near your joints to avoid any kind of excessive rubbing that would occur if they were not present. Bursitis occurs when bursae become inflamed. The most common locations for bursitis are in the shoulder, elbow and hip. Can be linked to a number of factors like overuse, nutrition and inadequate rest, this group of conditions should be managed with a healthcare provider,

Stability:

A state at which one is stable. To apply this to the human body, we will typically see the concept of core stability which relates to our ability to maintain core stability. In order to have core stability, we measure this based on our ability to hold our spine in a neutral position. If we are able to do this, it is understood that we are demonstrating core stability.

Syndrome:

A syndrome is described as a group of symptoms which consistently occur together, or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms. Many diagnosed conditions that exist would be referred to as syndromes as most are multi-factorial with multiple consistent signs and symptoms. That being said, many of these conditions can present in a non textbook manner for other reasons. This group of conditions should be managed with a healthcare provider,

Mechanical Joint conditions:

This is a term used by primary health professionals to describe conditions where the joint and its associated structures (ligament, muscles and tendons) are not functioning properly and can be producing dysfunction or pain with movements. Below is a picture of the deeper muscles, ligaments and joints of the lumbar spine .This group of conditions should be managed with a healthcare provider.