What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a hands-on health care discipline that focuses on diagnosis and treatment of the neuromusculoskeletal system. This refers to the muscles and joints of the spine, pelvis and extremities, and the nerves that can be obstructed when they are tight, stiff or locked.
Chiropractic is one of the largest health care professions in Ontario that does not require a referral from a medical doctor. In fact, more than 1.2 million patients in Ontario rely on chiropractic care every year to help them live healthy, active lives. Researchers and governments around the world have conducted extensive reviews of the chiropractic profession and have consistently endorsed chiropractic services.
What Types of Conditions Can Be Treated?
There are many reasons to seek chiropractic care:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Headache
- Whiplash
- Strains and sprains
- Repetitive strain injury (RSI)
- Work and sports injuries
- Arthritis
- Limited range of motion in the back, shoulder, neck or limbs
- General health and well-being
Chiropractic care may also be used to provide symptomatic relief for patients with chronic conditions. According to patient surveys, by treating the neuromusculoskeletal elements of such disorders, chiropractic treatment has been shown to improve the general well-being of the patient.
The Initial Visit
Doctors of Chiropractic first perform a complete consultation and examination in order to determine a diagnosis. This includes:
- History taking,
- Physical examination,
- Orthopaedic testing,
- Neurologic testing
A detailed report of findings is then given to the patient to tell him/her what exactly is wrong and how it can be treated.
What is an Adjustment ?
Adjustment is the one of the most common forms of treatment utilized by chiropractors in clinical practice.
An adjustment is a manual, non-invasive procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed through four years of intensive chiropractic education. This is a carefully controlled technique delivered by a skilled practitioner to restricted spinal or extremity joints. The primary goal is to decrease pain and restore function by improving areas of reduced movement in the joints and supporting tissues, and decreasing muscle tightness or spasm.
A variety of other techniques can also be employed including mobilization and relaxation of the muscles, tendons and ligaments (called the ‘soft tissues’).