Chiropractic
Chiropractic is based upon the understanding that health and wellness depend, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system, especially the spine, and the nerves which extend from it to the entire body. “Chiropractic” comes from the Greek word Chiropraktikos, meaning “effective treatment by hand.” The basis of Chiropractic is that the body’s inability to adapt to its environment can result in numerous diseases, as well as pain and dysfunction. These ailments are addressed by locating and adjusting the improperly functioning areas within the musculoskeletal system, rather than using drugs or more invasive procedures. Chiropractic focuses on the establishment and maintenance of a relationship between patients and their environment which is most conducive to functional well-being.
FAQ’s
What to expect on your first visit?
The first thing a Chiropractor Doctor will do is ask you about your main health concerns, and what has prompted you to come into the clinic. The Doctor will also ask about your family history, dietary habits, other care you may have had (chiropractic, medical, etc.), your job, and other questions that will help determine the nature of your illness and the best way to go about treating the problem.
The next step is a physical and postural examination, which may also include x-rays. In addition, a careful spinal examination will be performed to detect any structural abnormalities which may be affecting or causing your condition. All of these elements are important components of your total health profile, and they are essential in evaluating your problem.
Once the Doctor has determined a diagnosis, or cause of the problem, a specific plan of management will be determined, and thoroughly explained to you. This plan of management is based in large part on the results of the physical examination, as well as on evaluation of the radiographs, if applicable.
Once this diagnosis has been determined, care will be commenced, using adjustments. An “adjustment,” as doctors of chiropractic use the term, means the specific manipulation of vertebral joint which no longer function properly, or have lost some or all of their regular movements. Chiropractors spend years learning the different spinal examination procedures in order to administer the most appropriate and specific spinal adjustments. These adjustments involve a quick application of pressure to the areas of the spine which aren’t moving properly within their normal (or optimal) range of motion. Adjustments are normally pain-free and quite comfortable; there may be a slight discomfort at the time of the adjustment, but this dissipates within seconds. Adjustments or manipulations are extremely safe, with risks estimated to be in excess of 1 in one-million
What are the conditions a Chiropractor may assist?
The conditions which doctors of chiropractic address are as varied and as vast as the nervous system itself. Doctors of chiropractic use the same methods of consultation, case history, physical examination and x-ray examination as any other doctor. In addition, they provide a careful chiropractic structural examination, paying particular attention to the spine, in order to diagnose the condition and determine a course of treatment.
The thorough spinal examination to evaluate structure and function is what makes chiropractic different from other branches of health care. Your spinal column is a series of movable bones from the base of the skull to the center of the hips, with thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves extending down from the brain and exiting along the spine through a series of openings. These nerves then form a complicated network which affects every living tissue in your body.
Accidents, stress, work, overexertion, and countless other factors can result in displacements or derangements of the spine, causing irritation to spinal nerve roots. Chiropractic works to reduce or eliminate this irritation to spinal nerves, and thus help the body to operate more efficiently and more comfortably. In addition, Chiropractic emphasizes nutritional and exercise programs including stretching, and lifestyle modifications that promote physical and mental health. Essentially, Doctors of Chiropractic pursue an understanding of the cause of illness in order to eliminate it, rather than simply treat symptoms. When necessary, chiropractors will refer patients to medical care specialists when such interventions are indicated. Today, many chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists and other health care professionals work together in occupational health, sports medicine, and a wide variety of other rehabilitation practices to promote overall wellness.
Commonly Treated Conditions Include:
- Headaches
- Pain- Arthritic
- Ear Infections
- Pain-Back
- Injuries-Tendonitis, Bursitis
- Pregnancy
- Repetitive Work Strain
- Overall Vitality
- Immunity
How do you know if you can benefit from Chiropractic Care?
Doctors of Chiropractic spend years training, gathering experience and performing thorough analyses, but read through our “checklist” for some simple ways to find out if your spine is healthy.
If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, this could be significant, and should prompt a thorough examination in our offices.
Do you feel the need to “crack” your neck, back, or other joints often?
Do you work at a computer and/or feel wrist pain or numbness in your hands?
- Firmly press the backs of your hands together with your fingers pointing down, while keeping your arms parallel to the floor. If within a minute, you experience numbness, tingling, pain or a combination, you likely have nerve involvement.
Do you often feel tired, or suffer from difficulty concentrating?
Do you find you are getting sick frequently, and are constantly feeling run down?
Are you constantly feeling stressed and tense, often experiencing aches and pains all over?
- Try a simple postural exam. Have a friend or family member examine you by doing the following. Start by having them examine your posture from a side profile. They should check that your head isn’t leaning farther forward than the rest of your body.
As a guideline, there are 4 points along the body that should always line up. Are any of these out of alignment?
- Centre of the head
- Top of the shoulder
- Centre of the hip
- Centre of the ankle
Do you experience clicking in your jaws?
Does your neck feel sore, stiff, or move less than it used to?
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To examine your neck’s range of motion, simply sit down in a chair and get comfortable so your neck rests in a neutral position. Slowly turn your neck to the left, hold for a few seconds, and then turn to the right and hold for a few seconds. Your movement should be equal on both sides, there should be no pain, and there should be no popping or grinding.
Do you have headaches, or overall tightness in your muscles?
Do you experience low back pain or hip pain, or notice that the heels of your shoes have worn out unevenly?
Do you have poor posture?
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Try this simple test. Using 2 bathroom scales, close your eyes and find a neutral position for your body with one foot on each scale ( no shoes); compare the scale readings for each scale. To allow for any variance, reverse the scales and perform the same test. Add the first and second scale readings for the left and divide by two to find the average; do the same for the right. The averages on each side should have minimal to no difference.
Safety of neck adjustments
Neck adjustment is a precise procedure, generally applied by hand, to the joints of the neck. Neck adjustment works to improve joint mobility in the neck restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm, thereby relieving pressure and tension. Patients typically notice a reduction of pain, soreness, stiffness and improved mobility.
Neck adjustment, particularly of the top two vertebrae of the spine, has on rare occasions been associated with stroke and stroke-like symptoms. This risk is considerably lower than those serious adverse events associated with many common health treatments such as long-term use of non-prescription pain relievers or birth control pills. While estimates vary, a range of one to two events per million neck adjustments is the ratio generally accepted by the research community.
An extensive commentary on chiropractic care, published in the February 2002 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, which is the journal of the American College of Physicians, reviewed more than 160 reports and studies on chiropractic. It states the following with regard to the safety of neck adjustment: “The apparent rarity of these accidental events has made it difficult to assess the magnitude of the complication risk. No serious complication has been noted in more than 73 controlled clinical trials or in any prospectively evaluated case series to date.”1
A Canadian study, published in 2001 in the medical journal Stroke, also concluded that stroke associated with neck adjustment is so rare that it is difficult to calculate an accurate risk ratio.2 The study was conducted by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and the authors have stated: “The evidence to date indicates that the risk associated with chiropractic manipulation of the neck is both small and inaccurately estimated. The estimated level of risk is smaller than that associated with many commonly used diagnostic tests or prescription drugs.”
The most recent research into the association between neck adjustment and stroke is biomechanical studies to assess what strain, if any, neck adjustment may place on the vertebral arteries. The preliminary findings of this ongoing work indicate that neck adjustment is done well within the normal range of motion and that neck adjustment is “very unlikely to mechanically disrupt the VA [vertebral artery].”3
There are many risk factors for stroke including blood clotting problems, hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, birth control pills, heart problems and trauma such as blows to the head from car accidents, sports injuries or falls. Some strokes happen spontaneously with no obvious cause during activities of daily living such as backing up a car. A patient’s health history and activities have to be examined very carefully in order to determine the most probable cause of a stroke.
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References
1. Meeker WC, Haldeman S. Chiropractic: A Profession at the Crossroads of Mainstream and Alternative Medicine. Annals of Internal Medicine. February 5, 2002, Vol. 136, No. 3.
2. Rothwell DM, Bondy SJ, Williams JI. Chiropractic Manipulation and Stroke: A Population-Based Case-Control Study. Stroke, May 2001.
3. Herzog W, Symons BP, Leonard T. Internal forces sustained by the vertebral artery during spinal manipulative therapy. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Oct. 25 2002 (8): 504-10.
Custom Orthodics
What are orthotics?
Orthotics, also known as footbeds, are custom shoe inserts. Their purpose is to create a solid, anatomically correct foundation for the body. Essentially, orthotics bring the ground up to us. In doing so they align us in a stronger position by compensating for slight defects in the feet.
Who wears them?
They are used by almost all athletes, from the recreational level to top professionals. Additionally, orthotics are worn by everyday people simply looking for comfort in their shoes.
Why do I need orthotics?
Orthotics are preventative medicine. Everyone can benefit from the use of the device whether the goal is to help alleviate pain caused by a a medical condition or to simply comfort to a shoe.
What conditions do they help alleviate?
Orthotics are commonly prescribed by podiatrists to help with hammer toes, heel spurs, metatarsal problems, bunions, diabetic ulcerations and numerous other problems. They also help to minimize shin splints, back pain and strain on joints and ligaments.
What if I do not currently have any foot pain? Should I still consider them?
Yes. As mentioned above, orthotics should be thought of as preventative medicine.
Approximately how much do they cost?
Most of our models are priced at $280/pair. Every single model is custom made from an impression of your feet.
What type of preparation goes into making them?
Our process starts with the casting of your feet in what is referred to as the “neutral position.” After the cast is made, a determination is made to which materials are best suited for your situation, taking into account your activity level and the intended purpose of the shoes you plan to put them it. Blanks are then custom molded using the impression from your cast. The product is then “posted.” This process helps to keep the orthotics (and thus your feet) stable in an anatomically correct position. The orthotics are then finished with a grinder to ensure that they match the client’s needs exactly. Upon completion, the orthotics are then placed in the client’s shoes, replacing the standard foam “sock liners” usually sold with most shoes.
What makes your orthotics different from those made by others?
What sets our orthotics apart from almost all others is the proprietary semi-rigid material we use for construction. We employ a special polymer with a rigidity of between 35-60 derometer. This material is firm enough to hold the joints of the foot locked in a correct position, yet soft enough to absorb repeated impacts like those incurred when running long distances on pavement.
I purchased a set of orthotics from a podiatrist some years ago. They are very rigid and unsuitable for running and other sports activities. Is your product like this as well?
Absolutely not. No the products we create are 35-60 derometer. Which means the posting can hold the foot in proper position. And in doing so creates absorption throughout the body.
What models do you offer? How are they different?
We offer orthotics for skiing, running, golf, and everyday shoes. We also offer a special line designed for “occupational athletes” (police, fire, and military). The design and/or materials used for each product vary substantially depending on the intended use. For more information, please check out our products page.
What is the approximate lead time for each pair?
The orthotics are finished and available 7-10 days after the initial appointment during which casts of the feet are made.
What is the approximate lifespan of each pair?
The life span of our orthotics varies between 18-24 months, depending on level of use. Many of our clients own several pairs. This extends the lifespan of the product substantially, in addition to preventing the wearer from having to move the orthotics around when switching shoes.
