By Dr. Elizabeth Hutchesson

www.theenterprisebulletin.com

          “Every year approximately 4.5 million Canadians use chiropractic services. Back pain, neck pain and headache are the most common reasons why Canadians first consult a chiropractor. Leg and arm injuries are becoming increasingly popular reasons to see one as well. But what is chiropractic all about? What does a chiropractic visit consist of? The word “chiropractic” comes from ancient Greek and means “done by hand.”

          A Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) will assess your symptoms and recommend a treatment plan to put you on the road to recovery. Chiropractors are specialists in manual adjustment of the vertebrae of the spine and other joints, are trained to prescribe therapeutic exercises, provide nutritional counseling and recommend rehabilitation and injury prevention strategies.

          Following university studies, a chiropractor must then complete a rigorous four-year, full-time education program and pass comprehensive Canadian qualifying examinations in order to become licensed to practice. In Canada, competition is fierce to attend the only English speaking school; the world renowned Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC).

          Chiropractic adjustment techniques have been researched extensively. Your chiropractor is well-trained to determine if your problem will respond to chiropractic care or if you require referral to another healthcare provider. An adjustment is a highly skilled and precise movement usually applied by hand to a joint of the body. Adjustment loosens the joint to restore proper movement and optimize function. When a joint is adjusted, a gas bubble escapes causing the “popping or cracking” noise you may have heard about.

          Newer schools of thought stress the importance of a variety of treatments at each visit. Many chiropractors now utilize a variety of soft tissue techniques (deep massage and muscle stretching) and prescribe exercise rehabilitation programs in addition to the traditional manual adjustment. Research shows that a combination of therapies is more effective in treating joint and muscle pain than any one thing alone.

Here are some reasons why more than four million Canadians visit a chiropractor each year:

ø Back pain

ø Neck pain

ø Headache

ø Whiplash

ø Strains and sprains

ø Repetitive strain injuries (carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, etc.)

ø Arthritis

Before you see a chiropractor make sure you understand what a visit at that clinic consists of. Visit the clinic, call and ask questions… after all you have the right to the best care possible. Dr. Hutchesson is a Chiropractor and Acupuncturist practicing at Active Healthcare Centre in Wasaga Beach.”

-To schedule a free chiro exam please visit Free Chiro Exam and schedule yours today.

Categories: Chiropractic Information