Chiropractic 

Chiropractic is one of the largest primary care health professions in Canada, with over 6000 practicing chiropractors.  Approximately four and a half million Canadians use the services of a chiropractor each year.

Chiropractors practice a drug-free, manual approach to health care that includes patient assessment, diagnosis and treatment.  The vast majority of patients who seek chiropractic health care do so for complaints of the musculoskeletal system, most often for muscle or joint pains.  Research studies have demonstrated that chiropractic treatment is effective for these conditions.

Chiropractors are regulated, primary care health providers. Chiropractic is regulated by provincial statutes in all provinces.  Chiropractors along with medical doctors, dentists, psychologists, and optometrists have the legislated rightand obligation to communicate a diagnosis and to use the title doctor.  Each province has its own regulatory college, and the regulatory colleges are responsible for protecting the public,standards of practice, disciplinary issues, quality assurance, and maintenance of competency.

Chiropractors complete an intensive four to five year full-time program following university undergraduate studies.  Chiropractic students undergo a rigorous course of study similar to that of other healthcare professionals.  In addition to the academic program, chiropractic education requires hands-on clinical experience under the supervision of highly-qualified faculty.  Chiropractic students are trained in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, neurology, embryology, radiology, immunology, microbiology, pathology, nutrition and diagnostics.

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest, drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of headaches, neck pain, low back pain, and joint pain.  It has an excellent safety record, however, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects, including the common over-the-counter medicines used for pain relief.

Chiropractors are privileged to provided spinal manipulative therapy to patients.  This is commonly known as the “adjustment”.  An adjustment is a precise usually manual procedure applied to the joints of the spine.  Chiropractors have extensive training to perform this procedure.  The adjustment works toimprove the mobility of the spinal joints, to reduce muscle tightness, to restore range of motion, and to help relieve pressure and tension.  Patients typically notice a reduction of pain, soreness and stiffness, improved motion, and enhanced well-being.  Millions of adjustments are performed safely and effectively each year in Canada.  Most patients experience immediate relief following an adjustment, however, some may experience temporary soreness, stiffness, or slight swelling.  In rare situations patients may experience local numbness, or radiating pain followingan adjustment.  If this happens to you, it is important to tell your chiropractor who can help you manage any effects of treatment.