FAQ’s About Chiropractic
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is the healing art concerned with the structure and function of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Chiropractors spend a minimum of 7 years in post secondary training with the final 4 years of training spent at an accredited Chiropractic College of which there are 2 in Canada. Training is focused on the biological health sciences, the chiropractic sciences and a year is spent in a clinical internship. Upon completion of their arduous training Chiropractors are experts in the diagnosis and management of spinal conditions and their manifestations.
What are Subluxations?
A spinal subluxation can best be described as specific sites of spinal malfunction leading to irritation of the body's central computer, the nervous system. This interrupts the body's ability to communicate. The end result of this is a separation from wholeness and an inability to experience wellbeing.
What Causes Subluxations?
Subluxations are caused by the everyday stresses to which the body is subjected. Whether it's improper lifting, poor posture, repetitive and/or sustained motions (including sitting at a desk), excessive physical activity, trauma, dietary toxins, environmental toxins, alcohol, emotional stress, spiritual disconnect, or a combination of these, stress accumulates over time subtly affecting the flow of energy through the body, stressing it's systems and eventually your health.
How are Subluxations Corrected?
Spinal subluxations are corrected by the administration of precise manual adjustments to your spine. These adjustments should be performed by a Chiropractor who has received extensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of subluxations. Adjustments are gentle and can be applied by hand or with specialized instruments. It is important that the right adjustment is applied to the right vertebrae to receive the maximum therapeutic benefit. In addition to adjusting a subluxation the underlying stresses that led to the subluxation must be addressed. This "Lifestyle Medicine" involves an analysis of your physical activities, your environmental exposures, your diet and your emotional health and making any necessary changes to optimize your health.
Are Chiropractic Adjustments Safe?
Chiropractic adjustments are drug-free and non-invasive. As such it is a low risk therapy. Complications arising from an adjustment are rare. Our primary techniques do not involve "cracking" of the spine.
What About Neck Adjustments?
Millions of cervical (neck) adjustments are performed safely and effectively in Canada every year. The most recent research into the rare cases of stroke found that patients who visit a Chiropractor are no more likely to experience a stroke than those patients who visit their Family Physician. The study concludes that this particular type of stroke is extremely rare, has been known to occur spontaneously (that is it would happen regardless of where you are) and commonly begins with neck pain and/or headache which is what causes the individual to seek Chiropractic or Medical care before the stroke fully develops. Research continues to better understand why in very rare cases certain people are susceptible to these strokes when the majority of the population is not. Our primary adjusting techniques do not involve twisting of the neck or "cracking" of the spine.
Once I Start Getting Adjusted Do I Have to Keep Coming?
No. How long you decide to benefit from care is completely up to you. Starting chiropractic care does not necessitate further care. Most people decide to get wellness and preventative care so that they may continue to enjoy the health improvements they have experienced.