Considering Chiropractic Care? Here’s What to Expect.
You’ve turned on the computer and reviewed your to-do list. You twist to the left and reach ever so slightly to grab a pen when suddenly…you throw out your back. Has this ever happened to you?
When your range of motion is compromised, simple movements are not so simple anymore. Sitting down hurts. Standing up hurts. Laying down hurts. The pain makes it difficult to get through the day, and your energy is low.
What can you do to restore function and reduce the pain and tension?
One option is to visit a chiropractor. Chiropractors are spine, muscle, and nervous system experts who provide effective treatment to promote health, alleviate pain, and improve your quality of life.
One of the main therapeutic techniques used by chiropractors and other health care providers is spinal manipulation also referred to as an adjustment. However, depending on your health history and specific condition, your chiropractor may opt to include other treatment methods as well.
At Ajax-Pickering Chiropractic & Massage, our chiropractors are Dr. John Noble and Dr. Mark Fera.
Here are some treatment options you can expect during a chiropractic visit (after the initial health history and examination):
Adjustments/Manipulations
Definition: A quick, gentle thrust to the spine intended to provide pain relief and increase mobility.
What to expect: Your chiropractor will ask you to sit or lay down on the treatment table, depending on where your pain is located. They will apply a gentle force to the joint with their hands – which will often be accompanied by a “popping” sound. That “popping” sound is believed to be the release of air pockets from the fluid inside the joint – like cracking your knuckles, according to a study led by Dr. Greg Kawchuk, a University of Alberta professor and chiropractic researcher.
Is chiropractic care right for me? You should discuss with your chiropractor directly. Before providing any treatment, your chiropractor will integrate their clinical expertise, your personal preferences and values, with the best scientific evidence available.
Exercises/Stretching
Definition: Planned, structured and repetitive activities that improve health, maintain fitness, and condition any part of the body for physical rehabilitation.
What to expect: After your initial assessment and diagnosis, your chiropractor may recommend specific exercises or stretches to help strengthen your muscles and improve function. Examples include the use of resistance bands to strengthen your shoulders and back, or gentle neck stretches for headaches and tension.
Is stretching right for me? It’s important to make sure you’re performing your exercises correctly, so you don’t pull a muscle or injure yourself. Your chiropractor will guide you through the movement and help correct your form if needed.
Acupuncture
Definition: A technique involving the insertion of thin needles into the skin at particular pressure points in order to produce an analgesic—or painkilling—effect (among other observed benefits).
What to expect: Acupuncture* causes little to no discomfort. During an acupuncture session, your chiropractor will insert very thin needles through the skin to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. Once the needles are in place, you will relax for a period of time, during which time your chiropractor may gently twirl the needles, apply heat, or stimulate the needles with electric pulses – this generally applies more stimulation and is intended to increase the effects of standard acupuncture.
Is acupuncture this right for me? There are a few instances where acupuncture could cause complications. If you have a bleeding disorder, a pacemaker, or you’re pregnant, acupuncture may not be right for you. This is why it’s important to fill out intake forms with your medical history and maintain open dialogue with your chiropractor.
*Chiropractors are permitted to use acupuncture as a treatment method in all Canadian provinces except Quebec and British Columbia.
Massage Therapy
Your chiropractor may refer you to a registered massage therapist. At Ajax-Pickering Chiropractic & Massage, our massage therapists are Rolf Castanheiro and Jessica Raedisch.
Definition: Massage therapy consists primarily of hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, specifically, the muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and joints for the purpose of optimizing health.
What to expect: Various specialized movements of the hands, over the skin or clothes, make up a massage therapy treatment. The registered massage therapist will work with your level of pain tolerance during the treatment, and the treatment can be stopped at any time should the treatment become uncomfortable.
Is massage therapy right for me? The benefits of massage therapy are numerous and act as a perfect complement to chiropractic care. Massage treatments can be used to successfully treat neck and back pain, sports injuries, repetitive stress injuries, pre- and post-natal pain, migraines, headaches, stress and much more.
Chiropractors work with you to identify the best treatment for you and your needs. Visiting a chiropractor is about relief, so take an active role in your body’s healing – ask questions, notify your chiropractor if you have any concerns, and get on the path to recovery.
Contact Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage today at 905-427-3202.
The wellness team at Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage provides patients with more than just chiropractic and massage therapy services, but also the know-how to build better personal wellness habits so you can be at your best for work or play, every day.
To book an appointment or learn more about the chiropractic and therapeutic massage therapy services available at our clinic, call 905-427-3202.