What is chiropractic?
The word “chiropractic” comes from ancient Greek and means “done by hand.”
Adjustment of the joints of the body has been used in health care for many centuries and is at the
heart of modern chiropractic care.
Chiropractors are specialists in manual adjustment of the vertebrae of the spine and other joints.
Adjustment helps relieve pain and restore normal functioning to the spine, joints and supporting
structures of the body – so you can enjoy your everyday activities again as quickly as possible.
Chiropractors are also trained to prescribe therapeutic exercise, provide nutritional counselling,
and recommend rehabilitation and injury prevention strategies.
Adjustment of the joints of the body has been used in health care for many centuries and is at the
heart of modern chiropractic care.
Chiropractors are specialists in manual adjustment of the vertebrae of the spine and other joints.
Adjustment helps relieve pain and restore normal functioning to the spine, joints and supporting
structures of the body – so you can enjoy your everyday activities again as quickly as possible.
Chiropractors are also trained to prescribe therapeutic exercise, provide nutritional counselling,
and recommend rehabilitation and injury prevention strategies.
I don't want to be adjusted. Is this a necessary part of the treatment?
The adjustment is just one aspect of chiropractic care. In this office we have different ways of
addressing your condition. Various soft tissue techniques, muscle balancing, facial work,
cranio-sacral adjustments and modalities such as Low Level Laser, ultrasound, precursor,
and instrument adjusting can be utilized.
If you are concerned about manual adjustment, please let us know and we will do our best to
address your concerns,
addressing your condition. Various soft tissue techniques, muscle balancing, facial work,
cranio-sacral adjustments and modalities such as Low Level Laser, ultrasound, precursor,
and instrument adjusting can be utilized.
If you are concerned about manual adjustment, please let us know and we will do our best to
address your concerns,
What should I expect on the first visit?
The goal of the first visit is to determine if we are able to help you and whether you are in the
right office with regards to your health issues. If we feel we are not able to help you we will tell
you and suggest other possible avenues.
We look at finding solutions for you by going through a history of your condition, orthopedic
and neurological examination. An explanation will be given to you as to the nature of your
condition and whether we can help.
Once you understand the nature of your condition, a treatment strategy is presented and then
with your permission treated will be started.
Treatment includes what is done at the office plus what we ask you to do at home. We strongly
believe in you taking the responsibility for your health and every opportunity is provided to show
you how to take care of yourself.
right office with regards to your health issues. If we feel we are not able to help you we will tell
you and suggest other possible avenues.
We look at finding solutions for you by going through a history of your condition, orthopedic
and neurological examination. An explanation will be given to you as to the nature of your
condition and whether we can help.
Once you understand the nature of your condition, a treatment strategy is presented and then
with your permission treated will be started.
Treatment includes what is done at the office plus what we ask you to do at home. We strongly
believe in you taking the responsibility for your health and every opportunity is provided to show
you how to take care of yourself.
Can you help with a pinched nerve?
Yes. Pinched nerves in the neck or low back cause arm or leg symptoms such as numbness,
tingling or weakness. We will perform the necessary examination to diagnose this condition
and show you various home exercise on what you can do to help with this.
tingling or weakness. We will perform the necessary examination to diagnose this condition
and show you various home exercise on what you can do to help with this.
If I have had back or neck surgery can I see you post-operatively?
Yes since in our office we do a lot more than spinal manipulation. Often times with surgery,
scar tissue will start to create pain because of the pulling on the underlying tissues thus
creating muscle imbalance. Various solutions are offered that help to gently unwind the
torque that is created for post surgical complications.
scar tissue will start to create pain because of the pulling on the underlying tissues thus
creating muscle imbalance. Various solutions are offered that help to gently unwind the
torque that is created for post surgical complications.
Can chiropractic care cure other ailments besides back pain?
Chiropractic care cannot “cure” every ailment, but there is some evidence to indicate that
adjustments may have a beneficial effect on a variety of conditions. Adjustment may alleviate
some of the secondary or referred pain, arising from the response of the musculoskeletal
structures to the primary cause.
adjustments may have a beneficial effect on a variety of conditions. Adjustment may alleviate
some of the secondary or referred pain, arising from the response of the musculoskeletal
structures to the primary cause.
Does chiropractic care require a referral from an MD?
Chiropractors are legislated as primary contact health professionals in every province in
Canada. This means that patients can consult them directly. However, chiropractors often
work closely with medical doctors, many of whom refer to chiropractors when they believe
chiropractic treatment will help alleviate a patient’s condition. Similarly, chiropractors
frequently refer to medical doctors when necessary.
Canada. This means that patients can consult them directly. However, chiropractors often
work closely with medical doctors, many of whom refer to chiropractors when they believe
chiropractic treatment will help alleviate a patient’s condition. Similarly, chiropractors
frequently refer to medical doctors when necessary.
Is chiropractic adjustment safe?
”Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest, drug-free, non-invasive therapies
available for the treatment of headache, and neck and back pain. It has an excellent safety
record. However, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. Even
common over-the-counter medicines carry a risk.
Most patients experience immediate relief following an adjustment, however, some may
experience temporary pain, stiffness or slight swelling. Some patients may also
experience temporary dizziness, local numbness, or radiating pain. However, adverse
effects associated with spinal adjustment are typically minor and short-lived.
Informed consent:
Prior to starting treatment, all health professionals are required by law to obtain informed
consent to treatment from their patients. Health care consumers must receive adequate and
accurate information to assist them in evaluating their health care choices, and in balancing
the relative risks of treatment options with the benefits. The chiropractic profession takes this
responsibility seriously and has been a leader in obtaining informed consent.
Ontario’s chiropractors are required in their Standards of Practice to obtain written informed
consent prior to treating a patient.
Neck adjustment:
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."
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.
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]."
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.
available for the treatment of headache, and neck and back pain. It has an excellent safety
record. However, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. Even
common over-the-counter medicines carry a risk.
Most patients experience immediate relief following an adjustment, however, some may
experience temporary pain, stiffness or slight swelling. Some patients may also
experience temporary dizziness, local numbness, or radiating pain. However, adverse
effects associated with spinal adjustment are typically minor and short-lived.
Informed consent:
Prior to starting treatment, all health professionals are required by law to obtain informed
consent to treatment from their patients. Health care consumers must receive adequate and
accurate information to assist them in evaluating their health care choices, and in balancing
the relative risks of treatment options with the benefits. The chiropractic profession takes this
responsibility seriously and has been a leader in obtaining informed consent.
Ontario’s chiropractors are required in their Standards of Practice to obtain written informed
consent prior to treating a patient.
Neck adjustment:
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."
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.
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]."
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.
What are some of the benefits of chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care can:
* Improve movement in your neck, shoulders, back and torso
* Improve your posture
* Provide relief from headaches, neck and back pain
* Help prevent work-related muscle and joint injuries
* Lead to enhanced athletic performance
* Improve your flexibility and range of motion
* Relieve pregnancy-related back ache
* Correction gait and foot problems
What is that "popping" sound in an adjustment?
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.
Adjustment of the joints of the body has been used in health care for many centuries
and is at the heart of modern chiropractic care.
When a joint is adjusted, a gas bubble escapes causing the popping noise you may
have heard about.
Chiropractic adjustment techniques have been researched extensively. Complications
are rare and side-effects, such as temporary soreness, are usually minor. Chiropractors
are well trained to determine if your problem will respond to chiropractic care or if you
require referral to another health care porvider.
to a joint of the body. Adjustment loosens the joint to restore proper movement and
optimize function.
Adjustment of the joints of the body has been used in health care for many centuries
and is at the heart of modern chiropractic care.
When a joint is adjusted, a gas bubble escapes causing the popping noise you may
have heard about.
Chiropractic adjustment techniques have been researched extensively. Complications
are rare and side-effects, such as temporary soreness, are usually minor. Chiropractors
are well trained to determine if your problem will respond to chiropractic care or if you
require referral to another health care porvider.
Are there risks to chiropractic care? Article by Ontario Chiropractic Association
There have been media reports suggesting that chiropractic treatment may not be safe.
There are some risks associated with chiropractic care, as with all healthcare treatments.
However, the media reports have greatly exaggerated these risks. By any standards,
chiropractic treatment is very safe with an extremely low risk rate.
Is Chiropractic Treatment Safe?
It is. Chiropractors do not use drugs or surgery, which have their place but may produce
many side effects and complications. The one chiropractic treatment with any significant
risk of harm is adjustment of cervical spine (neck manipulation).
What Can Happen?
It is known that in rare cases people can suffer a stroke following neck manipulation. This also
happens after a wide range of neck movements - such as turning to back the car, having a
shampoo at a beauty salon, normal sporting activities, bouts of violent coughing, etc.
What are the Chances of this Happening?
Research shows the risk rate is very remote (1 or 2 strokes per million treatments).
How Does that Compare with the Risks of Other Treatments?
Neck manipulation is often given by chiropractors, medical doctors and other trained
professionals. A common medical treatment for neck pain, use of anti-inflammatory
drugs such as acetaminophen, causes 1,000 serious complications and 100-200
deaths per million cases. Surgeries for neck pain cause 15,600 cases of paralysis or
stroke per million cases, and 6,900 deaths per million.
Are Some Patients at Greater Risk From Neck Manipulation Than Others?
Yes. There is no evidence that any particular form of neck manipulation - or any other
form of neck movement - increases the risk. It is now thought that some people have a
weakness in their vertebral arteries which places them at greater risk of injury and stroke
from any neck movement. This is obviously very rare or there would be many more cases
of injury.
Does the Medical Profession Regard Neck Manipulation as a Safe and Appropriate Treatment?
Yes, though some individual medical doctors unfamiliar with the research may personally
disagree. In health care the matter of whether a treatment is appropriate or not is determined
by looking at the level of risk, and comparing this with the level of expected benefit. This is
called the risk/benefit ratio. All of the research has been looked at by medical experts in
three recent reviews - each of which has found spinal manipulation to be of proven benefit
and appropriate for various conditions including many forms of neck pain and headache.
Another example of the safety of chiropractic practice is that most chiropractors do not have a
single case of a patient suffering a stroke or other serious injury during their entire professional
lives.
If you have further questions please ask the chiropractor.
References:
1 Haldeman S, Kohlbeck FJ, McGregor M. Risk Factors and Precipitating Neck Movements
Causing Vertebrobasilar Artery Dissection After Cervical Trauma and Spinal Manipulation,
Spine 1999: 24(8):785-794.
2 Spitzer WO, Skovron ML, et al. Scientific monograph of the Quebec task force on
whiplash-associated disorders: redefining whiplash and its management. Spine 1995; 20:8S.
3 Hurwitz EI, Aker PD, Adams AH, Meeker WC, Shekelle PG. Manipulation and mobilization
of the cervical spine: a systematic review of the literature. Spine 1996;21:1746-60.
4 Aker PD, Gross AR, et al. Conservative management of mechanical neck pain: systematic
overview and meta-analysis. Br Med J 1996;313:1291-96.
Courtesy of the Ontario Chiropractic Association
5160 Explorer Drive, Suite 30, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4T7
Tel: (905) 629-8211 Fax: (905) 629-8214
1-877-DCs CARE (327-2273)
www.chiropractic.on.ca
There are some risks associated with chiropractic care, as with all healthcare treatments.
However, the media reports have greatly exaggerated these risks. By any standards,
chiropractic treatment is very safe with an extremely low risk rate.
Is Chiropractic Treatment Safe?
It is. Chiropractors do not use drugs or surgery, which have their place but may produce
many side effects and complications. The one chiropractic treatment with any significant
risk of harm is adjustment of cervical spine (neck manipulation).
What Can Happen?
It is known that in rare cases people can suffer a stroke following neck manipulation. This also
happens after a wide range of neck movements - such as turning to back the car, having a
shampoo at a beauty salon, normal sporting activities, bouts of violent coughing, etc.
What are the Chances of this Happening?
Research shows the risk rate is very remote (1 or 2 strokes per million treatments).
How Does that Compare with the Risks of Other Treatments?
Neck manipulation is often given by chiropractors, medical doctors and other trained
professionals. A common medical treatment for neck pain, use of anti-inflammatory
drugs such as acetaminophen, causes 1,000 serious complications and 100-200
deaths per million cases. Surgeries for neck pain cause 15,600 cases of paralysis or
stroke per million cases, and 6,900 deaths per million.
Are Some Patients at Greater Risk From Neck Manipulation Than Others?
Yes. There is no evidence that any particular form of neck manipulation - or any other
form of neck movement - increases the risk. It is now thought that some people have a
weakness in their vertebral arteries which places them at greater risk of injury and stroke
from any neck movement. This is obviously very rare or there would be many more cases
of injury.
Does the Medical Profession Regard Neck Manipulation as a Safe and Appropriate Treatment?
Yes, though some individual medical doctors unfamiliar with the research may personally
disagree. In health care the matter of whether a treatment is appropriate or not is determined
by looking at the level of risk, and comparing this with the level of expected benefit. This is
called the risk/benefit ratio. All of the research has been looked at by medical experts in
three recent reviews - each of which has found spinal manipulation to be of proven benefit
and appropriate for various conditions including many forms of neck pain and headache.
Another example of the safety of chiropractic practice is that most chiropractors do not have a
single case of a patient suffering a stroke or other serious injury during their entire professional
lives.
If you have further questions please ask the chiropractor.
References:
1 Haldeman S, Kohlbeck FJ, McGregor M. Risk Factors and Precipitating Neck Movements
Causing Vertebrobasilar Artery Dissection After Cervical Trauma and Spinal Manipulation,
Spine 1999: 24(8):785-794.
2 Spitzer WO, Skovron ML, et al. Scientific monograph of the Quebec task force on
whiplash-associated disorders: redefining whiplash and its management. Spine 1995; 20:8S.
3 Hurwitz EI, Aker PD, Adams AH, Meeker WC, Shekelle PG. Manipulation and mobilization
of the cervical spine: a systematic review of the literature. Spine 1996;21:1746-60.
4 Aker PD, Gross AR, et al. Conservative management of mechanical neck pain: systematic
overview and meta-analysis. Br Med J 1996;313:1291-96.
Courtesy of the Ontario Chiropractic Association
5160 Explorer Drive, Suite 30, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4T7
Tel: (905) 629-8211 Fax: (905) 629-8214
1-877-DCs CARE (327-2273)
www.chiropractic.on.ca