Chiropractic

On September 18, 1895 Dr. Daniel David Palmer performed the first ever recorded chiropractic adjustment. Since then, chiropractic has grown to be the second – only to medicine – largest primary health care provider in the western world.

The word chiropractic comes from Greek, meaning “done by hand” and it is performed by highly trained professionals with at least 8 years of post secondary education at an accredited facility. The Chiropractic program focuses on anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, biochemistry, assessments, x-rays, medical diagnosis, pharmacology and adjusting.

A Doctor of Chiropractic is a primary healthcare professional with extensive training in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders related to the spine, the nervous system, and the extremities – including the hands and feet. The correction of these disorders and their negative effects on your health, athletic performance and quality of life are the primary foci of Chiropractic Doctors.

At Elite Physiotherapy Clinic our highly skilled Burlington Chiropractors will conduct a comprehensive assessment and present to you an individualized rehabilitation program that is customized to your injuries and goals and may include an active exercise component. Your Chiropractor will then work with you to determine which adjusting style will best suit you and your conditions. They will vary the style of adjusting and the pressure used to ensure you achieve their goals safely and efficiently.

Chiropractors focus on the source of pain, not the symptoms and adjustments are applied to areas of reduced mobility in either the spine or the extremities. An adjustment restores normal movement to the joints, reduces muscle spasm and relieves pressure on the surrounding nerves. During an adjustment, it is normal to hear a cracking noise which is a release of air from within the joint.

Immediate effects that can be felt after an adjustment:

• Increased joint mobility and range of motion
• Decreased localized inflammation associated with joint stasis
• Decreased localized nerve irritation associated with inflammation
• Decreased pain associated with localized nerve irritation and muscle spasm

Overall, adjustments improve joint motion, which decreases inflammation in the area.

Car accidents, stress, work-related injuries, sports injuries, poor posture, improper lifting or sprains can cause back problems.

Symptoms of a back or joint problem can include:

• Leg pain with numbness, tingling, and/or weakness
• Back pain when coughing or sneezing
• Difficulty standing up after sitting for any period of time
• Stiffness in the morning that decreases once you move around
• Pain in your hip, buttock, thigh, knee or foot
• Unable to bend or turn to each side equally
• Unbalanced or poor posture
• Pain while sleeping or in the morning
• Pain that persists or worsens after 48 hours
• Pain, stiffness and reduced mobility or range of motion

The vertebra in the back is connected by cartilage. When everything is working together, your spine is in-line, strong and flexible. However, after the stress of daily living or an accident or injury has occurred, the spine can shift out of alignment and can affect your range of motion. This can cause pain by putting pressure on the different joints and nerves along the spinal column.

There are three levels of care that Chiropractors provide:

• Relief Care – this provided for acute pain and discomfort
• Corrective Care – this is provided to treat long term spinal problems
• Supportive or Maintenance Care – this is provided to help maintain and enjoy the benefits that have been achieved from relief and corrective care.

To assess the level of care, the Chiropractor may perform some of the following tests:

• A thorough case history on what is affecting you
• Analysis your posture and ranges of motion
• A test of your muscle strength, flexibility, and coordination
• Orthopaedic tests to help determine your diagnosis
• A neurological exam including a reflexes, sensory tests and cranial nerves
• Analysis of your movement (like walking and how you lift things)

This comprehensive examination will give the chiropractor a clear picture of your overall health and of your condition. You will be given a diagnosis of your condition, what therapies are recommended to correct it, what you can do at home to speed your recovery and how long it is estimated to return to pre accident status.

To learn more about what Elite Physiotherapy Clinic can do for you, please request your appointment or Contact our clinic today!