By phone: (519) 250-5611
During a first visit to Lifestyle Health & Chiropractic, you will be introduced to your practitioner, and he or she will ask you about your current complaint(s) as well as your health history. A physical examination will be performed, and your practitioner will discuss the findings with you and recommend a treatment plan. Usually the treatment will begin in the first session
That depends on your condition. The length of time you have had the problem, your age and the degree of your disability all affect the length of your treatment. A thorough history and physical exam will help us to be able to tell the extent of treatment recommended, and how long you can expect it to last.
One of the main reasons people choose chiropractic is that they often get quick results. Individual cases vary and chronic conditions obviously need more treatment, but Workers' Compensation Board studies show that people with low back pain get back to work much faster with chiropractic care.
You might also consider the benefits of regular chiropractic adjustments even when you feel healthy. Sometimes you won't know you have a disorder of the neuromusculoskeletal system until it becomes acute and painful. So, just as you see your dentist to have your teeth checked and your optometrist for eye exams, regular visits to your chiropractor can catch related health conditions early, often preventing them from developing into major problems. Remember, your spine is every bit as susceptible to wear and tear as your teeth and your eyes so you should look after it.
Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during four intensive years of chiropractic education. We use our hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain, and restore or enhance joint function.Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The procedure is adapted to meet the specific needs of each patient.
Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a drug-free, non-invasive approach to common musculoskeletal conditions such as headache, and neck and back pain. As such, it is a low risk therapy. Complications arising from adjustment are rare.
Athlete-practitioners bring a special insight into the workings of the body, especially the musculoskeletal system, pain management, conditioning and rehabilitation. This is a benefit to you as a patient, whether you are an elite athlete or don’t engage in sports at all. We will use our insight to provide the best care for you that will allow you to be as active as you want to be.
Chiropractic care is covered extensively by third party payers. These include the federal public service, worker's compensation boards, the automobile insurance industry, private health care insurers, large employers, the RCMP, and Veteran's Affairs CanadaInsurance plans and employee benefit plans vary in terms of which services they cover and/or what percentage of the service they cover. Sometimes services provided by a chiropractor or registered massage therapist will only be covered if the patient is referred by an MD. It is best to check with your human resources person at work or with your insurance provider before proceeding to determine what their rules are. Unfortunately, chiropractic services are not funded by OHIP
At Lifestyle Health & Chiropractic, we want you to feel comfortable and secure. Apart from a few practical considerations, there should not be a need for you to undress if you prefer not to. It is important that your practitioner be able to access the area that requires treatment, so you may want to wear or bring with you clothing that will help with this, such as a pair of shorts if the problem is with your knee, or a tank top if your shoulder is being treated. Massage therapists can obviously work better on skin than through clothing, but they use a technique called draping to ensure that only the area being worked on at the moment is exposed, and then it is recovered as they move on to the next. Ultimately, it is up to you. Please feel free to discuss it with your practitioner.
Chiropractic is a healing discipline firmly grounded in science. Few other health care interventions have been assessed as extensively as chiropractic manipulation, both in terms of safety and effectiveness.
There have been at least six formal government studies into chiropractic worldwide over the last 25 years and all have concluded that contemporary chiropractic care is safe, effective, cost-effective and have recommended public funding for chiropractic services.
In addition, there have been countless scientific clinical studies assessing the appropriateness, effectiveness, and/or cost-effectiveness of spinal manipulation or chiropractic manipulation, most notably for low back pain. The Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHI) now offers research grants in partnership with the Canadian Chiropractic Association to chiropractors and other scientists for high quality, chiropractic research.
Yes, children may benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle.
Chiropractic care cannot "cure" these conditions, but there is some evidence to indicate that adjustment 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. For example, research conducted in Denmark resulted in chiropractic treatment being recommended for the relief of infantile colic. Similarly, a recent U.S. study concluded that the application of manipulative techniques in children with recurring ear infections can prevent or decrease surgical intervention or antibiotic overuse.
Clinical experience suggests that individuals with chronic conditions such as degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) or recurrent neck pain, back pain or headaches may experience less frequent and less severe symptoms when under regular chiropractic care. This also applies to individuals in highly stressful situations and those who experience repetitive physical and postural strain from their daily activities. Whether ongoing chiropractic treatment can prevent back pain from occurring in the first place, or prevent a previous condition from re-occurring, requires further study.
Yes, like medical doctors, chiropractors refer patients to other health professionals when they feel it is appropriate. Chiropractors are well trained to recognize risk factors as well as individual disease patterns and will not hesitate to make a referral when it is in the best interest of the patient’s health.
Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble between the joints that makes a popping sound – it’s exactly the same as when you "crack" your knuckles. It is not painful. It is caused by the change of pressure within the joint resulting in gas bubbles being released.