allan gardens wellness centre

What is Chiropractic?    

Chiropractic is a safe, gentle form of healthcare that honours the natural healing ability of your body.  It's a scientific fact that your nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) controls every aspect of your body.  When spinal problems interfere with the links between your nervous system and your body, ill health can result.  A chiropractor uses highly specilized hands-on healing techniques to reduce problem areas of your spine.  The result?  These spinal adjustments give your body the opportunity to heal, without drugs and without surgery.

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(Watch:  Pain Changes Everything  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRgeEjd8i-Y)

 

Can Chiropractic improve your health condition?

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Chiropractic is based on two premises:

 

           1.  The human body is a self-healing, self-regularing organism.

           2.  The nervous system controls and coordinates all organs and structures of the human body.

Gray's Anatomy, 29th edition, p. 4

 

Because the spine protects the spinal cord and its associated nerves, any misalignment of the spine can interfere with the efficiency of the nervous system.  This can result in the body operating at less than peak performance.

 

What is a chiropractic adjustment?

 

When one or more of the joints between the vertebrae of your spine loses its normal position or motion, the flow of information along the nerves can become compromised, often resulting in dysfunction and pain.  This is called a vertebral subluxation.  A chiropractic adjustment is used to correct a vertebral subluxation through the application of a gentle, specific force in a precise direction.  Correcting subluxations help to decrease pain and allow the body to restore health through its natural healing properties.

 

What can I expect from a first visit?

 

Our patients choose our office because they want a natural approach to better health.  On your first visit, you'll meet the doctor to discuss your current health situation and to see if you're a good candidate for chiropractic care.  If we think we can help, we'll conduct a thorough examination.  This helps us identify the likely cause(s) of your problem.  We'll tell you what we found, what we can do to help, how long it may take and how much it will cost.  Our office enjoys high levels of patient satisfaction because we explain everything in advance.  

 

Who is qualified to practise chiropractic?

 

A licensed chiropractor must complete a university Bachelors Degree before being enrolled in the 4 year doctor of chiropractic degree programme at an accredited chiropractic college.  Upon completion, she/he must then pass regulatory national and provincial board examinations.  Governed by the provincial College of Chiropractors, chiropractors must abide by the Chiropractic Act and the Regulated Health Professions Act, which also governs doctors, dentists, nurses, and registered massage therapists.  Chiropractic is one of five health professions trained to diagnose and authorized to use the title doctor (the other four are dentistry, medicine, optometry, and psychology).

 

How do I know if I need a chiropractor?

 

There is a substantial amount of reserach confirming the effectiveness of chiropractic care for such conditions as migraines, neck pain, back pain, and leg pain.  But symptoms such as pain are not the only signs of illness.  Like a cavity, you may have a vertebral subluxation for years before any overt signs appear.  That's why, like regular dental and medical check-ups, it's important to have periodic spinal check-ups, to prevent early subluxations from turning into serious problems.

 

What causes the sound of an adjustment?

 

Spinal joints contain a fluid, called synovial fluid, that provides lubrication and nourishment to the joints.  During an adjustment, a spinal joint is slightly separated, causing a small change of pressure within that joint.  This change in pressure forces a gas bubble to form from the fluid.  The "pop" heard during an adjustment is simply the sound of that gas bubble bursting, similar to the sound heard when a new bottle of soda pop is unscrewed.

 

 

Relevant Links:

Ontario Chiropractic Association        www.chiropractic.on.ca

Canadian Chiropractic Association     www.chiropractic.ca