What is Chiropractic?
- Natural, non-invasive approach to health care
- Primary complementary care
- Regulation & Standards
Chiropractic today is one of the largest primary-contact health care professions in Canada with over 6,000 practicing chiropractors. Approximately four and a half million Canadians use the services of a chiropractor each year.
Chiropractic is a regulated health profession recognized by statute in all Canadian provinces and American states. The benefits of chiropractic care are well recognized by other health care practitioners. In a 1995 survey, 44 per cent of Ontario and Alberta physicians indicated that they refer patients for chiropractic treatment.
Natural, non-invasive approach to health care
Chiropractors practice a drug-free, manual approach to health care that includes:
- Patient Assessment
- Diagnosis & Treatment
In particular,chiropractors assess patients for disorders related to the following areas and how they effect their nervous system:
- Spine
- Pelvis
- Extremity Joints
As a result of taking a physical assessment and patient history, chiropractors are able to provide a differential diagnosis for the patients presenting condition(s) and develop a comprehensive treatment/management plan.
Chiropractors are also trained to do the following:
- Recommend Therapeutic Exercise
- Utilize other non-invasive therapies
- Nutritional Counseling
- Dietary Counseling
- Lifestyle Counselling.
Chiropractic adjustment is the most common form of treatment utilized by chiropractors in clinical practice. Also known as spinal manipulative therapy, adjustment is a non-invasive, manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed through four years of intensive chiropractic education. Adjustment is a carefully controlled procedure delivered by a skilled practitioner to dysfunctional spinal or extremity joints.
The primary goal of an adjustment is to:
- Decrease pain
- Improve areas of reduced movement in the joints and supporting tissues, particularly of the spine
- Decrease muscle tightness or spasm through the restoration of normal mechanics
- Improved functioning of the spine, extremities and supporting soft tissue structures.
Adjustment rarely causes discomfort. However, as it is a manually applied therapy, patients may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching following treatment which usually resolves within 12 to 48 hours.
The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. For example, the technique is modified when treating children, pregnant women and older patients. Patients typically note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.
The vast majority of patients who seek chiropractic health care do so for the following reason:
- Complaints of the musculoskeletal system
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Headaches
Research studies have demonstrated that chiropractic treatment is effective for these conditions.
Legislative bodies across Canada, as well as researchers and governments around the world have conducted extensive reviews of the chiropractic profession and have consistently endorsed chiropractic services.
Primary Complementary Care
In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the primary method of treatment. Where other medical conditions exist, chiropractic care may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition.
Chiropractic care may also be palliative, providing symptomatic relief to patients with chronic conditions. By treating the musculoskeletal elements of such disorders, chiropractic treatment may improve the general well-being of the patient.
In this regard, Canada's chiropractors are able to provide complementary care as one element of a patients overall treatment program.
Regulations & Standards
Regulation & Standards Chiropractic is regulated by provincial statute in all provinces. Chiropractors along with medical doctors, dentists, psychologists, and optometrists have the legislated right and obligation to communicate a diagnosis and to use the title doctor.
Each province has a regulatory college established by legislation in the same manner, and with the same structure and similar regulations, as the regulatory bodies for other health care professions. The regulatory colleges are responsible for protecting the public, standards of practice, disciplinary issues, quality assurance and maintenance of competency.
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