What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.

Doctors of Chiropractic (often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians) practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counselling.

The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as "spinal manipulation", also called "chiropractic adjustment." The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile - or restricted in their movement - as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for the sufferer. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, and allowing tissues to heal.

In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the primary method of treatment. When other medical conditions exist, chiropractic care may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition. Chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient's condition, or the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other members of the health care team.

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What type of education and training do chiropractors have?

Chiropractors are educated as primary contact health care practitioners, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions. The typical applicant at a chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate university education, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and related lab work. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the requirements become even more demanding, four to five academic years of professional study are the standard. Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical training. In total, the chiropractic curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience.

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What can I expect from my visit to a chiropractor?

• A thorough review of your specific problem is conducted, including relevant past history and overall health.
• You will be asked to perform physical tests and movements to help identify the problem. In certain situations, an X-ray may be used to determine the source of your problem and to investigate for the presence of any pathological developments.
• The problem is diagnosed to help make certain choices clear. If it is not a chiropractic problem, a suitable referral is done. If it is, a plan of treatment is communicated. A prognosis is made, taking into account your general health habits, occupation, stress and activity levels.
• Your response to treatment is monitored by your chiropractor, who looks for an improvement to your specific condition, as well as for changes in your overall health. Two of the basic components of chiropractic care are wellness and prevention. Utilization of exercise, along with nutrition and lifestyle modifications are suggested to improve your overall well being and promote active, patient-centered care.

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Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?

The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.

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Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted?

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. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint that results in gas bubbles being released. There is no pain involved and is not a 'cracking' of bones, as is often misunderstood. In fact, most patients report an immediate feeling of relief or relaxation after an adjustment.

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Do I require a referral from my family physician to see a chiropractor?

No, patients do not need referral by an MD before visiting a doctor of chiropractic. Chiropractors are first contact physicians, and are so defined in provincial and federal regulations.

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Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?

• M.S.P. provides partial coverage for persons earning less than $24 thousand dollars per year.
• Extended health plan benefits will often reimburse for fees not covered by the B.C. Medical Services Plan. This information is available from your employer. Receipts are provided following 0each visit and should be sent to your extended health benefits carrier. Consult your employer for required reimbursement forms.
• Workers' Compensation Board Coverage for office visits are provided for work-related injuries. No referral is required for a chiropractic visit. Injured persons should consult their doctor of chiropractic immediately upon injury.
• ICBC Coverage is provided for office visits for injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents. No referral is required. ICBC may pay only part of the usual office fees. Any remaining balance is the responsibility of the patient. This portion may be recoverable upon settlement of your claim.

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What is Registered Massage Therapy?

Massage therapy is a comprehensive intervention involving a range of techniques to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. The purpose of massage therapy is to prevent, develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function and/or relieve pain. It is an effective approach to pain management and rehabilitation. Registered massage therapists (RMTs) are effective in treating and providing relief for a wide range of conditions such as migraine headaches, tendonitis, arthritis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, as well as many other common conditions related to soft tissue and joint dysfunction.

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What type of education and training do RMT's have?

RMTs in British Columbia are required to complete a 3-year specialized program at an accredited college. The government-approved curriculum requires study and thorough understanding of anatomy, neurology, pathology, and clinical sciences, the highest standards in North America. All RMT's must complete the BC registration exams set by the College of Massage Therapists of BC, and must continue with post-graduate studies to maintain registration.

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What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a comprehensive healing system from Asia that is at least 3,000 years old. Acupuncture works with the energy, or Qi (pronounced Chee), that o,ow through the body's skin, muscles, and organs along pathways called meridians. By stimulating specific points of the meridians, acupuncture directs energy throughout the body's networks and unblocks the obstructions that cause pain and disharmony. Acupuncture therapies encourage the body to restore its own equilibrium.

Modern research and international health organizations agree that acupuncture is a safe and highly effective treatment for a variety of conditions including various difficulties with digestive, respiratory, circulatory, reproductive, musculoskeletal, and immune systems.

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What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) encompasses a unique system to diagnose and cure illness. The TCM approach is fundamentally different from that of Western medicine. In TCM, the understanding of the human body is based on the holistic understanding of the universe as described in Daoism, and the treatment of illness is based primarily on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromes.

The TCM approach treats Zang--fu organs as the core of the human body. Tissue and organs are connected through a network of channels and blood vessels inside human body. Qi (or Chi) acts as some kind of carrier of information that is expressed externally through Jing-Lou system. Pathologically, a dysfunction of the zang-fu organs may be reflected on the body surface through the network, and meanwhile, diseases of body surface tissues may also affect their related zang or fu organs. Affected zang or fu organs may also influence each other through internal connections. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment starts with the analysis of the entire system, and then focuses on the correction of pathological changes through readjusting the functions of the zang-fu organs.

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What is Clinical counselling?

Clinical Counselling is the use of clinical mental health counselling values, principles and methods for the purpose of assessment, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of behavioural, cognitive, social, mental or emotional issues, problems or disorders. Registered clinical counsellors help individual, couple, family or group clients to recognize their issues and concerns in order to enhance personal growth and effectiveness, interpersonal relations, life adjustments, spiritual growth, and mental health.

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