Chiropractic Care

A referral is not necessary to be assessed or treated at Back & Body Health. However, we welcome patients who have been referred by their family doctor, OB/GYN, or other health care specialists.

The initial assessment consists of a thorough health history and examination that helps identify factors that are influencing your health. At that point, we review the therapies that may be used in your treatment plan, the alternatives available including appropriate referral to other health care providers if necessary and any risks relevant to your treatment. We then address any questions that you may have. Treatment is then performed at that time or in a minority of patients, further diagnostic tests are ordered (i.e. x-rays) and treatment is continued at a later time. The typical initial assessment takes anywhere from 40 to 60 minutes, depending on each patient’s condition(s).

We suggest that patients bring comfortable clothing that they would typically wear as if they were going on a run or to the gym. This ensures that your concerns can be assessed properly.

It has been our experience that the vast majority of patients who come into Back & Body Health do not require x-rays (diagnostic imaging) to have their conditions treated effectively. Sometimes, however, x-rays are recommended in order to rule out serious conditions or if a patient does not respond to treatment as expected. It is our policy to refer you to radiology centers outside of the clinic to have any diagnostic imaging performed.

Every case is different; however, you should notice an improvement after the first few treatments. We never tell patients that they need to come 3 times a week for months on end before they see any change. Never. We assess progress and review the treatment plan during every patient appointment. Once your condition is resolved or we feel that the maximal improvement has been attained, you then have the choice regarding future treatment. For some people treatment is like a regular physical tune-up to help deal with the daily wear and tear of life. For others, it’s simply an effective treatment when pain or other health issues occur. Back & Body Health’s policy is to keep the patient fully informed and ensure that you play an active role in managing your health issues.

A chiropractic adjustment is a manual procedure using the chiropractor’s hands to manipulate the joints of the body in order to restore or enhance joint motion and function. Back & Body Health’s policy is to adapt the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. For example, our older patients in their 80’s will not be adjusted the same way as our patients who are in their 20’s.

Periodically during a chiropractic adjustment a small popping sound may be heard, which sounds similar to that produced by “popping” a knuckle. The source of this sound is actually a small pocket of nitrogenous gas being released when pressure comes off the joint space. The joint space is bathed in fluid and the gas bubble is released from there. All that being said, noise is really a non-issue. The powerful component is that at the moment of an adjustment, there is restoration of proper biomechanical and biochemical factors within the treated joint.

Chiropractic treatment is a non-invasive approach to common musculoskeletal conditions such as neck and back pain. As such, it is a very low risk procedure.

» Chiropractic Treatment and Patient Safety

Chiropractors treat neck pain, back pain, arthritis, certain types of headaches, injuries and more. They are spine, muscle and nervous system experts who specialize in assessing, diagnosing, treating and developing care plans to keep you moving and pain-free.

If you are experiencing relatively minor pain, your doctor may ask you to come in once or twice in quick succession during the first week or two, and then reduce visits to weekly after that. When a patient’s pain is not that intense or long-term, a few visits may be enough to make a major difference.

There is little to no pain involved in an adjustment. You may feel pops and cracks, but you should not feel any intense pain. Typically, if you weren’t in pain prior to the adjustment, you won’t be after. Some chiropractic patients do experience some mild soreness or minor aches after a visit.

After your adjustment, you don’t want your body to immediately revert to the same position it was in. Avoid sitting for long periods of time after seeing the chiropractor, if possible, and enjoy the mobility that your adjustment has created by going for a long walk, or take a bike ride.

Because of the many important roles that the spine plays and the nerves it protects, spinal misalignment can have some unexpected symptoms. These symptoms may include: Chronic headaches, Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet (caused by nerve compression).

The most notable signs of poor spinal health include:

• Joint pain.
• Headaches.
• Fatigue and reduced energy.
• Sore/stiff back/neck and shoulders.
• Muscle spasms (in the back and neck).
• Numbness and tingling in your extremities.

Studies show that chiropractic treatments can help patients who have pinched nerves in their spine. We can use chiropractic treatments to noninvasively realign your spine and relieve pressure on troubled areas of your back.

In addition to a performing a series of spinal adjustments to correct vertebral subluxations, your chiropractor may also prescribe therapeutic exercises to help restore normal motion in your spine and reduce whiplash symptoms.

Chiropractic has proven incredibly effective in reducing problems in the inner ear, including hearing concerns, ear infections, and yes—vertigo. Vertigo is connected to fluid buildup in the inner ear, and the area in which the buildup occurs is connected via nerves to your upper cervical vertebrae.

Prices vary from $90-$150+ for the Assessment and $40-$90 for follow ups. Our clinic fees are $125 for an hour Initial Consultation and Treatment, follow-ups are 30-45 minutes at $59. Senior (60+) and Student Pricing is available.

It depends on the injury or issue. Both disciplines treat and manage pain in your body, but their approaches differ slightly. Our chiropractors use a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment and possible treatment options include advice & education, range of motion & strengthening exercises as well as traditional adjusting or joint mobilization. Whether you should see a chiropractor or a physiotherapist depends on the nature of your injury and often patients will see both professionals as part of a treatment plan finding what is most effective for them.

• Yes, absolutely. It is important to inform your chiropractor that you are pregnant, expected due date and any other health concerns you have. Chiropractors can help with mid/low back pain, sciatica, and pelvic pain and pressure during your pregnancy.
• Chiropractors can provide safe, effective and drug-free conservative care to relieve pain and improve function during pregnancy and after birth.