Chiropractic
Chiropractors practice a drug-free, manual approach to health care that includes patient assessment, diagnosis and treatment. In particular, chiropractors assess patients for disorders related to the spine, pelvis, extremity joints, and their effect on the nervous system. Chiropractors are also trained to:
- Recommend therapeutic exercise.
- Utilize other non-invasive therapies.
- Provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.
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 five 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 is to decrease pain and restore function by improving areas of reduced movement in the joints and supporting tissues, and decreasing muscle tightness or spasm.
What makes us stand out
Here at Chiro+Physio Westmount, chiropractic care is offered to patients of all ages and athletes. Treatments are personalized to each patient's health condition by integrating several techniques: Spine align (a computerized analyzing and adjustment instrument), Activator Method (instrumental adjustments), diversified approach (manual adjustments) and muscle therapy (stretching and pressure points).
Who can benefit from Chiropractic care?
The vast majority of patients who seek chiropractic health care do so for complaints of the musculoskeletal system, most often for conditions affecting the spine such as back pain, neck pain and headaches. Research studies have demonstrated that chiropractic is effective in treating these conditions. Chiropractic has an excellent safety record and is recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of these ailments.
In cases such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the preferred method of treatment. Where other medical problems exist, chiropractic care may support medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects associated with them. Chiropractic care may also be palliative, providing symptomatic relief of the musculoskeletal disorders associated with chronic conditions.
Is Chiropractic a regulated health profession?
Chiropractors are regulated, primary care health providers. 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.
Chiropractic today is one of the largest primary care health 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 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.