Chiropractic Treatment & Chiropractor

by Dr. Simon Wang, Chiropractor

As a Chiropractor, I’m often asked the question: what do Chiropractors actually do? To which I reply, we help people. Chiropractors are well-educated neuromuscular-skeletal health care practitioners. After completing a 3 or 4-year undergraduate degree, a prospective student then completes a 4-year Doctor of Chiropractic degree at an accredited college. Chiropractic College consists of comprehensive courses in othorpaedics, anatomy, physiology, radiology, biomechanics, pathology, clinical diagnosis, rehabilitation and treatment training. Throughout the first 3 years, students work together to learn and develop diagnostic and treatment skills. In the final year, Chiropractic interns complete two, 6-month internships, assessing, diagnosing and treating patients at one of the full treatment clinics around Canada, under the supervision of experienced clinicians. Some Chiropractic graduates choose to continue their education in specialized residency programs in Sports Sciences, Diagnostic Imaging, and Clinical Sciences. See www.cmcc.ca for more details. All Chiropractors are governed under the College of Chiropractors in their respective provinces, which ensures the public interest is protected.

 

Typical health problems that Chiropractors treat are:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Headaches
• Sciatica & leg pain
• Postural & ergonomic issues
• Repetitive strain injuries and
• Sports injuries

 

An initial visit to a Chiropractor will include:

• A thorough health history
• A complete examination of the complaint and musculoskeletal structures
• Diagnosis
• Referral (if needed)
• Education (prevention of injury/exacerbation)
• Home/work recommendations and
• Treatment

Based on the diagnosis, treatment may include the following:

• Joint manipulation/mobilization
• Soft tissue treatment (ART, Graston, Trigenics)
• Acupuncture
• Electrical modalities
• Ice/heat
• Exercise rehabilitation
• Assistive devices and
• Education

As a Chiropractor, I have had the privilege to work with a wide variety of patients with an array of ailments, but as recent research from Harvard University has demonstrated, most health problems are better taken care of by a team of health care providers. Physiomed differentiates itself from other clinics by utilizing an interdisciplinary (not multidisciplinary) model where all practitioners work together to obtain fast and thorough results for our patients. Our patients get better faster. Working with Physiotherapists, Chiropodists (foot specialists), Naturopathic Doctors, Massage Therapists, Acupuncturists, and Kinesiologists on a daily basis, has improved patient care, decreased recovery time, and improved functional capabilities, through the “two heads are better than one” analogy.