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.

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, to utilize other non-invasive therapies, as well as to 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 four years of intensive chiropractic education. Adjustment is a carefully controlled procedure delivered by a skilled practitioner to dysfunctional spinal or extremity joints and supporting tissues, and decreasing muscle tightness or spasm.

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 treatment is highly 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.

DOES CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT REQUIRE REFERRAL FROM AN MD?
No. A patient does not have to be referred. Chiropractors are legislated as primary contact health care professionals in every province in Canada. This means that patients can consult them directly. Similarly, chiropractors frequently refer to medical doctors when necessary.

CAN CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT PROVIDE A PREVENTATIVE FUNCTION?
Clinical experience suggests that individuals with chronic conditions such as degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) or recurrent neck pain, back pain or headaches may experience less frequent and less severe symptoms when under regular chiropractic care. This also applies to individuals in highly stressful situations and those who experience repetitive physical and postural strain from their daily activities.

WHY IS THERE A POPPING SOUND WHEN A JOINT IS ADJUSTED?
Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble that makes a popping sound - it’s exactly the same as when you “crack” your knuckles. It is not painful. It is caused by a change of pressure within the joint resulting in gas bubbles being released.

WHY WOULD NECK ADJUSTMENT HAVE AN EFFECT ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN NECK PAIN?
Pain or discomfort in one area of the body may be linked functionally to discomfort from another area. Consequently, addressing dysfunction in one part of the body may relieve symptoms in another part. If you look at a model of the spine, you can see that the spine is an interconnected structure. Adjustment at various points along the structure may be needed to help reduce biomechanical stresses on other parts of the spine to relieve discomfort.

IS NECK ADJUSTMENT A FORCEFUL ACTION?
No? This has been demonstrated in studies to determine the degree of physical strain applied during an adjustment. It requires less range of motion than what is required when backing up your car. It is skill, not strength, that is needed to conduct a safe, effective adjustment.