Have you ever wondered exactly what it is that a chiropractor does, what training they have, or what conditions they treat? Many of our patients at the clinic already see either one of our in-house chiropractors or another chiropractor in Vernon. Much of this information will not be new to them, but we are hoping that everyone can learn a little bit about the chiropractic profession from this article.
What is a Chiropractor?
Chiropractors are licensed and regulated health care professionals who have undergone years of schooling to be able to help their patients with a variety of concerns. The BC Chiropractic Association definition of what a chiropractor does is this,
“As spine, muscle, and nervous system experts, chiropractors provide qualified and effective treatment to promote health, alleviate pain and improve your quality of life. Chiropractors focus on your musculoskeletal (MSK) system and treat the bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and connective tissues that you use every day.”
At Creekside Dynamic Health, our chiropractors treat the musculoskeletal system using a variety of different treatment options including:
- Joint mobilization and manipulation (adjustments)
- Various soft tissue treatments
- Rehabilitative exercises
- Education and advice
The goal of all of our chiropractors here at Creekside is to give you the tools to get back to being active and to do the things you enjoy doing again.
What Training do Chiropractors Have?
Chiropractors undergo rigorous education to ensure that they are well qualified to help their patients recover as quickly as possible. Most chiropractors will go through at least 3 years of undergraduate training followed by 4 years at a chiropractic college. Following graduation, chiropractors must pass stringent national board exams to be eligible to be licensed in Canada. In British Columbia, chiropractors are licensed by the College of Chiropractors of British Columbia.
What Conditions do Chiropractors Treat?
Chiropractors are most well known for treating conditions related to the spine. This includes:
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Sciatica
- Disc bulges and herniations
Chiropractors are also able to treat a large variety of other conditions as well, including:
- Sprains and strains
- Sport injuries
- Shoulder pain
- Foot/Ankle pain
- Hip pain
- TMJ disorders
What to Expect at Your First Visit?
When you book your appointment, you will be emailed intake forms to fill out that go over your health history, any medications you may be taking and other relevant information related to your concern. When you arrive at our clinic, one of our chiropractors will come to get you from the waiting room and take you to the exam room. From there, you and the chiropractor will go over a detailed history about why you have come for care and discuss any relevant history from your intake forms. After this, the chiropractor will do a detailed orthopedic and neurological exam which will look at things like your range of motion, what movements hurt and which movements feel better, your reflexes and strength any other special tests that might be necessary.
Next, the chiropractor will discuss any relevant findings and give you a diagnosis about what is causing your pain. You will discuss treatment options, how long it will take for you to heal and go over an informed consent which will outline the benefits and risks of specific treatments. After this, treatment can begin!
If seeing a chiropractor seems like a good fit or if you would like more information, give us a call at 250-545-7107 or book an appointment online.
