An adjustment is a highly skilled and precise movement usually applied by hand to a joint of the body. Adjustment loosens the joint to restore proper movement and optimize function.

When a joint is adjusted, a gas bubble escapes causing the popping noise you may have heard about.

Chiropractic adjustment techniques have been researched extensively. Complications are rare and side-effects, such as temporary soreness, are usually minor. Your chiropractor is well-trained to determine if your problem will respond to chiropractic care or if you require referral to another health care provider

Eight out of ten Canadians will experience back pain at some point in their life. For many people, the pain can keep them away from work, school or even their day-to-day activities. If pain causes interruptions and restrictions in the activities of your daily life then you should consult a health care provider.

Chiropractors are regulated primary care professionals, are highly educated and extensively trained to assess, diagnosis, treat and prevent conditions disorders of the spine, joints, muscle and nervous systems. These disorders may include back pain, neck pain, headaches, referring pain in your arms and legs, etc.

Many patients seek chiropractic treatment for wellness care. Others, like seniors, find that treatment helps them to maintain mobility and good range of motion. Pain should never become a way of life, especially when there is qualified help available.

There are many reasons to seek chiropractic care: Work, accidents, sports injuries, household chores, even the stress of daily living can cause painful joint and spinal problems. Even if you do not have painful symptoms, chiropractic care can help you maintain healthy spine and joint function.

Here are some of the most common reasons why more than 4 million Canadians visit a chiropractor each year:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Headache
• Whiplash
• Strains and sprains from daily activities
• Repetitive strain injuries
• Work and sports-related injuries
• Arthritis
• Restricted movement in the back, shoulders, neck or limbs
• General health and well-being

Adjustment (or manipulation) of a joint may result in the release of a gas bubble between the joints, which makes a popping sound. The same thing occurs when you “crack” your knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint, which results in gas bubbles being released. There is usually minimal, if any, discomfort involved.

The number of adjustments you will need varies with each client and their individual health goals. Many clients sense progress within a week or two of frequent visits with a reduction of pain or other symptoms. Visits are reduced in frequency as your spine stabilises and you regain mobility and improved function. In chronic cases, healing can take months or even years.  Many clients continue with their care even after they feel and function better, in order to maintain the benefits and reduce the likelihood of the condition recurring.

All childbirth methods can negatively impact an infant’s spine. Studies suggested that colic, unusual crying, poor appetite, ear infections or erratic sleeping habits can be signs of spinal distress. Paediatric adjustments are extremely gentle.  A sleeping child or infant usually won’t even wake during an adjustment.  A typical toddler or child can fall multiple times in any given day.  For the most part these falls do not cause serious harm but in some cases they can cause spinal problems. Many childhood health complaints are brushed off as “growing pains” can often be traced to the spine. Regular chiropractic checkups can identify these problems and help avoid many of the health complaints seen later in adults. In this office the children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and parents share that they seem healthier than other children.

More and more people are consulting chiropractic doctors, especially in their later years. With concerns about -medication and the side effects of combining various prescription drugs, safe, natural chiropractic care is growing in popularity.  Restoring better spinal function can help improve mobility, vitality, endurance, and appetite. Many patients report improvements with arthritic symptoms and other chronic ailments. Your chiropractor will modify their adjusting technique for maximum comfort and results.

Yes. Rest assured that your chiropractic doctor will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. Surgery often causes instability above or below the involved level. These areas will be the focus of your chiropractic care

Some patients experience almost instant relief. Others discover it can take many weeks or months. Many factors can affect the healing process. How long have you had your problem? Are you keeping your appointments? Are you getting the proper rest, exercise and nutrition? Do you smoke? Are you in otherwise good condition? Within a short period of time most patients sense enough progress to fully complete their doctor’s recommendations.

Chiropractic care can:

• Improve movement in your neck, shoulders, back and torso
• Improve your posture
• Provide relief from headaches, neck and back pain
• Help prevent work-related muscle and joint injuries
• Lead to enhanced athletic performance
• Improve your flexibility and range of motion
• Relieve pregnancy-related back ache
• Correct gait and foot problems

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest, drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of headache, and neck and back pain. It has an excellent safety record. However, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. Even common over-the-counter medicines carry a risk.

Most patients experience immediate relief following an adjustment, however, some may experience temporary pain, stiffness or slight swelling. Some patients may also experience temporary dizziness, local numbness, or radiating pain. However, adverse effects associated with spinal adjustment are typically minor and short-lived.

Informed consent
Prior to starting treatment, all health professionals are required by law to obtain informed consent to treatment from their patients. Health care consumers must receive adequate and accurate information to assist them in evaluating their health care choices, and in balancing the relative risks of treatment options with the benefits. The chiropractic profession takes this responsibility seriously and has been a leader in obtaining informed consent.

Chiropractic care cannot “cure” every ailment, but there is some evidence to indicate that adjustments may have a beneficial effect on a variety of conditions. Adjustment may alleviate some of the secondary or referred pain, arising from the response of the musculoskeletal structures to the primary cause.

X-rays can play an important role in diagnosis and are taken when a need has been determined after taking a patient case history and conducting a physical examination. Chiropractors receive 360 hours of education in radiology covering a full range of topics from protection to X-ray interpretation and diagnosis. Governments in every province have recognized the training and competence of chiropractors to take and interpret X-rays and have granted them this right.

Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle.

Pregnant women, postpartum women and their infants can benefit from safe and effective chiropractic care.  Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy improve back pain, help prepare for childbirth and make delivery easier for them and their baby.

No, not at all. We treat many patients who suffer from osteoporosis. When we work with clients that have osteoporosis use specific low force techniques that allow for gentle change in the spine.   Regular chiropractic care may help to protect patients from falls by improving joint mobility, range of motion, posture and balance.

You are not alone.  Many of our clients have the same reservations about having their neck adjusted.  We offer safe and gentle alternatives to the “cracking” manipulation that you may be worried about. There are alternatives to neck adjustments that some people prefer. The risks associated with each type of treatment will also be discussed, allowing you to make an informed decision about your health care. You can also decide to decline treatment in the area of the neck at any time.  You make the decision in this regard.  We will not perform neck adjustments in your treatment if there are any indications that you would be at risk.

Some people are looking strictly for symptom relief while others are interested in long-term strategies to maintain good health. We offer are three stages of care.

1. Initial Intensive Care/Crisis Management: The primary goal in this phase of care is symptom or pain relief. Depending on our findings, you may be treated as little as once a week or as often as every day. We often include some home education and some basic exercises in this phase. This treatment phase lasts from as little as a week and up to 3 months.
2. Rehabilitative Care/Restorative Care: The main goal now is correcting or eliminating the source of the problem and minimizing the likelihood of a relapse. Treatment frequency is decreased and more education is provided on exercises, home/office self-care to help support the healing process. We assess for improvement in your range of movement, posture, flexibility, strength, energy level and/or general health. This treatment phase lasts from weeks to months depending on your initial condition and your current health status.
3. Wellness Care/Maintenance Care: At this time most of our clients are feeling and functioning at their best. Many of our clients choose to attend the office for management of day to day stresses and strains. Depending on your lifestyle, most clients attend the office bi-weekly to once per month for a spinal check-up and adjustment if required.

SpiderTech achieves its therapeutic effect naturally by either providing structural support or by altering the patient’s sensation of pain which is dependent on how the tape is applied.

Structurally, if the tape is stretched and applied over muscles in a shortened position it will provide a mechanical barrier to potentially harmful postures and ranges of motion.

On a neurosensory level, SpiderTech helps to normalize the alterations in neurological signaling that occur after injury or as a result of chronic pain.

The tape provides enhanced sensory stimulation which essentially disrupts and diminishes signals of pain. What is revolutionary about this is the effect of the continuous stimulation provided by wearing SpiderTech on the skin may help to break the cycle of chronic pain.

The bottom line is a decrease in the sensation of pain along with normalizing the neural drive to the muscles involved resulting in restored mobility and strength. SpiderTech therapy means less pain and more activity for more people.

SpiderTech products are engineered to mimic the thickness, weight and elasticity of human skin. Thus, they use high-grade 100% cotton material with a 100% poly-acrylic adhesive. There is no latex in the product therefore making it hypoallergenic. The tape is water-resistant and breathable, and can be worn for up to 5 days.

The tape is designed to be worn on the skin even during strenuous exercise. The adhesive adheres well to the body and does not leave any residue when removed. The tape material has moderate elasticity, which matches the same basic elasticity found in human skin and muscle, allowing it to work with your body. This provides support and stability, without adversely affecting healthy ranges of motion.

A custom orthotic is a device designed to align the foot and ankle into the most anatomically efficient position. They look like insoles, but are biomechanical medical appliances that are custom made to correct your specific foot imbalance. Custom orthotics work on your feet much like glasses work on your eyes – they reduce stress and strain on your body by bringing your feet back into proper alignment. The plastic body of the custom orthotic helps to re-align the foot by redirecting and reducing certain motion that takes place during the gait cycle. Custom orthotics fit into your shoes as comfortably as an insole – and they have the advantage of having been made from precise imprints of your feet.

The symptoms of poor foot mechanics can include any one of the following:

• Localized foot pain
• Bunions, hammer toes
• Arch/heel pain
• Leg/knee pain
• Hip or back pain – even neck pain

The longer you wear your custom orthotics the more benefit you will get out of them. If your daily activities vary to the extent that you change your footwear, then you should have a second pair of custom orthotics designed for that specific activity. (I.e. going to the gym after work)

Since the custom orthotic works to realign the structure of your foot you may feel pressure in some areas as the custom orthotic attempts to do its job. For this reason custom orthotics should be worn in two hour intervals and slowly extend the wear time over a period of two weeks.

For the most part any shoe that has a removable insole will work with your custom orthotic. Just remove the insole that came with the shoe and replace it with the custom orthotic. TOG also offers a carefully-selected line of footwear that can accommodate custom orthotics, as well as custom sandals and clogs that have your prescribed device built right in.

Custom orthotics will not reduce muscles tone. They will help position your foot so you will be using the right muscles at the right time, minimizing fatigue and allowing your muscles to be used more efficiently.