FAQ

Your spine houses your central nervous system which is the “highway” of your nerves. Nerves are critical for controlling and monitoring the function of virtually every cell in your body. Chiropractic care focuses on optimizing the function of your nervous system by eliminating nerve interference that is often caused by muscles and joints functioning irregularly. At our office we commonly use chiropractic adjustments, nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle recommendations to optimize your body’s function.

We encounter a number of stresses on a daily basis that can begin to effect our wellness before we are even born. In general stresses that can cause dysfunction arise from physical, chemical or emotional sources.

Physical stress can be due to such things as accidents, repetitive motions, posture and improper lifting. Emotional causes often arise from depression, anger, fear and stress. Chemical irritants can include poor diet, drugs, pollution and alcohol.

Your body is constantly trying to heal and optimize itself. Given the right resources and input your body often will resolve a problem on its own. However, many issues do not fully resolve and give minimal symptoms and can begin to cause a number of compensations over time that result in your body becoming easily injured or remaining in a state of chronic pain.

No. The goal of chiropractic care is to optimize the function of your body, allowing it to naturally heal itself. Even though we assess and correct the spine on the majority of chiropractic patients, chiropractors are educated to address all areas of the body. From improving function, chiropractic care has been shown to relieve such issues as headaches, plantar fasciitis, asthma, sinus congestion and digestive issues.

Most patients do not have nerve compression. The muscles, joints and ligaments of our body are full of sensitive receptors that when irritated can cause ‘nerve-like’ pain. Improper joint mechanics causing irritation on the neuro-receptors in the joints and muscles is often the cause for most pains.

An adjustment is a specific and precise force that is applied to an area under abnormal mechanical or neurological stress. Chiropractors can use their hands, specific instruments and/or tables or gravity to apply the corrective force into the body. Based on your condition, your doctor will decide on the technique, direction and amount of force best for you.

Having musculoskeletal pain and limited function is an obvious sign of requiring an adjustment, however, many areas of stress do not show with overt symptoms. Regular chiropractic care can help detect and correct these areas of stress to help your body function at its best.

Doctors of chiropractic undergo training that has many similarities to that of a physician. To graduate, they have a minimum of 6 years of post-secondary education. Studies include subjects such as anatomy, physiology, neurology, biomechanics, x-ray, physical therapy and adjusting techniques. In addition, chiropractors continually upgrade their skills and knowledge through seminars.

No. Chiropractic care is focused on providing safe, effective care without the use of drugs and surgery. Some conditions do require medication, in which case, the chiropractor will work together with your physician to best care for you.

Like any course of care there can never be a guaranteed outcome. The goal of the chiropractors at Valleyview is to optimize your health and wellness. If no improvements are seen over time, or if your condition is not likely to benefit from chiropractic care, the chiropractor will recommend the appropriate practitioner to you.

Considering anti-inflammatory medications are the #1 cause of death from internal bleeding and pain killers are the #1 cause of death from liver failure per year, physicians are always looking for a way to help resolve a patients issues without predisposing them to additional health issues. With the expanding wealth of research over time showing the benefits and positive outcomes of chiropractic care, more physicians are recommending care and seeing chiropractors themselves.

The amount of time it takes to feel better always depends on the condition and the individual. For example, if you have been experiencing symptoms for years, it is not unreasonable to think that resolution may also take time. Factors that commonly influence recovery are age, severity, location, duration, and the number of additional compounding health issues.

The overall duration of care depends on your condition and your overall goals in health. Most people will notice symptomatic relief in a relatively short period of time. Continuing care to further resolve the issue and then to maintain and optimize function is completely up to you.

We are focused on wellness at our office, meaning that our goal is not only to help resolve your symptoms but to also help you experience life to its fullest through regular check-ups.

There are a number of reasons for why our patients decide to continue their care. Firstly, symptoms often disappear before proper function has returned. Discontinuing early often predisposes someone to future relapse.

Second, regular check-up visits allow us to maintain areas that often localize stress and correct areas that are beginning to show signs of irritation.

Lastly, but probably most important, our patients that continue to see us over the years notice that care is improving their health and life experience and wish to assure they continue to feel great.

It is not unreasonable to see symptoms resurface, although, if you have reached your goals in care we feel we have served you well. If issues do return or develop over time, we are here to help you return to the sate of health that you wish.

We never want our patients to feel embarrassed to return or feel pestered into care. How long you choose to benefit from chiropractic care is always up to you.

There is rarely pain associated with a chiropractic adjustment. It is common to feel pressure and often a popping sound with some adjusting techniques.

If you are currently experiencing areas of significant pain, it is not unreasonable to feel some mild pain and/or discomfort with care as we work to resolve these areas.

If you are ever feeling uncomfortable we urge you to tell us immediately so that we may accommodate the approach to you best.

The pop is technically called a cavitation and is created by the gases diffused in the joint lubricating fluids. It is not necessary to get a cavitation with an adjustment, although, with some techniques it is a good sign that we have created an adequate change in joint and nerve function.

Not effectively. Even doctors of chiropractic require another chiropractor to get adjusted. A proper adjustment requires a specific, directional force that is impossible to apply to yourself in a precise way. Some people are able to “crack” their own joints but it is not an adjustment. Doing this has limited benefits and can often cause more problems over time.

Yes and no. Often your joints will make a popping sound on their own as you move. This is usually normal to feel as the joint opens up to naturally regain its full range of motion. It is however recommended that you see a chiropractor if you notice a particular joint constantly popping, or have the urge to constantly pop a joint. This is not normal and can indicate areas of stress or abnormal mechanics.

Like adults, children experience physical, chemical, and emotional stress that can cause nerve interference. However, unlike adults, children are rapidly learning, setting up patterns of nerve activity for a lifetime. Small irrations in nerve function during development have the potential for creating long term patterns of adaptation that can last a lifetime. Due to this, we feel that the most important time to get a check-up is as a child.

Both chiropractors at the office have undergone additional training and certification through the international chiropractic pediatric association to better care for expecting mothers, infants and adolescents.

Yes. Spinal surgery often causes areas of nerve damage, scar tissue, and altered patterns of motion. Many patients can benefit from chiropractic care following surgery.

It is common for us to ask to see your spinal x-rays before adjusting these areas and/or use a lighter force technique to best care for these areas that have been altered through surgery. The chiropractor will evaluate your specific condition and determine the best course of care.

Yes. Chiropractic is a safe, natural, gentle, conservative alternative to better health. The most recent studies continue to show the safety and efficacy of chiropractic care for people of all ages.

The most common adverse effects that people rarely see as a result of care are similar to the joint and muscle soreness one feels when starting a physical exercise program.

Yes. Approximately 12-15% of Canadians enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care but as more people discover the benefits of regular care this number is constantly growing. Ideally, chiropractic care is part of a healthy balanced lifestyle. We see everything from high performance athletes looking to compete at their best to infants looking to get a good start on life.

Everyone can benefit from chiropractic care in some way.