Chiropractic Therapy
Chiropractic is one of the largest primary-contact health care professions in Ontario. It is a non-invasive, hands-on health care discipline that focuses on the neuromusculoskeletal system (specifically treating the nerves, muscles, joints and associated tissues of the body).
Chiropractors provide a diagnosis, treatment and preventative care for these neuromusculoskeletal problems. So, while Chiropractors are well-known for treating lower back and neck injuries, we also see alot of shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle and foot injuries.
Chiropractors use a combination of treatments, all of which are predicated on the specific needs of the individual patient. After taking a complete history and diagnosing a patient, a chiropractor can develop and carry out a comprehensive treatment/management plan, recommend therapeutic exercise and other non-invasive therapies, and provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counselling. At Endorphins we utilize ultrasound, electrotherapy, laser therapy, custom foot orthotics, soft tissue techniques, and hands-on joint manipulation. Further, we utilize Acupuncture as a modality to the Chiropractic practice.
Integrating acupuncture with chiropractic treatment often results in a quicker recovery for the patient. The chiropractic treatment works at a physical level by reducing muscle tension and nerve irritation, and restoring normal joint mobility. The acupuncture treatment plays a role in the reduction of pain and inflammation, and the promotion of healing. Together these two treatment approaches work synergistically, giving more improvement than either treatment could exclusively.
As an example of how the treatments work together, consider someone with a lower back injury. The joints are locked and inflamed, allowing very limited movement. The nerves are irritated, resulting in pain shooting down the thigh. The muscles become tense in attempt to protect the injured area, with an overall aching feeling preventing any movements or positions that are free of pain. Using an integrated approach for a patient experiencing this type of problem would begin with the use of ultrasound and interferential current. This would help reduce the tension in the muscle, break down any scar tissue that has formed from the injury, and offer some pain relief. Next the muscles would be massaged and stretched (without reducing the tension within the muscles, the recovery period would be delayed); this would be followed by spinal manipulation that would restore the normal movement to the joints of the lower back, providing pain free movements. Acupuncture needles would then be inserted into the acupuncture points that correspond with the nerves that supply the joints and muscles in the injured part of the lower back. This would help reduce the pain and inflammation, and promote healing in the area. When the treatments are used together the recovery time is significantly reduced.
Chiropractors provide a diagnosis, treatment and preventative care for these neuromusculoskeletal problems. So, while Chiropractors are well-known for treating lower back and neck injuries, we also see alot of shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle and foot injuries.
Chiropractors use a combination of treatments, all of which are predicated on the specific needs of the individual patient. After taking a complete history and diagnosing a patient, a chiropractor can develop and carry out a comprehensive treatment/management plan, recommend therapeutic exercise and other non-invasive therapies, and provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counselling. At Endorphins we utilize ultrasound, electrotherapy, laser therapy, custom foot orthotics, soft tissue techniques, and hands-on joint manipulation. Further, we utilize Acupuncture as a modality to the Chiropractic practice.
Integrating acupuncture with chiropractic treatment often results in a quicker recovery for the patient. The chiropractic treatment works at a physical level by reducing muscle tension and nerve irritation, and restoring normal joint mobility. The acupuncture treatment plays a role in the reduction of pain and inflammation, and the promotion of healing. Together these two treatment approaches work synergistically, giving more improvement than either treatment could exclusively.
As an example of how the treatments work together, consider someone with a lower back injury. The joints are locked and inflamed, allowing very limited movement. The nerves are irritated, resulting in pain shooting down the thigh. The muscles become tense in attempt to protect the injured area, with an overall aching feeling preventing any movements or positions that are free of pain. Using an integrated approach for a patient experiencing this type of problem would begin with the use of ultrasound and interferential current. This would help reduce the tension in the muscle, break down any scar tissue that has formed from the injury, and offer some pain relief. Next the muscles would be massaged and stretched (without reducing the tension within the muscles, the recovery period would be delayed); this would be followed by spinal manipulation that would restore the normal movement to the joints of the lower back, providing pain free movements. Acupuncture needles would then be inserted into the acupuncture points that correspond with the nerves that supply the joints and muscles in the injured part of the lower back. This would help reduce the pain and inflammation, and promote healing in the area. When the treatments are used together the recovery time is significantly reduced.
