Doctors of chiropractic, called ‘chiropractors’ are spine, muscle, joint and nervous system, experts. Every chiropractor receives at least six to seven years of post-secondary academic and clinical education. They are trained in how to evaluate, diagnose, recommend and deliver a treatment plan that manages issues within these systems, according to your preferences. A chiropractor’s education also includes courses in radiology, pain management, prescribed exercise and rehabilitation, among others.
Some chiropractors also pursue additional academic and practical education to specialize in other areas, including clinical sciences and diagnostic imaging, pediatric, rehabilitation, spinal stenosis, sports sciences and animal chiropractic care.
Each chiropractor is uniquely qualified to evaluate your condition and identify what’s causing your pain.
Based on the best available evidence, combined with their clinical expertise, your chiropractor will then work with you to determine the best treatment to relieve your pain. They will also help prevent it from returning and restore your mobility.
Some of the conditions chiropractors treat include:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Strains
- Sprains
- Pain associated with arthritis
- Shoulder pain
- Knee and foot pain
- Elbow and wrist pain
- Work and sports injuries
Chiropractors use various treatments, depending on their patient’s specific needs and preferences. Common treatments include:
- Manual, ‘hands-on’ therapy
- Soft tissue therapy
- Electronic modalities, such as shockwave treatment and cold laser therapy
- Customized, therapeutic exercise programs
- Self-management tools and techniques (like positions for relief or coping strategies for pain)
- Advice and education
- One of the most frequent treatments a chiropractor uses is a manual manipulation of the vertebrae of your spine or other joints, which is called an ‘adjustment.’ To perform an adjustment, your chiropractor will use their hands to apply controlled force to your joint and guide it through a range of motion. This action restores your joint’s natural movement and improves its function.
And in Ontario, you can visit a chiropractor without a referral from a doctor or other health care professional.
Reference: Website of Ontario Chiropractic Association.
