4 Fundamentals of Chiropractic Care

Do no harm
Treat the cause, not the symptom
The power that made the body heals the body
Dysfunction in the spine will disrupt the nervous system and the performance of the body

Most people have had an experience with a chiropractor, or know someone who has. I’ve heard lots of stories of chiro experiences ranging from the good, the bad, to the ugly. Here’s a run down of some commonly asked questions regarding chiropractic and myth debunking for ya!

What should I expect from my first visit?

Your first visit will be 30-45 minutes depending on your needs and current injury history.  I want to make sure that I thoroughly assess and have time to answer all of your questions. In your first visit, we will find your movement and posture strengths & areas of improvement.  We will discuss what makes you feel better, what makes you feel worse and how severe and irritable your issue is. This will allow me to make recommendations regarding work, play and movement. 

I want to get to know you more! I’ll ask questions specific to your issue but also your goals & needs from me. We will discuss the findings and present some options for treatment.  The most crucial part of my job is making sure you are educated on what is going on with your body.  I’ll also have time to treat the issue, using techniques we will discuss beforehand. Techniques that I use in treatment include spinal adjustment, soft tissue work, acupuncture, cupping and exercise programming.

How do my sessions work?

My sessions are 1-on-1 and you’ll see me every visit. This continuity of care allows me to track progress by re-checking your baselines, modifying treatment.  You are not a cookie-cutter client, so our sessions never will be either. 

Once I start, do I have to come to your forever?

Of course not!  Every plan we create together has a beginning, middle, and an end based on the short & long term goals that we discuss.

If I’m healthy and pain-free, should I still see a Chiropractor?

Absolutely! You get your car’s oil changed before the ‘check oil’ light comes on (hopefully) and similarly, your spine and discs benefit from chiropractic adjustment to regain lost mobility in the spine to support healthy discs and longevity before you have an injury or feel pain. Getting adjusted is key to a healthy physical body. Let’s get you adjusted before your body experiences pain. Pain is not the first sign of dysfunction, it is your body complaining that something is wrong

Does an adjustment hurt?

It should never hurt! If you’re experiencing pain an adjustment may just be the thing to get you OUT of pain! An adjustment releases endorphins (happy hormones) so you’ll leave feeling good! If I find muscular tension around the joint that I’m adjusting, I will treat the muscle tissue first so nothing is ‘forced’ with your adjustment. It is possible you may experience post-treatment soreness, similar to what you experience after a deep tissue massage. 

What is the popping sound in an adjustment?

Some adjusting techniques produce a popping sound. This is NOT your bones cracking or shifting. The noise is gas releasing from the joint, like opening a champagne bottle. The pop does not need to occur for the adjustment to happen although it is super satisfying to hear it!

What education and training do you have?

I graduated with honours with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology while playing varsity hockey for York University. After that, I moved to New York where I pursued my Doctorate of Chiropractic. I graduated as a DC and became certified in concussion management, medical acupuncture, Titleist performance golf rehabilitation, and Webster technique for prenatal care. You can find out more here.