Chiropractic Care

What chiropractic actually is

Chiropractic is a regulated health profession focused on diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems — most often the spine, but also the shoulders, hips, knees, and other joints. In British Columbia, chiropractors complete a four-year doctoral program after an undergraduate degree and are regulated by the College of Chiropractors of British Columbia.

A chiropractic visit isn’t just an “adjustment.” A good visit starts with assessment — figuring out what’s actually causing your symptoms — and the treatment that follows is matched to that finding.

What we treat

The most common reasons people see us are:

• Low back pain, including sciatica and disc-related pain
• Neck pain and stiffness
• Tension and cervicogenic headaches
• Whiplash and other motor-vehicle-accident injuries
• Repetitive strain injuries (e.g. tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis)
• Sport-related injuries — running, cycling, skiing, hockey
• Pregnancy-related musculoskeletal pain

How we treat

Treatment plans are built per-patient. Tools we routinely use include:

• Spinal manipulation (the “adjustment”) — a precise, controlled force applied to a specific joint
• Joint mobilization — slower, sustained pressure used when manipulation isn’t appropriate
• Soft-tissue therapy, including Active Release Technique® and Graston Technique®
• Exercise rehabilitation — the home-program piece that makes results stick
• Education — what’s going on, what to expect, and what you can do between visits

Is it safe?

For most people, chiropractic care is very safe. Side effects from spinal manipulation are usually minor and short-lived — most commonly mild soreness for a day or two after treatment, similar to a workout. We screen carefully at the first visit for any conditions that would change our approach, and we adjust technique accordingly.

When to expect results

Most patients notice improvement within two to four visits. If we’re not seeing the progress we expect within a reasonable window, we re-assess — and if your situation is outside what chiropractic can help, we refer you to the right provider.