A chiropractor is a healthcare professional who practices manual therapy to diagnose, treat, and prevent musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders. They can effectively alleviate conditions such as headaches, stress, anxiety, neck and back pain. Our skilled chiropractor conveniently located at Richmond Hill, Premier Care Physiotherapy offers high quality non-invasive hands-on care that focuses on the spine, muscles, joints, and nervous system with a goal to get you back to feeling your best and healthiest.
What Is Chiropractic Care?
The primary focus of chiropractic treatments is the adjustment that is performed on the patient. These are therapeutic manipulation techniques that use controlled directions, forces, leverages, amplitudes, and velocities specific to certain joints. The chiropractor aims to increase joint flexibility by manipulating them. The areas commonly adjusted include the spine, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and shoulders depending on your unique condition.
If you’ve recently experienced an injury or illness, we can provide you with a personalized therapy plan that effectively manages the pain. Chiropractors use evidence-based practices and clinical expertise to diagnose and treat issues related to the body’s movement without relying on medication or surgery. Our chiropractic doctors receive at least seven years of post-secondary academic and clinical education studying management, prescribed exercise, rehabilitation, and other relevant areas. Some pursue additional education and training in specialized areas like sports science, chiropody, and rehabilitation.
Why Should You Go To A Chiropractor?
Are you suffering from back pain or neck pain? A few chiropractic sessions tend to do the trick. While some find relief after a few sessions others may need to visit once a week depending on their condition and how they feel. Individuals working in an office setting often complain of lower back pain which is the most common reason for work-related disability in adults under age 45. Regular chiropractic visits can help ease such pain and teach better habits as well as provide preventative care, spinal correction, pain relief, and back adjustment. An initial appointment typically involves a consultation and filling out forms during which patients can explain their pain and learn more about the process and techniques used by the chiropractor. It will include a basic physical exam, which involves a series of tests such as motion checks, reflex, palpitations, and muscle strength tests.
How Often Should You Go To A Chiropractor?
Chiropractors may suggest multiple follow-up visits to address a problem and it is important to keep these appointments to receive the most benefit from chiropractic care. We work closely with our patients to determine what works best for them. It is important to keep up with chiropractic appointments to maximize the benefits. You may visit weekly or monthly depending on your preference and health situation. When experiencing symptoms such as back or neck pain, fatigue, sports injuries, vehicle accidents, chronic headaches or migraines making an appointment with a chiropractor for an evaluation may be beneficial.
The Difference Between A Chiropractor and Physiotherapist
Chiropractors are often compared to other healthcare practitioners like physiotherapists, but they use certain unique approaches that distinguish them. The primary distinction between a chiropractor and a physiotherapist relates to the spine. Chiropractors concentrate more on identifying and treating spine-related ailments such issues with functionality, mobility, and the nervous system. They address headaches, neck pain, leg pain, back pain, and repetitive strain injuries by manually manipulating the spine to restore it to its natural state. As many spine-related issues can impact other parts of the body, chiropractic adjustments can relieve additional conditions such as fibromyalgia. Physiotherapists focus more on movement patterns and functionality of specific body parts and joints such as shoulders, hips, wrists, and ankles. They aim to improve muscle weaknesses or imbalances resulting from injuries, surgery, or repetitive strain.
Are Chiropractors Covered By OHIP?
There is no coverage by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). OHIP previously covered chiropractic care along with physiotherapy services and most eye exams; however the Ontario government removed them from the coverage list in 2004. We believe it’s time for provincial governments to reconsider their coverage policies for chiropractic services as they play a role in the well-being and quality of life of people. In the Spring of 2008 OHIP reinstated coverage for x-ray examinations for chiropractic patients in Ontario. On the bright side many health insurance plans do cover chiropractic care. For more information on your health plan contact 905-237-7174.