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Chiropractic


Chiropractic Adjustments

An adjustment is a highly skilled and precise movement applied by hand or an instrument such as an Activator to a joint of the body. The adjustment loosens the joint to restore proper movement and optimize function. When a joint is adjusted, a gas bubble escapes causing the popping noise you may have heard about. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. For example, the technique is modified when treating children, pregnant women, and older patients. Adjustment rarely causes discomfort. However, as it is a manually applied therapy, patients may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching following treatment which usually resolves within 12 to 48 hours.

Low Level Laser Therapy

Phototherapy and laser therapy are increasingly being used as treatment modalities in clinics as practitioners realize its usefulness in treating musculoskeletal conditions.

Phototherapy involves the application of light energy at specific wavelengths and power densities to penetrate into damaged tissues and be absorbed by cells. The effect is not thermal (i.e. related to heat), but instead related to photochemical reactions in the cells. These cumulative cellular benefits result in progressive improvements and sustained results. Laser is one form of phototherapy. Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) is the form we use here at Hubbards Chiropractic.

The word "laser" is an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The theory was first described by Albert Einstein (1879-1955) who paved the way for the development of the therapeutic laser. The first low-level therapeutic laser was developed in 1962. By the end of the 1960s, Endre Mester in Hungary was reporting an improved healing of wounds through low-level laser radiation. Since then, scientists and doctors around the world have been using laser light to treat conditions that can affect all age groups. Research on the effects of laser therapy has been going on for the past 30 years. These studies have shown that LLLT may play a role in stimulating growth factors and promoting angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels) at the vascular level while helping to stimulate T-cells and lymph nodes at the immune level. Some studies are also showing decreased swelling and increased stimulation of the bone-producing cells in bone. Overall, these cellular changes, induced by laser, provide relief of muscle and joint pain and increase tissue healing.

Custom Orthotics
Using Gaitscan Technology

Orthotics are devices worn in your shoes that provide correction to your feet, helping them to function more efficiently. Poor foot function and alignment may be the cause of various pains, such as:

  • Localized foot pain
  • Bunions
  • Hammer toes
  • Arch/heel pain
  • Leg/knee pain
  • Hip or back pain - even neck pain

Custom orthotics work on your feet much like glasses work on your eyes - they reduce stress and strain on your body by bringing your feet back into proper alignment. They fit into your shoes as comfortably as an insole - and they have the advantage of having been made from precise imprints of your feet. Properly made orthotics are custom molded to the support requirements of your feet. They help restore the normal balance and alignment of your body by gently correcting foot abnormalities.


What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a healing discipline firmly grounded in science. Although its main focus is the relationship between the skeleton (particularly the spine) and the nervous system that runs through it, chiropractic is concerned with the care of the entire body. Chiropractic focuses on addressing the source of your problem, not simply treating symptoms.

Chiropractors use various diagnostic methods, which may include x-rays, to discover the state of your health, paying particular attention to your spine and bone structure. Spinal adjustments, or manipulation as it is also referred to, as well as other manual techniques, are their primary methods of helping your body heal itself.

The word chiropractic comes from a combination of the Greek words “chiro” and “praktikis”, meaning “done by hand”. Chiropractors provide specialized “hands-on” treatment of the spine, muscles, and joints of the body. More specifically, chiropractic is an effective treatment for:

  • Back pain

  • Headaches or migraines
  • Neck pain
  • Whiplash injuries
  • Joint pain
  • Disc problems (herniated discs, bulging discs)
  • Sciatica and leg pain
  • Scoliosis
  • Numbness and/or tingling in the arms or legs upon waking up
  • Shoulder, arm, and hand pain
  • TMJ (jaw pain)
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Knee pain
  • Repetitive stress/strain injuries and strain caused by postural problems
  • Other injuries caused by sports, work, falls, or other traumas

Chiropractic Education

Seven years of university-level education

In Canada, chiropractors are educated through two programs offered at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) in Toronto, and at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR). Both programs are accredited by the Canadian Federation of Chiropractic Regulatory and Educational Accrediting Boards (CFCREAB). CMCC and UQTR are recognized degree-granting institutions by the respective Ontario and Quebec governments.

Chiropractic students undergo a rigorous course of study similar to that of other regulated healthcare professionals. Entrance requirements are also similar. Students are required to complete a minimum of three years of university before they are eligible for admission to the CMCC accredited program. The CMCC program requires four years of full-time study. In Quebec, UQTR has a five-year, full-time program following graduation from a CÉGEP health science program.

The faculty at both CMCC and UQTR have diverse backgrounds and offer students a wide range of expertise. Faculty come from such disciplines as biological sciences, pathology, medicine, and psychology, as well as chiropractic.

Internship

In addition to the academic program, chiropractic education requires hands-on clinical experience under the direct supervision of highly-qualified faculty. This experience includes clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and referral protocols.

Licensing Examinations

A graduate must then pass comprehensive national examinations administered by the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board (CCEB) before qualifying to become licensed by the regulatory authority in their province of practice.

Chiropractors who undertake their education outside of Canada must also pass Canadian qualifying examinations administered by the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board before qualifying to become licensed to practice in this country.

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