A Chiropractor Can do that?!

Dr. Eric St-Onge, DC, BSc(Hon), CSCS, ICCSP, FRCCSS (C) 
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This is often a reaction I get when I tell people what I do.
 
There are many misconceptions when it comes to chiropractors.  If you ask a group of people what chiropractors do for a living, odds are cracking backs are at the top of the list.  In this post, I hope to shed some light on some of the misconceptions that come with what we do for a living.
 
1.    "Chiropractors only work on neck and low back pain" 
We work on essentially anywhere in the body as it pertains to musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and their associated neurological system.  This includes most things from head to toe.
 
 
2.    "Once you start, you'll have to see a chiropractor forever" 
Not true!  If you are injured, your chiropractor will put together a plan to get you back to where you want to be.  Most importantly, the plan will have an expiry date.  Meaning, if you're not better, the chiropractor will either update the treatment plan, or refer you to another health care professional.  
 
Also, similar to how you see your family doctor for a yearly physical to make sure things are going well, or your dentist twice a year for a cleaning to keep cavities from creeping up, seeing a chiropractor a couple of times a year, even if you're not injured, can help keep you functioning well and out of pain! 

3.    "The only thing that chiropractors know how to do is crack backs"  
A "crack" (the correct term is actually manipulation) is just one of the many tools we possess!  You don't see a carpenter only use a hammer 100% of the time, right?  After a thorough history and physical examination, a diagnosis is made along with a plan of management and the appropriate tools are used.  Here are a few examples of some of the tools we use:

• Spinal and extremity manipulations
• Various soft tissue techniques
• Exercise prescription / supervision for fitness and rehabilitation purposes
• Modalities (ultrasound, stim, etc...)
• Injury prevention screening
• Running / gait analysis
• Acupuncture

 
Thus, because our chiropractor at Physio Sport Med has many tools in the tool box, expect a typical treatment to last approximately 30 minutes.  We take the necessary amount of time to do a great job and not "rush" things.
 
I hope this article helps to shed some light on what chiropractors really do.  If you're interested in having a chiropractor help you, please call the office at 905-257-3456 to book!