Traditionally, Chiropractic is a conservative treatment of neuro/muscular/skeletal issues through manual adjustments.

Breaking that down further, Chiropractic is:  via Latin from the Greek Chiro, meaning hand, and Praktikos, meaning effective or practical; thus the practice of hand adjustments to the spine, joints, soft tissues, and extremities.

Conservative treatment, because it does not utilize drugs or surgeries, it doesn’t introduce anything foreign into the body systems.  The goal of Chiropractic treatments is to bring the body back into alignment and motion so that you can function optimally and return to health.  A body in motion is best able to maintain health!

Chiropractic is a relatively new form of health care, celebrating its 100 birthday in 1995.  Chiropractic treatments vary somewhat from practitioner to practitioner, but the foundation remains the same.   As with all developing treatments, new ideas are continuing to evolve as are the tools and techniques available to the practitioners.

How, then, does a Chiropractor choose what tools or techniques he/she will use?

There are many variables involved:

1)      Training – does the tool or technique require extra training or certification?

2)      Equipment – is there special equipment involved?

3)      Space – does the clinic have adequate space for specialized equipment?

4)      Time – do treatment times allow for the techniques and/or tools required?

5)      Purpose – is the treatment or tool being used for patient education, diagnostics,

direct adjustment, prevention, rehab, or support?

6)      Research – is this tool or treatment evidence based?

7)      Cost – both to the practice as well as the patient.

The BC Chiropractic Association and the Canadian Chiropractic Association govern guidelines on the types of treatments, tools and techniques Chiropractors may use in their practices.

Chiropractors are required to complete continuing education every year.  This provides opportunities to explore and learn about new tools and techniques as well as enhancing existing ones.  Chiropractic research is ever expanding with greater funding and collaboration with Universities and Hospitals throughout North America.  All of this provides Chiropractors with numerous healing options for their patients.

How, then, does the patient decide what chiropractic services they may benefit from?

Beyond diagnosis, straight chiropractic adjustments and protocol, which all Canadian Chiropractors are board certified to do, patients may want to discern additional treatments and services they may benefit from and locate a Chiropractic clinic offering such care.   Consideration to the variables listed above can help with discernment.  Asking questions of your Chiropractor specific to the tools, techniques and treatments they use and why they use them is an important part of an initial consultation.  Is it evidence based?  Is there supporting research?  What are the outcomes?  These are legitimate questions to ask.

What specifically are these tools and techniques Chiropractors use?

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Chiropractic Treatments – Tools and Techniques.

We’ll explore a number of treatments, tools and techniques available and I’ll explain why I’ve chosen the ones available at Motion Chiropractic. (Spoiler alert) There may need to be a Part 3!