No. Chiropractors are considered primary care professionals nationwide in Canada, which means patients can consult with them directly and do not require a referral to do so. Still it’s worth mentioning that some insurance companies do mandate a referral from a medical doctor in order to honour a claim made for reimbursement, however, this is not common practice anymore. We encourage patients to review their own insurance policies to determine whether or not this is something that their insurance policy requires as it tends to vary.

Adjustments function in two ways. Mechanically they help to restore motion to an area that is not moving within its full range. Neurologically speaking, it’s like turning off your phone when it is not functioning properly. This reset decreases the stress on the muscles and ligaments of the surrounding area and allows proper proprioceptive(brain body awareness) feedback. A chiropractic adjustment is used to describe a procedure whereby a skilled specialist (such as a chiropractor) will manipulate a joint by applying a controlled and specific force. This procedure is most commonly done with the practitioner’s hands, however there are multiple ways to adjust and can all be tailored to the specific patient, their needs and comfort level.

The first visit is where we gather all the information about your health history and physical background. This gives us a foundation on where to focus the physical exam; which is performed next. Once the exam is done, and a working diagnosis is rendered, a trial of the regular treatment plan is begun. For some, X-rays might be required, to which you would receive a requisition for.

Chiropractic care can benefit those of all ages as treatments are tailored to the size and age of the patient, and of course their reason for coming in.

Chiropractic can help a wide range of populations from pediatrics to senior citizens, sports injuries, work injuries, car accidents and all in between. In other words, everyone can be a great candidate for chiropractic. Throughout all stages of life, the appointments focus on establishing a brain body connection to help the patient lead not only a pain free life, but promote a full and vibrant life. Chiropractic can help with new injuries, chronic problems to preventative and wellness care.

Newborns and Infants: Birth can be a traumatic process for both Baby and Mom. Babies can face trauma through pregnancy and delivery such as in-utero constraints, malposition, and forces during delivery and assisted delivery devices. This can cause misalignment of the hips, spine, and cranial bones. Baby’s spines also elongate 50% in the first six months of life and the curvatures of the spine develop as they start to move and grow. Making sure their spines are aligned is crucial for normal spinal development. Chiropractic is a safe, gentle way to evaluate and treat common developmental issues such as congenital torticollis and leg length discrepancy. Breastfeeding concerns, tongue ties are also among the main reasons an infant would see a Chiropractor as oral muscular function is crucial in the early stages of life. Chiropractic is also a great way to ensure babies are meeting their developmental milestones and that their primitive reflexes are present and integrating on time.

Children: As children continue to grow and develop they increase their engagement within the world. As they grow, their infant/ primitive reflexes that are important developmental milestones, begin to integrate and become their foundation for proper movement mechanics. As these motor neural patterns develop it is important to keep the brain, nervous system and body connected. By checking and treating joint restrictions in the spine, proper motor patterns can be developed, decreasing compensation patterns and future injury.

Adults: We live in a sedentary world. It is common as we age to develop postural changes that can cause change in the function of the lungs, heart, and overall health. Not to mention repetitive strains, sprains, headaches, disc herniations, neurological deficiencies and chronic pain. This is in addition to potential sport injuries or other traumatic life events like car accidents, slips and falls. Chiropractors identify these postural compensation patterns and address any neural or muscular deficits that impact the mechanics of the joints of the body.

Older Adults: Maintaining a strong signal from our brains to our bodies is important throughout our life, however as we age we can become less flexible, more rigid and begin to lose stability. Chiropractic can help you maintain independence by keeping the brain connected to the body, therefore increasing balance and decreasing the risk of falls, in addition to managing chronic pain, promoting preventative health and wellness.