CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Did you know ... Chiropractic is the third largest primary health care profession after medicine and dentistry? Every year, more than three million Canadians receive chiropractic care from over 5000 Doctors of Chiropractic in Canada. Currently there are more then 800 licensed chiropractors in Alberta.
What is Chiropractic?
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Education
Scope of Practice
Frequently Asked Questions
Research
Useful Links
The word chiropractic comes from a combination of the Greek words
"chiro" and "praktikis", meaning "done by hand".
"Treatment by hand"
was an accepted form of therapy in ancient Greece. Hippocrates, who is
regarded as the founder of medical inquiry, made the first recorded
references to spinal manipulation. 1995 marked the 100th anniversary of
the evolution of modern chiropractic. In recognition of this milestone,
centennial celebrations were held across Canada and throughout the
world. Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of the
centennial of the profession, and to honour its Canadian Founder,
Dr. Daniel David Palmer.
Chiropractic treatment is one of the most effective methods of health
care
available. It 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. Chiropractors use various diagnostic
methods, including X-rays, to discover the state of your health, paying
particular attention to your spine and bone structures. Spinal
manipulation and other manual adjustments are their primary methods of
helping your body heal itself.
Patients often experience feelings of relief, greater mobility and a
general sense of well-being after a treatment from their Doctor of Chiropractic.
The chiropractic adjustment is thought to restore the body's powerful
ability to heal itself, so it is not surprising that many patients sleep
better and have more energy following their treatments.
Chiropractors can play a major role in preventative care, protecting against
future pain and health problems. A wealth of independent studies support
the effectiveness of chiropractic care. And most importantly, patients
express a high degree of satisfaction with the benefits. The number of
people including chiropractic as part of their total health care program
is increasing steadily.
Watch video "Benefits of Chiropractic" (7 min)
Chiropractic students undergo a rigorous course of study similar to that of other health care professionals. Students are required to complete a minimum of three years of university before they are eligible for admission to an accredited chiropractic college. In fact, over 80 per cent of students entering a program have completed a baccalaureate degree.
Alberta chiropractors must be graduates of an accredited chiropractic college and pass stringent national board examinations. The accrediting body is the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) Canada. This body establishes, maintains and updates the requirements of institutions that wish to supply graduates to the Canadian health care system. CCE also arranges for, or conducts reviews of colleges applying for accreditation.
Graduation
from an accredited institution is only part of the requirements for registration
in the Province of Alberta. Alberta chiropractors must prove their expertise
and provide evidence of good character before obtaining their license
with the College. Once licensed to practice in the province of Alberta,
practitioners must meet standards in order to maintain their licensure.
These requirements include: practice reviews, continuing education and
abiding by the regulations set out by the College of Chiropractors of
Alberta.
Chiropractors’ Scope of Practice
Spinal Adjustments/ Manipulations
Laser Therapy
Muscle Therapy
Electrical Therapy
Exercise/ Stretching Instruction
Traction
Foot Orthotics
Supportive/ Sports Taping
Health and Wellness/ Nutritional Recommendations
Q: How does chiropractic care work?
A: Chiropractic helps to remove postural imbalances and structural misalignments
that can accumulate in our bodies over time. Our spines change and develop
problems just like our teeth, eyes and heart. Left unchecked for a long
time, these changes may lead to pain, stiffness or other more serious
problems.
The nervous system is a key part of your body. It is the communication
system between your brain and all of your body's muscles, organs and tissues.
For your body to remain healthy, your nervous system must function well.
For your nervous system to function well, it must be free of interference.
The spine is the most common site of nervous interference because nerves
travel from the spinal cord through openings on either side of the spine
to get to all of your cells and organs.
Each of us is born with the ability to heal and recover from illness. Our bruises heal, cuts mend and common colds are overcome.Your nervous system regulates this inborn healing ability. Think of your brain as a central command post sending and receiving information through telephone wires (your nerves) which branch out to connect all areas of a city (your body). A short circuit in a wire cuts off communication just like misalignments in your spine can put pressure on the nerves. This pressure interferes with your nervous system, affects your ability to self-heal and may prolong injury or illness.
The customized care you receive from your chiropractor may help to improve
your posture, muscle balance and mobility. It can also restore the integrity
of your nervous system and get rid of pain quickly, so you can get back
to feeling good…today!
Q: Is chiropractic care effective?
A: Yes, chiropractic care is safe and effective.
Over the past 20 years, many controlled and independent research studies
have shown again and again that chiropractic care is safe and effective
for treating low back pain, neck pain, headaches and other conditions
relating to the spine. Based on these studies, the consensus is that chiropractic
care is the treatment of choice for most spinal problems. The extent to
which a person can benefit from care varies depending on their problem
and how long it has existed.
Q: What kind of training and education do chiropractors have?
A: Chiropractors are educated as primary contact health care practitioners,
with an emphasis on neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. Preparation
for the practice of chiropractic is concentrated on three areas: basic
training in the biological and health sciences, specialized training in
the chiropractic discipline, and extensive clinical training.
Becoming a chiropractor in Canada requires a minimum of six years of
post-secondary education including no less than 4500 hours of classroom
and clinical instruction at an institution approved by the Council on
Chiropractic Education Canada.
Q: Do many people see a chiropractor?
A: Alternative and non-medical health care is on the rise in this country
and chiropractic is by far the most popular form. According to current
research, approximately one-third of the population recognizes the benefits
of alternative health. The majority of these alternative healthcare users
choose chiropractic.
The non-surgical, drug-free healing nature of chiropractic provides benefit
to the health of millions of people worldwide each year. Most chiropractic
patients experience real relief and general well being and continue to
make regular visits a part of their healthy lifestyle choice.
Q: How often do I need to see a chiropractor?
A: Your chiropractor will discuss the need for ongoing care with you and
it will depend on your specific problem. For some people, chiropractic
treatment is like a regular physical tune-up—it helps the body deal
with the daily wear and tear of life. For others, it's simply an effective
treatment when back pain or other health issues strike. Take the time
to discuss with your chiropractor the level of care that's best for you.
Q: What about the safety of chiropractic?
Chiropractic spinal adjustments are extremely safe when
performed by chiropractors.
Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest, drug-free, non-invasive therapies available. It has an excellent safety record. However, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. Even common over-the-counter medicines carry a risk. Fortunately, adverse effects associated with spinal adjustment are typically minor and short-lived.
According to a 1993 Ontario Ministry of Health commissioned study,
"There is no clinical or case-control study that demonstrates or even implies that chiropractic spinal manipulation is unsafe in the treatment of low-back pain. Some medical treatments are equally safe, but others are unsafe and generate iatrogenic (doctor-induced) complications for low-back pain patients. Our reading of the literature suggests that chiropractic manipulation is safer than medical management of low-back pain ."
Lead investigator of the study, Pran Manga, Ph.D., however, did warn that spinal adjustments performed by health care professionals other than qualified doctors of chiropractic were potentially harmful and less effective:
"Indeed, several existing medical therapies of low-back pain are generally contraindicated on the basis of the existing clinical trials. There is also some evidence in the literature to suggest that spinal manipulations are less safe and less effective when performed by no chiropractic professionals ."
On December 8, 1994, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) of the US Department of Health and Human Services released clinical practice guidelines for the management of acute low back pain. Their guidelines were developed after extensive study of the diagnostic and treatment methods used for acute low back pain. Their findings included:
• The risk of serious complications from lumbar spinal manipulation is
rare ;
• Conservative treatment such as spinal manipulation should be pursued
in most cases before considering surgical intervention;
• Prescription drugs such as oral steroids, antidepressant medications
and colchicine are not recommended for acute low back problems.
Acute Low Back Problems in Adults. Clinical Practice Guidelines. Bigos S, et al. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Publication No. 950642 (1994) - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
For more information related to chiropractic and the safety of treatment, please click on the links below.
- Alberta Chiropractic - Treatment you can trust (two pages)
- Alberta Chiropractic - Treatment you can trust (one page)
- Chiropractic Treatment and Patient Safety
- Safe Effective Health Care: Answering your Questions about neck adjustments
Research
Scrutiny of the health care profession is much greater today than ever
before. Government ministries and independent researchers conduct scientific
trials, track clinical results and survey patients to assess effectiveness
and safety of treatment as well as cost efficiency.
Chiropractic has been one of the most rigorously assessed health care
fields. In addition to many scientific trials, there have been at least
six formal government inquiries into chiropractic worldwide over the past
25 years. The value of chiropractic care continues to prove itself through
these tests with high marks for effectiveness, safety and cost efficiency
and extremely high patient satisfaction ratings.
Doctors of Chiropractic serve over three million patients each year in
Canada. More and more people are referring their friends and family members
to chiropractors. And government regulators are becoming more aware of
the importance of this health field, especially in treatment of such conditions
as lower back pain.
The following research papers are listed on the College of Chiropractors
of Alberta website. Report information can be downloaded by clicking on
the associated links.
National Back Pain Survey (2003)
The Survey of Back Pain In Canada was conducted for the Canadian Chiropractic
Association by Environics Research Group in April 2003. The national survey
of 1,500 adult Canadians aged 18+ included 1,062 Canadian adults who have
experienced back pain in the past 24 months and is representative of the
age, sex and regional distribution of the Canadian population. The survey
is accurate +/- 2.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
Full
Report (pdf)
Spokes of Chiropractic Progress (2003)
Why do 26 million Americans go to doctors of chiropractic each year? While some in the medical community can't answer that question—or don't care to know the answer—the facts are there: about 50 percent of working-age people have back pain each year, and back symptoms are the most common cause of disability for people under the age of 45. The result is billions of dollars in lost productivity. Surgery and drugs only add to those costs, as well as the duration of disability, but chiropractic can reduce costs and increase productivity by helping people get back to work sooner.
View the "Spokes of Chiropractic progress" chart.
Utilization, Cost, and Effects Care on Medicare Program Costs
(2001)
This study examines the utilization, cost, and effects of Chiropractic services on Medicare program costs. In the course of this investigation, service utilization and program payments for Medicare beneficiaries who were treated by Doctors of Chiropractic are compared with similar data for beneficiaries treated by other provider types.
The results strongly suggest that Chiropractic care significantly reduces
per beneficiary costs to the Medicare program. The results also suggest
that Chiropractic services could play a role in reducing costs of Medicare
reform and/or a new prescription drug benefit.
For
the full report click here.
RAND Study (2001)
Changing Views of Chiropractic . . .
and a National Reappraisal of Nontraditional Health Care
For half a century, the American Medical Association waged war against
chiropractic, an intervention that relies on spinal adjustments to treat
health problems. Chiropractors were regarded as the modern-day equivalent
of snake-oil salesmen.
Today, chiropractors are the third largest group of health care providers,
after physicians and dentists, who treat patients directly. AMA policy
now states that it is ethical for physicians not only to associate professionally
with chiropractors but also to refer patients to them for diagnostic or
therapeutic services.
For
more information on this study, click here.
Manga Report (1998)
This is a special report written for the OCA in its continuing dialogue
with the Ministry of Health of Ontario which, like all provinces in Canada,
is considering major health care reform. The principal conclusion of the
report is that greater OHIP coverage of chiropractic services is part
of the solution to a set of three interrelated problems:
(a) high health care costs for neuromusculoskeletal conditions and injuries
(b) inadequate and inequitable access to such services
(c) poor or worrisome health outcomes of medically managed neuromusculoskeletal
diseases, illnesses or injuries.
Greater chiropractic coverage under public health insurance plans can
improve health outcomes, significantly reduce health care costs, and improve
accessibility to needed health services on the
part of several socio-economic groups who under the current OHIP coverage
do not have adequate access to care.
For a full downloaded version of the report, click here.
Manga Report (1993)
In 1993, the Ontario Ministry of Health funded a Canadian research project
to study if chiropractic could help lower the costs of work-related injuries
or improve the rehabilitation of disabled or injured workers.
This study specifically explored the effectiveness of chiropractic management of low back pain. Based on a historical review of the most significant clinical studies, the panel of researchers concluded that the approaches employed by chiropractic are the most effective forms of treatment. In fact, they found that much of the treatment not practiced by chiropractors had questionable value.
"Very Persuasive Evidence"
Besides revealing that chiropractic patients were able to return to work more quickly than those who received traditional treatment, chiropractic patients reported a high level of satisfaction with their care.
One of the most persuasive findings was the issue of safety. The study
concluded that chiropractic care is safer than medical management of low
back pain.
Click to here for more details on this report.
HQCA Survey 2006
Chiropractic care is identified among the highest scoring services in
Alberta.
According to the 2006 Health Quality Council of Alberta Survey, chiropractic
received a 90% overall satisfaction rate with over 67% of respondents
indicating extreme satisfaction.
Respondents also indicated an overwhelming 95% satisfaction rating with
regards to ease of access to chiropractic care.
To read the full report, please visit www.hqca.ca.
The following is a partial listing of other online chiropractic resources. These resources are created and maintained by a variety of organizations. Soft Health and Healing Clinic assumes no responsibility for the content of their websites. The listing of a site does not imply endorsement on the part of Soft Health and Healing Clinic.
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