Main causes of subluxation:

The most common cause of subluxation is stress!! Three different forms of stress can cause subluxation or nerve interference.

The first and most obvious form of stress is physical stress, such as improper lifting, repetitive motion, pregnancy, birth trauma, accidents, and other traumas that occur during everyday activities.

The second form of stress is chemical stress, whether from medications, toxic foods, caffeine, or alcohol.

The third form of stress is emotional stress which causes muscular contraction leading to subluxation.

It is important during your chiropractic treatment to address these forms of stress on your body to achieve maximum results.

What is a treatment?

The goal of a chiropractic treatment is to reduce interference caused by subluxation. The chiropractor is well equipped with different tools to successfully render a very gentle treatment. Usually the doctor will use their hands to perform an adjustment. This type of specific manipulation promotes joint mobility and reduces inflammation. It also causes the brain to secrete endorphins to help reduce inflammation and breaks adhesions in the muscles spasms that surround the vertebra that is not moving well. The adjustment restores balance to the nervous system -- a balanced nervous system is a healthy body!  The chiropractor uses different techniques customized to the individual. If you have any questions regarding treatment please feel free to contact me.

What causes the popping sound?

Every joint is lubricated by synovial fluid that allows it to move freely. When a joint is not moving for a length of time, the liquid comes under pressure. The noise that occurs during the adjustment is nothing more than synovial liquid being transformed into CO2 or carbon dioxide gas – similar to the process that occurs when you open a bottle of champagne. The release of pressure makes the popping sound. It is not your bones or joints cracking!

Although the popping also occurs when the low back is adjusted, it seems louder in the neck because the ears amplify sound. Remember, however, that this is not a sign of the quality of the treatment -- joint mobility can be restored without any noticeable sound.

Chiropractic is safe and effective!

Because each treatment is based on the individual’s needs and the proper techniques are only performed after a complete examination and health history, specific chiropractic adjustments are very safe and provide immediate health benefits.

Six separate government research studies conducted in several countries have confirmed that chiropractic manipulation is one of the safest and most effective treatments.  It has been estimated that about 840 000 Quebecers use chiropractic every year. An ECHO Sondage concluded that 93% of patients found chiropractic care effective and 95% said they would recommend their chiropractor to a friend or family member.

Chiropractic is more than just treating back pain – treatment helps your body get closer to optimal health and improves quality of life. Many parents are realizing that their children are healthier and happier with chiropractic care.

3-Examination

The three-part examination consists of a chiropractic exam to evaluate your posture, and examine your spine and joints, as well as an orthopaedic examination and a neurological examination in which I will check your range of motion, reflexes, sensations and motor functions. I will then determine if X-rays will be necessary in order to treat you. We provide X-rays on-site for your convenience.

4-Report of Findings

Finally, I will give you a full report of my findings, explaining where the subluxations have occurred and their impact on your health.  After everything is reviewed we will proceed to your first treatment.

Chiropractic for kids 

Many parents do not yet realize the importance of treating their children. Children’s spines and nervous systems undergo stress too and need to be cared for just as much as adults’.

The normal birthing process puts tremendous stress on a newborn’s spine, especially at the neck. This pressure can then affect the first vertebra and cause a subluxation. If the subluxation remains uncorrected, the child will grow with these imbalances and will express symptoms later on.

Even if your child is not affected during the birthing process, he or she may acquire subluxations later on. Remember that the main cause of subluxation is physical trauma. Look at how many times a child falls on his or her bum in a single day – this is considered a physical trauma to the spine.

In their first year of life, a baby’s spine will grow 50%. During this period of rapid growth, the spine can be affected by many factors and should be checked often. Regular visits ensure that your child’s spine will grow properly.

Children usually do not express much back pain but this does not mean that the spine is free of subluxation. Often, children will show visceral symptoms such as frequent colds, ear infections, asthma, and difficulty to breastfeed, among many others. These are signs that the nervous system and the immune system are not functioning at 100%.  By having your children treated and avoiding unnecessary medication, you will be allowing your child to grow to their potential.

Every chiropractor can treat children; however, there are chiropractors who are participating in continuing education in the field of pediatrics. Look for doctors who have pediatric chiropractic qualifications to treat your family. Preventative chiropractic is just as important as a visit to the dentist – you wouldn’t wait until your child had cavities to have their teeth examined, and the same principle applies to the spine and nervous system. Prevention is key!!!

Chiropractic and pregnancy

Regular chiropractic care during pregnancy can help you achieve a decreased labour time!

During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes numerous changes. As her belly grows, the curves of the spine change to compensate for the weight out front, often creating some discomfort to the mother-to-be. By having gentle chiropractic treatment, mom will feel a lot more comfortable and may even find her pregnancy more enjoyable.

The goal of treatment during pregnancy is to ensure that the baby will be optimally positioned for birth, and that the pelvic joints are functioning and moving properly. If the baby is well positioned during gestation, congenital torticollis can be prevented and thus reduce problems associated with breastfeeding.

By adjusting during pregnancy, chiropractors are also able to help turn breech babies. Chiropractors never touch or physically manoeuvre the baby but instead, through the chiropractic adjustment, balance the mother’s pelvis and relieve torsion in the uterus. This gives the baby more room to turn on their own.  This technique is very safe and gentle and has had effective results for breech babies.

Chiropractic is an essential addition to the expectant mother’s health team, helping her to achieve a beautiful and natural birth, as well as a pleasant breastfeeding experience.