FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
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The short answer: Chiropractic is a branch of healthcare that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dysfunction of the human body.
The long answer: Chiropractic care is a natural treatment option for those looking for natural pain relief, mobility, or dysfunctional issues without the use of drugs (non-pharmaceutical) or surgery. Chiropractic care is also a preventative strategy for preemptively prohibiting dysfunction in the human body.
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The short answer: A chiropractor is a medical professional who has expertise in the evaluation, diagnosis, and natural treatment of dysfunction of the nervous system, skeletal system and musculoskeletal system.
The long answer: A chiropractor’s mandate is to treat and ultimately prevent dysfunction related to the above body systems in a conservative way. This means natural, holistic treatments without the use of drugs (non-pharmaceutical) or surgery.
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The short answer: Simply put, no.
The long answer: Medical doctors do refer their patients to chiropractors for treatment, but a direct referral from your medical doctor is not required to begin receiving benefits from chiropractic care at Axiom Chiropractic in Calgary.
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The short answer: Yes.
The long answer: A survey of 500 Canadian and 500 American orthopedic surgeons found that (82%) of surgeons believed chiropractic provided effective natural treatment for musculoskeletal complaints. The majority of these physicians (91%) indicated chiropractic to be the most popular approach relative to other such therapies. Of the physicians who reported they referred patients to complementary practitioners (81%) indicated they referred patients for chiropractic treatment. These referrals were primarily for natural back pain relief, headaches/migraines, musculoskeletal indications in general, and chronic pain relief. The two main reasons given for referral were non-response to conventional medicine and patient preference (i.e. – patient request).
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The short answer: Yes.
The long answer: The results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on chiropractic treatment have been published in more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, and many of these have been synthesized in systematic reviews and evidence-based guidelines. The most common conditions treated by chiropractors are back pain, neck pain, and headaches/migraines. The best available evidence supports manipulative therapy as a reasonable option for many of these complaints.
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The short answer: It depends.
The long answer: Depending on the extent of the problem, chiropractic care at Axiom helps practice members feel noticeably better shortly after receiving treatment. The general rule of improvement is within 4-16 weeks from starting chiropractic care. However, this is for non-complex musculoskeletal conditions. Not everyone responds to chiropractic adjustments. Results depend on your particular situation. If your symptoms/pain doesn’t begin to improve after several weeks of treatments, chiropractic care might not be the best option for you.
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The short answer: Chiropractic care at Axiom restores the natural alignment, function, and movement of the body. When the body is in its natural state, it is more adaptable to environmental, physical, chemical or emotional hazards causing dysfunction in your body.
The long answer: Clinical experience suggests that individuals with chronic conditions such as degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) or recurrent neck pain, back pain or headaches/migraines may experience less frequent and less severe symptoms/pain when under regular, preventative chiropractic care at Axiom in Calgary. Stressful life situations, repetitive physical and postural strain from daily activities can also increase tension in the joints and muscles, which chiropractic care at Axiom can help you manage and prevent symptoms/pain from reaching a high level of frequency or intensity.
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The short answer: Yes.
The long answer: Chiropractic treatment for children and adolescents is not uncommon at Axiom Chiropractic in Calgary. Open and honest discussions with families using or planning to use chiropractic care for their children will, hopefully, bring about a rational use of this natural treatment in selected musculoskeletal conditions for which there is proof of efficacy, and enable parents to make informed choices about this form of therapy.
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The short answer: Yes - There are some hospitals who integrate chiropractors within their medical teams.
The long answer: St. Michael’s Hospital’s chiropractic program, and Mount Sinai’s Rehab and Well-Being Centre feature several chiropractors as part of their team. Hospitals can help improve patient flow and reduce costs by referring musculoskeletal (MSK) patients to chiropractors for assessment when they present in hospitals and emergency departments (EDs). After assessment, chiropractors can either provide conservative care options and lifestyle modifications or recommend an appropriate health care professional or diagnostic tool. Back pain and neck pain, as well as headaches/migraines are the leading causes of disability worldwide. Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) are trained to manage these common conditions and can provide non-pharmaceutical treatment aligned with international clinical practice guidelines. Improving collaboration between medical providers and community-based DCs, or embedding DCs in medical settings such as hospitals or community health centres, will improve access to evidence-based care for musculoskeletal conditions.
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The short answer: If you live in Calgary - simply book an Initial Assessment at Axiom Chiropractic in NW Calgary either online, or over the phone.
The long answer: Set aside approximately 30 to 60 minutes for your Initial assessment. Each subsequent visit (which we call In-Flow Adjustments) may be as short as 10-15 minutes. Using the best available evidence and our clinical expertise we will then be able to assess and diagnose the root cause of the dysfunction affecting your body. Once we have made a diagnosis, we can develop a treatment plan to specifically meet your needs and preferences.
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The short answer: An adjustment is the natural treatment utilized by a chiropractor to restore normal function, alignment and movement of a joint.
The long answer: Chiropractic adjustments at Axiom are designed to help restore the normal movement of a joint, provide natural pain relief and restore or improve function of your body. There are numerous techniques that are utilized at Axiom Chiropractic in NW Calgary. These techniques vary from very gentle to vigorous and are selected for each individual practice member’s needs and comfort level.
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The short answer: Yes.
The long answer: A 2018 study published in JAMA Network Open is among the latest to weigh in on the pros and cons of chiropractic care for treating low back pain. Researchers enrolled 750 active-duty military personnel who complained of back pain. Half were randomly assigned to receive usual care (including medications, self-care, and physical therapy) while the other half received usual care plus up to 12 chiropractic treatments. After six weeks of treatment, those assigned to receive chiropractic care: reported natural pain relief, experienced less disability and more improvement in function, reported higher satisfaction with their treatment, needed less pain medicine.
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The short answer: An adjustment should never be painful.
The long answer: Chiropractic adjustments at Axiom offer little to no pain during the adjustment. This may be similar to what you might feel after a workout. You will not feel severe pain during a chiropractic adjustment at Axiom Chiropractic in NW Calgary. During an adjustment there is the application of a controlled amount of force (pressure) to your joints, which may create a popping noise as the gas leaves your joints. While this may sound painful, it doesn’t feel painful. In fact, specific chiropractic adjustments are highly regarded for their effectiveness of natural pain relief and natural headache/migraine relief.
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The short answer: Please don’t.
The long answer: Despite what you may have seen on YouTube - It is strongly recommended that you do not adjust yourself. You cannot properly control an adjustment to yourself and your relief may only be temporary. Whereas the techniques used by a chiropractor allow for longer, natural pain relief. At Axiom Chiropractic you will also be offered guidance on preventing the tension build up which can lead to muscle soreness and headaches/migraines.
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The short answer: Chiropractors treat a wide range of conditions.
The long answer: Chiropractors can provide effective natural pain relief for many conditions including: Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain, Acute and Chronic Neck Pain. Joint, Muscle and Nerve Pain. Headaches and the Prevention of Migraines. Foot Knee and Hip Pain. Hand, Arm and Shoulder Pain. Motor vehicle Accident Related Injuries. Disc Problems. Symptoms/Pain Associated with Osteoarthritis. Sports Injuries including strains and sprains.
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The short answer: A chiropractor evaluates the alignment, tension and stability of your spine, then provides effective, specific adjustments to relieve dysfunction, restore alignment and stabilize the spine.
The long answer: These problems can disturb the sensory feedback from the body to the brain, ultimately making it more difficult for the brain to help keep the body healthy. When misalignment, tension and instability are causing symptoms/pain in your body – the chiropractor will provide natural treatment usually in the form of specific adjustments to restore the body’s natural and proper alignment, relieve tension and build stability.
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There is no short answer: A subluxation is a lesion or dysfunction in a joint or motion segment in which alignment, movement integrity and/or physiological function are altered, although contact between joint surfaces remains intact. It is essentially a functional entity, which may influence biomechanical and neural integrity.
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The short answer: Unless caused by an injury, signs of subluxation may not show up right away.
The long answer: Subluxations often take time to progress to the point where they become symptomatic. You may notice pain in your back or neck, including tenderness and inflammation. You may notice certain movements are restricted or painful. You may have numbness in your limbs or difficulty bending or twisting. A subluxation can also cause burning and tingling sensations in your back. Unusual, persistent headaches/migraines can signal subluxation as well. Subluxations require a specific chiropractic adjustment to realign the vertebrae. If left untreated, these subluxations can cause muscle deterioration and nerve damage.
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The short answer: To prevent dysfunction and pain in your body from progressing (getting worse) or preventing dysfunction before discomfort occurs.
The long answer: You don’t have to be in persistent or long-term pain to receive benefits from chiropractic care at Axiom in Calgary. Many adults and kids visit Axiom Chiropractic for natural pain relief, reduce their risk of injuries or improve their flexibility, reduce headache/migraine frequency and intensity, mobility and posture so they can live their best life and maintain wellness.
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The short answer: No.
The long answer: Each practice member at Axiom Chiropractic in Calgary is provided care that is unique and customized to meet their specific conditions and needs. Treatment plans are also based on your level of pain. Numerous adjustment types and techniques depend on the practice member’s medical history, age, size, and weight. Specific adjustments performed at Axiom Chiropractic restore the normal healthy motion and position required by each segment and do not injure or weaken the muscular and ligaments structures of the spine.
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The short answer: Most likely, yes.
The long answer: Extended health care insurance/benefits provided through employers or individual coverage like Alberta Blue Cross usually covers most, if not all costs, for chiropractic treatments (to an annual maximum). It is essential to know that specifically regarding motor vehicle accidents - Your auto insurance covers you for a minimum of 10 chiropractic treatments for minor injuries under the Alberta diagnostic treatment protocols regulation. Calgary, Alberta is covered under these regulations. Chiropractic treatment for minor injuries is billed directly to your insurance company. You do not have to submit receipts for reimbursement. Make sure you tell your chiropractor that you were injured in a car accident so they will fill out the forms to have your treatment costs covered. Through a different automobile insurance program, every Albertan is entitled to $1,000 of chiropractic care coverage for motor vehicle accident injuries.
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The short answer: It’s up to you and depends on your goals of care.
The long answer: After practice members of Axiom Chiropractic in Calgary get the natural pain relief they want, many choose to continue with some type of follow up care to prevent relapse and maintain their improvements. These practice members come to their appointments feeling well. Follow up visits are used to pick up problems at the early stage before they become serious and provide natural treatment and self-relief exercises to relieve dysfunction before it occurs. As you continue to progress, the time between the follow up visits increases. Most people find their natural rhythm of visits is determined by their life stresses and how effective they are in keeping healthy. Usual wellness/maintenance care plans at Axiom Chiropractic are 1 adjustment every 2 weeks.
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The short answer: Generally speaking, no.
The long answer: Typically, you should not expect an adjustment on your first visit at Axiom Chiropractic in Calgary. It is important for us to do a full assessment before providing any treatment to you. Performing an adjustment without first thoroughly examining the spine may put you at risk of harm. For this reason, we will likely spend your first visit focused on diagnosing the specific issue you are having and conducting any needed testing.