Frequently Asked Queestions
Chiropractic today is one of the largest primary-contact health care professions in Canada with over 6,000 practicing chiropractors. Approximately four and a half million Canadians use the services of a chiropractor each year. Chiropractic is a regulated health profession recognized by statute in all Canadian provinces and American states. The benefits of chiropractic care are well recognized by other health care practitioners. In a 1995 survey, 44 per cent of Ontario and Alberta physicians indicated that they refer patients for chiropractic treatment. Chiropractors practice a drug-free, manual approach to health care that includes patient assessment, diagnosis and treatment. In particular, chiropractors assess patients for disorders related to the spine, pelvis, extremity joints and their effect on the nervous system. Chiropractic adjustment is the most common form of treatment utilized by chiropractors in clinical practice. Also, known as spinal manipulative therapy, adjustment is a non-invasive, manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed through four years of intensive chiropractic education. The primary goal is to decrease pain, improve areas of reduced movement in the joints and supporting tissues, particularly of the spine, and decrease muscle tightness or spasm through the restoration of normal mechanics and improved functioning of the spine, extremities and supporting soft tissue structures. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients typically note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment. The vast majority of patients who seek chiropractic health care do so for complaints of the musculoskeletal system, most often for conditions affecting the spine such as low back pain, neck pain and headaches, and research studies have demonstrated that chiropractic treatment is effective for these conditions. What conditions do chiropractors treat? Chiropractors are experts trained in the neuromusculoskeletal system . They diagnose and treat disorders of the spine and other body joints by adjusting the spinal column or through other corrective manipulation. Chiropractors provide conservative management of neuromusculoskeletal disorders including, but not limited to, back, neck and head pain (over 90 percent of conditions treated). They also advise patients on corrective exercises, lifestyle and nutrition. How many people see chiropractors? Public surveys are finding that the proportion of Canadians that are consulting chiropractors is rising every year. Statistics Canada data found that over 11 percent (3 million) Canadians consulted a chiropractor in 1996. The figures today are closer to 15 percent, or over 4 million Canadians annually. There are approximately 35 million office visits to chiropractors each year. Yes. Chiropractic care is safe and effective. Scientific evidence proving that the chiropractic care works is overwhelming. 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 scientific 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. What can I expect from my visit to a chiropractor? As a licensed practitioner, it is the duty of your chiropractor to do the following:
What happens during a treatment? Although chiropractors use their hands for most treatments, they also use other methods such as heat, light, specialized adjusting instruments, ultrasound, electrotherapy, personalized exercise programs, muscle-testing and balancing. Your chiropractor can also give you information and guidance on how you can stay healthy through proper nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes. Is every patient's treatment the same? The treatment a patient receives is related to the specific condition diagnosed by the chiropractor, and will vary from person to person depending on each person's unique situation. Like M.D.'s chiropractors follow generally accepted protocols and guidelines. What results can I expect from treatment? That depends on your condition. The length of time you have had the problem, your age and the degree of your disability all affect the length of your treatment. Your chiropractic doctor should tell you the extent of treatment recommended, and how long you can expect it to last. One of the main reasons people choose chiropractic is that they often get quick results. Individual cases vary and chronic conditions obviously need more treatment, but Workers' Compensation Board studies show, for example, that people with low back pain get back to work much faster with chiropractic care. You might also consider the benefits of regular chiropractic adjustments even when you feel healthy. Sometimes you won't know you have a disorder of the neuromusculoskeletal system until it becomes acute and painful. So, just as you see your dentist to have your teeth checked and your optometrist for eye exams, regular visits to your chiropractor can catch related health conditions early, often preventing them from developing into major problems. Remember, your spine is every bit as susceptible to wear and tear as your teeth and your eyes so you should look after it. Is chiropractic treatment ongoing? The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what sends patients back to the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (ie. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, preventative and/or maintenance care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. The average number of annual visits per patient is eight. How is chiropractic adjustment performed? Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during four intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractor typically uses his/her hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain, and restore or enhance joint functioning. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment. Is chiropractic manipulation a safe procedure? Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a drug-free, non-invasive approach to common musculoskeletal conditions such as headache, neck and back pain. Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted? Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble between the joints that makes a popping sound – it's exactly the same as when you "crack" your knuckles. It is not painful. It is caused by the change of pressure within the joint resulting in gas bubbles being released. Is chiropractic really scientific? Chiropractic is a healing discipline firmly grounded in science. Few other health care interventions have been assessed as extensively as chiropractic manipulation, both in terms of safety and effectiveness. There have been at least six formal government inquiries into chiropractic worldwide over the last 25 years and all have concluded that contemporary chiropractic care is safe, effective, cost-effective and have recommended public funding for chiropractic services. In addition, there have been countless scientific clinical studies assessing the appropriateness, effectiveness, and/or cost-effectiveness of spinal manipulation or chiropractic manipulation, most notably for low back pain. The Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHI) now offers research grants in partnership with the Canadian Chiropractic Association to chiropractors and other scientists for high quality, chiropractic research. What kind of education and training do chiropractors have? 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 7 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. How long do Doctors of chiropractic go to school? Your chiropractor is a primary contact provider just like your family physician, optometrist or dentist. You do not need a referral from your medical doctor to see a chiropractor. Today's graduating Doctors of Chiropractic have studied and trained in a post-secondary college or university for at least seven years. Just like medical or dental students, they must first complete undergraduate study before applying for admission to a chiropractic college. Becoming a chiropractor is a demanding and highly rewarding path that includes a minimum of 4,500 hours of intense academic study including classroom learning, clinical science and internship training. During the course of their training, he/she will have studied the following three areas:
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College Curriculum Content:
YEAR TWO:
How does a chiropractor become licensed to practice? By law, every province requires chiropractors to earn a license before they can practice. Graduating chiropractors must attain passing scores on national and provincial board exams administered by the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board (CCEB). Chiropractic is a self-governing profession which means that doctors are bound to a professional code of conduct through national and provincial chiropractic associations, such as the British Columbia Chiropractors' Association (BCCA). Is chiropractic regulated in Canada? Like medicine and dentistry, chiropractic is a self-regulating profession, and each provincial chiropractic regulatory body has the authority to grant a license to practice chiropractic. There are Chiropractic Acts in all 10 provinces and the Yukon Territory which establish a self-regulatory process which includes extensive testing for licensure. In all provinces, licensure requirements include a minimum of two years pre-professional university studies, graduation from an accredited chiropractic institution (4 or 5 years), and passing national and provincial board examinations. What if I've been injured in a car accident or on the job? It is important that you consult with your family chiropractor as soon as possible regarding treatment for your injuries. The longer you wait, the longer it can take for treatment and recovery time. Remember, no referral is necessary from your family physician, and your visit is covered by MSP. Who pays for my visit to a chiropractor? M.S.P. provides partial coverage for persons earning less than $24 thousand dollars per year. Please consult your family chiropractor for your coverage details. Fees related to X-ray examinations, insurance reports and requested letters are the patient's responsibility. Patients may receive reimbursement of the government user fee and for fees not covered by the B.C. Medical Services Plan. This information is available from your employer. Receipts are available from your chiropractic office and should be sent to your extended health benefits carrier. Consult your employer for required reimbursement forms. Workers' Compensation Board Coverage for office visits and X-rays are provided for work-related injuries. Workers are covered for wage loss benefits. No referral is required for a chiropractic visit. Injured persons should consult their doctor of chiropractic immediately upon injury. ICBC Coverage is provided for office visits and X-rays for injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents. No referral is required. ICBC may pay only part of the usual office fees. Any remaining balance is the responsibility of the patient. This portion may be recoverable upon settlement of your claim. Can chiropractic treatment cure colds, earaches and other ailments? Chiropractic care cannot "cure" these conditions, but there is some evidence to indicate that adjustment may have a beneficial effect on a variety of conditions. Adjustment may alleviate some of the secondary, or referred pain, arising from the response of the musculoskeletal structures to the primary cause. For example, research conducted in Denmark resulted in chiropractic treatment being recommended for the relief of infantile colic. Similarly, a recent U.S. study concluded that the application of manipulative techniques in children with recurring ear infections can prevent or decrease surgical intervention or antibiotic overuse. Can chiropractic treatment provide a preventative function? Clinical experience suggests that individuals with chronic conditions such as degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) or recurrent neck pain, back pain or headaches may experience less frequent and less severe symptoms when under regular chiropractic care. This also applies to individuals in highly stressful situations and those who experience repetitive physical and postural strain from their daily activities. Whether ongoing chiropractic treatment can prevent back pain from occurring in the first place, or prevent a previous condition from re-occurring, requires further study. What is the Difference Between Physicians and Chiropractors? That's like asking the difference between a physician and a dentist: they are different professions within the health care spectrum. Both chiropractors and physicians are legally entitled to use the title "doctor". As the appellation MD means "Doctor of Medicine", so DC means "Doctor of Chiropractic". The role of chiropractic is complementary to other areas of primary health care. Chiropractic is not, for example, a replacement for medical care, but may offer an alternative to medication and surgery in appropriate circumstances. Recognition by health science that many illnesses of our modern society are lifestyle based has shown us that we, as individuals, can influence our own health and well being. Many people, therefore, welcome chiropractic's emphasis on healthy lifestyle and patient responsibility, as well as its help in improving the body's functions and ability to fight off disease. Do chiropractors refer patients to medical doctors when necessary? Yes, like medical doctors, chiropractors refer patients to other health professionals when they feel it is appropriate. Chiropractors are well trained to recognize risk factors as well as individual disease patterns and will not hesitate to make a referral when it is in the best interest of the patient's health. Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from an MD? No. A patient does not have to be referred. Chiropractors are legislated as primary contact health care professionals in every province in Canada. This means that patients can consult them directly. However, chiropractors often work closely with MDs, 44 per cent of whom refer their patients to chiropractors when they believe chiropractic treatment will help alleviate a patient's condition. Similarly, chiropractors frequently refer to medical doctors when necessary. Do chiropractors take a medical history? Like M.D.'s, the chiropractor will take a detailed health history during the first visit, prior to initial treatment. This will include details on lifestyle and risk factors to give the chiropractor a full picture of the patient's health in order to determine the best treatment. As well, a detailed health history is important to rule out any contraindications and fully investigate risk factors before a diagnosis and treatment recommendation can be reached. Does chiropractic treatment require x-rays? Guidelines have been developed by the chiropractic profession with regard to the use of X-rays as a diagnostic tool. X-rays provide vital information to help determine a diagnosis but they are not required in every case. In fact, at CMCC from 1997 to 1998 fewer than 20 per cent of chiropractic patients received X-rays, and only 6 percent of patients under the age of 16 required an X-ray. X-rays can play an important role in diagnosis but are only taken when a need has been determined by a careful case history and physical examination. Chiropractors receive 360 hours of education in radiology covering a full range of topics from protection to X-ray interpretation and diagnosis. Governments in every province have recognized the training and competence of chiropractors to perform X-rays and have granted them this right. No health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects and, on rare occasions, neck adjustment has been associated with stroke and stroke-like symptoms. A Canadian study, published in 2001, concluded that stroke symptoms associated with neck adjustments are so rare that it is difficult to quantify. Similarly, a medical review published in 2002 looked at 73 studies of chiropractic care and found no serious complications reported in any of them. By way of comparison, neck adjustment is significantly safer than other common treatments for headache, neck and back pain. Is neck adjustment a forceful action? No. This has been demonstrated in studies to determine the degree of physical strain applied during adjustment. It is skill, not strength, that is needed to conduct a safe, effective adjustment. Chiropractic education in Canada is an intensive four-year program following three years of university undergraduate studies. By the time they graduate, Canadian chiropractors are among the most skilled in the world. Are all neck adjustment techniques equally safe? Canadian chiropractors are taught a variety of adjustment techniques and there is no evidence to suggest that any one technique is less safe than the others. Chiropractic techniques that are applied appropriately are effective and safe. This information was adapted from documents created by the Canadian Chiropractic Association and British Columbia Chiropractic Association as an educational source for the public and other health care Professionals. To read further please go to the CCA's FAQ and the BCCA's FAQ.
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#102-2255 Elgin Ave,
Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Tel: (604) 464-BACK (2225)