Chiropractic

chiropractic
Chiropractic is one of the largest primary care professions in Ontario.  It is a non-invasive, hands-on health care discipline that focuses on the musculoskeletal system.  Chiropractors provide diagnosis, treatment and preventive care for disorders related to the spine, pelvis, nervous system and joints, with an emphasis on treatment through manual adjustment and/or manipulation of the spine.  The primary goal of chiropractic adjustment is to treat areas of decreased movement in the joints, thereby reducing pain and increasing joint function and improve overall health.
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Dr. Vyvyen Le seeks to identify and address the cause of distress in the body, rather than treating the symptoms. Each patient’s treatment is personalized using a combination of chiropractic adjustments, mobilizations, soft tissue therapy, physical modalities and acupuncture.  After taking a complete history and diagnosing a patient, she will develop and carry out a comprehensive treatment plan, recommend therapeutic exercise and other non-invasive therapies (ie. physical modalities as that of therapeutic ultrasound, IFC and TENS), in addition to providing nutritional and lifestyle counseling if necessary.
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For many conditions, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care is frequently the primary method of treatment.  Chiropractic care may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition.
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Chiropractic care may also be used to provide symptomatic relief for patients with chronic conditions. Treating the musculoskeletal elements of such disorders, chiropractic treatment has been shown to improve the general well-being of the patient.

Reasons to seek chiropractic care:

Chiropractic Adjustments / Mobilizations

A chiropractic adjustment is a treatment done by hand on the spine and other joints in the body.  It involves moving a restricted joint using a quick, high velocity thrust.  An adjustment is often, but not always, associated with a popping sound.  Like adjustments, chiropractic mobilizations aim to improve movement or restore alignment of a joint, but using a slower, oscillating movement to the joint.
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Soft Tissue Therapy

Soft tissue therapy is the treatment and management of soft tissue injury, pain and dysfunction primarily of the neuromusculoskeletal system.  Soft tissue therapy as that of trigger point, myofascial release, and static stretching are used in conjunction to other forms of therapy to help alleviate excessively hypertonic muscles, and reduce swelling and/or inflammation.
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Physical Modalities

In combination to chiropractic adjustments and mobilizations, Dr. Le uses non-invasive physical modalities as that of Interferential Current (IFC), Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), therapeutic Ultrasound and Low-Level Laser to promote the healing process.  Such modalities are used to decrease pain, reduce inflammation and promote tissue regeneration.  All providing a safe and effective alternative to pharmacological approaches and have been used extensively to help manage pain, edema, and inflammation due to soft tissue irritation from trauma or degenerative changes.

Activator Method Technique

The Activator Method technique is a diagnostic and treatment system used to treat many types of back pain, neck pain and headaches.  The Activator Method uses a small, hand-held instrument called the Activator instrument to deliver a gentle impulse force to the spine with the goal of restoring motion to the targeted spinal vertebra or joint.  It is a gentle and effective alternative to the traditional manual form of spinal manipulation.

Functional Exercises

In order to change dysfunctional posture or movement patterns, exercises are prescribed to increase flexibility and improve overall strength.  Exercises will be specific to you lifestyle, and can include exercises to help with occupational or sport-specific needs.