Medicine Hat, AB
Chiropractic
What is Chiropractic?
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 or manipulation is a non-invasive approach to common musculoskeletal conditions such as headache, and neck and back pain.
As such, it is a low risk therapy.
Complications arising from adjustment are rare.
Chiropractors also advise patients on corrective exercises, lifestyle and nutrition.
(Canadian Chiropractic Association: www.ccachiro.org)
Chiropractic treatments are not limited solely to spinal manipulation.
Chiropractors can provide treatment for all joints and muscles of the body.
If you are uncomfortable with joint manipulation or your condition is not suitable to manipulation, mobilizations may be employed or the muscles and/or fascia may be treated with other techniques.
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.
(Canadian Chiropractic Association: www.ccachiro.org)
Chiropractic is a regulated health profession recognized by statute in all Canadian provinces and American states.
Canadian chiropractors undergo an intensive four-year, full-time course of study following [a minimum of] three years of university before qualifying to undertake national examinations and become licensed to practice.
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What to Expect?
Your first appointment is going to last approximately 60-75 minutes in which Dr. Raiwet will conduct a detailed health history as well as learn about your current concerns.
Dr. Raiwet will then conduct a physical exam which will include neurological testing, ranges of motion, appropriate orthopedic tests, and muscle and joint palpation.
In some cases, she may refer you to the public X-ray lab for x-rays.
From all of this information, a diagnosis is determined and Dr. Raiwet will explain what the findings are, what the diagnosis is, and what an appropriate plan of management is to resolve the condition.
The risks and benefits will be explained and then treatment will occur.
Most treatments consist of some soft tissue therapy, chiropractic adjustment, and exercises that can be done at home.
Clothing is generally left on during treatment, however a gown will be provided if it is necessary to disrobe.
Appointment Types:
New Patient Exam including treatment:
(approximately 75 minutes)
During your New Patient Exam, Dr. Raiwet will obtain a comprehensive history, perform a focused physical examination, and diagnose your chief complaint. he will relate to you their prescribed plan of management, including the length of future treatments needed, and treat your complaint if appropriate. If your condition cannot be improved by chiropractic care, she will refer you to the appropriate specialist.
(approximately 75 minutes)
During your New Patient Exam, Dr. Raiwet will obtain a comprehensive history, perform a focused physical examination, and diagnose your chief complaint. he will relate to you their prescribed plan of management, including the length of future treatments needed, and treat your complaint if appropriate. If your condition cannot be improved by chiropractic care, she will refer you to the appropriate specialist.
Standard Appointment:
(approximately 15 minutes)
Standard Chiropractic visits pertain to non-complicated cases requiring a simple plan of management.
(approximately 15 minutes)
Standard Chiropractic visits pertain to non-complicated cases requiring a simple plan of management.
Extended Appointment:
(approximately 30 minutes)
Extended Chiropractic visits pertain to more involved cases which either address multiple complaints or require the use of adjunct therapeutic treatments and modalities or injury rehabilitation management.
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(approximately 30 minutes)
Extended Chiropractic visits pertain to more involved cases which either address multiple complaints or require the use of adjunct therapeutic treatments and modalities or injury rehabilitation management.
What is an Adjustment?
Chiropractors are highly skilled in the hands-on art of spinal adjustment.
An adjustment involves applying a specific force in a precise direction to a joint that is troublesome (for instance, it may be locked-up or not moving properly).
The purpose of the adjustment is to help restore a more normal position or motion, decreasing pain by improving movement and function within that joint.
Using this technique, Chiropractors can treat any joint in your body... from your spine all the way out to your fingers and toes.
Treatment is always within your comfort level and often can be quite relaxing.
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Should You See a Chiropractor?
There are four main types of patients that we treat:
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- Those that have been injured and are seeking treatment to alleviate their pain.
- Those that have a chronic pain, not caused by a specific injury, which they would like to have diagnosed and "cured."
- Patients who have been successfully treated in categories number 1 and 2 above and want to continue to come in periodically to ensure their problem doesn't return.
- Totally healthy patients who don't have pain, and have never had pain, and want to have chiropractic care to ensure good spinal health and fitness and to prevent injuries from occurring.
Common Conditions
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Chiropractic Services Provide
Spinal and non-spinal joint manipulation
Joint manipulation increases the flexibility and range of motion in the joint. It breaks down scar tissue, improves blood flow, stretches muscles, and speeds healing. These benefits may result in the slowing of the natural degenerative changes which affect joints as we age.
Joint manipulation increases the flexibility and range of motion in the joint. It breaks down scar tissue, improves blood flow, stretches muscles, and speeds healing. These benefits may result in the slowing of the natural degenerative changes which affect joints as we age.
Spinal and non-spinal joint mobilization
Joint mobilization is a way to gently move the joint through a range of pain-free motion in order to improve flexibility and blood flow. A joint that has been mobilized moves more freely and with less pain.
Joint mobilization is a way to gently move the joint through a range of pain-free motion in order to improve flexibility and blood flow. A joint that has been mobilized moves more freely and with less pain.
Active Release Techniques
Involves assessing and diagnosing the complaint and applying very specific, targeted deep tissue massage combined with movement to treat problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia.
"ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.
Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements."
Involves assessing and diagnosing the complaint and applying very specific, targeted deep tissue massage combined with movement to treat problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia.
"ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.
Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements."
Graston
This technique is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. The Technique utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation. The Graston Technique® is changing the way clinicians and patients view treatment of acute and chronic soft tissue injuries.
This technique is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. The Technique utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation. The Graston Technique® is changing the way clinicians and patients view treatment of acute and chronic soft tissue injuries.
Trigenics
This treatment system is an assessment and treatment system which rapidly relieves pain and restores strength and movement. With Trigenics®, your nervous system is treated to essentially reset the way your brain communicates with your body. Patients are interactive participants in the treatment process through breathing and movement while the Trigenics practitioner applies specific light directional pressure to the area being treated. Embedded nerve-sensors are stimulated to change the way they send signals up to the brain. The brain then, in turn, changes the way in which it sends down its motor or movement signals to the body. An effect is created immediately improving joint and muscle function to significantly decrease pain and increase strength and movement.
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This treatment system is an assessment and treatment system which rapidly relieves pain and restores strength and movement. With Trigenics®, your nervous system is treated to essentially reset the way your brain communicates with your body. Patients are interactive participants in the treatment process through breathing and movement while the Trigenics practitioner applies specific light directional pressure to the area being treated. Embedded nerve-sensors are stimulated to change the way they send signals up to the brain. The brain then, in turn, changes the way in which it sends down its motor or movement signals to the body. An effect is created immediately improving joint and muscle function to significantly decrease pain and increase strength and movement.
Pain Modalities
Interferential Current
Reduces acute and chronic pain and swelling, helps to decrease muscle spasm, spasticity, and weakness, and generally improves healing and speeds healing time.
Reduces acute and chronic pain and swelling, helps to decrease muscle spasm, spasticity, and weakness, and generally improves healing and speeds healing time.
Electrical Stimulation
Reduces muscle spasm, prevents or slows muscle atrophy due to disuse, improves local blood circulation, re-educates muscles after injury, improves muscular strength, increases ranges of joint motion.
Reduces muscle spasm, prevents or slows muscle atrophy due to disuse, improves local blood circulation, re-educates muscles after injury, improves muscular strength, increases ranges of joint motion.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Pain relief, reduces muscle spasms, reduce joint contractures by producing a deep heat with micro-vibration.
Pain relief, reduces muscle spasms, reduce joint contractures by producing a deep heat with micro-vibration.
Laser Therapy
The laser therapy used at Fountain of Health Chiropractic and Massage is low level laser which is compressed light which allows the light to penetrate the surface of the skin with no heating effect, no damage to the skin, and no known side effects. The low level laser is used to stimulate tissue repair and relieve both acute and chronic pain. At Fountain of Health Chiropractic and Massage, if low level therapy is recommended for your condition, it is included within your regular chiropractic appointment. Dr. Raiwet will select the appropriate laser protocol and administer the laser therapy.
Conditions that can benefit from Laser Therapy:
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The laser therapy used at Fountain of Health Chiropractic and Massage is low level laser which is compressed light which allows the light to penetrate the surface of the skin with no heating effect, no damage to the skin, and no known side effects. The low level laser is used to stimulate tissue repair and relieve both acute and chronic pain. At Fountain of Health Chiropractic and Massage, if low level therapy is recommended for your condition, it is included within your regular chiropractic appointment. Dr. Raiwet will select the appropriate laser protocol and administer the laser therapy.
Conditions that can benefit from Laser Therapy:
- Arthritis
- Tennis and golfer's elbow and other tendinopathies
- Repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, neck and lower back pain
- Soft tissue injuries: strains and sprains