For anyone who has ever had sciatica, you know how excruciatingly painful it can be. If you’ve ever wondered what is causing the pain, what can be done to fix it, and what you can do at home to help, then this article will help you to better understand what sciatica is and how to treat it safely and effectively without surgery.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a problem that affects the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the human body. The sciatic nerve begins in the lower back and sacral area, specifically from the nerve roots from vertebral levels L4-S3. The nerve then travels from the lower back, through the buttocks down the back of both legs and eventually into the feet.

Sciatica is a condition that typically causes pain in the lower back and down into the legs, sometimes travelling as far down as the feet. It’s typically caused by some type of pressure on the sciatic nerve, often because of inflammation or swelling, which may lead to sensations of numbness, tingling or pain into the lower back or down into the legs.

Sciatica has become increasingly common over time, and is estimated to affect as many as 40 percent of people during the course of their lifetime, becoming increasingly common as people age.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica is most often caused by compression of the sciatic nerve as it exits from the spinal cord. This compression can take place locally at the spine, or may occur further down as the nerve passes down the buttocks and legs.

One of the most common causes of sciatica is from a bulging disc, herniated disc or slipped disc pressing on the sciatic nerve in one of three ways:

1. Direct pressure from a protruding spinal disk
2. Compression from inflammation
3. Compression from swelling

Sciatica may also occur from advanced arthritis or degeneration in the lumbar spine (degenerative disc disease), and from other conditions like a spondylolisthesis (slippage of one of the lumbar vertebra). In addition, misalignment of the lower lumbar spine or sacrum can result in decreased motion and localized inflammation, resulting in localized muscle spasm. Such misalignment may contribute to sciatica.

Muscular hypertonicity, such as piriformis syndrome in the gluteal area, may also contribute to sciatica, when there is direct muscular compression on the sciatic nerve caused by spasm of the piriformis muscle.

Other cases of acute trauma or injury, fracture, tumours or infection may also be responsible for sciatica, although these are far less common.

With severe spinal arthritis in the lumbar spine, lumbar spinal stenosis may also cause sciatica.

Many of these causes of sciatica are caused by excessive physical lifting or repetitive and overuse injuries involving the lower back, over many years. These flexion or forward bending type actions increase the likelihood of lumbar disc injuries and arthritis, leading to inflammation and an increased probability of compression of the sciatic nerve.

To fully understand what the underlying cause is, following a thorough history and physical examination, it is often recommended to have additional diagnostic testing done, in the form of x-rays, CAT scans, or MRIs.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Sciatica symptoms vary significantly between patients, but often involves sharp or shooting severe pain in the lower back or leg area. This pain may be more localized in the gluteal or hip area, but as the sciatica worsens will often travel more distally down the leg, towards the knee, and even beyond to the feet.

Symptoms of sciatica may also be experienced as a tingling sensation, pins and needles, numbness or even a weakness in the legs or feet.

The pain or other symptoms may often be aggravated with prolonged sitting, with bending forwards to pick up items, with heavy lifting, or when twisting in bed a night. This may make sleeping very difficult, getting out of bed very painful, and may limit the ability to walk long distances.

In some rare cases, these symptoms may also be associated with problems like bladder control or bowel movements. If you experience any of these symptoms, sometimes also combined with altered sensation on the inner portions of your thighs, this may be a rare but serious condition considered a medical emergency termed Cauda Equina Syndrome. If you are experiencing these symptoms, please go to your local Emergency Department immediately, as there may be direct and serious compression on your spinal cord.

Treatments for sciatica?

Treatment options for sciatica vary significantly depending on the underlying cause and on the level of severity of symptoms.

Bed Rest

While in the past bed rest and inactivity were recommended, current research shows that for the vast majority of patients, staying upright and active provides more relief and better long-term patient outcomes. Bed rest may feel good initially, but prolonged inactivity has been shown to worsen the condition and slow down recovery, as well as resulting in muscle weakness over time.

Walking and Activity

Ideally, sciatica patients are encouraged to stay upright in the morning after waking from bed and to try to walk and move as much as possible. Walking has been shown to be one of the most effective forms of movement for sciatica patients. Minimizing forward bending and prolonged sitting has also been shown to help recovery and prevent flare ups.

Anti-inflammatory medications

Sciatica treatment may also include medication such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) which may be helpful in the early stages of sciatica to reduce pain. Although not curative in nature, they may provide some temporary relief. 

Alternative Treatments

Other alternative treatments like massage therapy, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment and traction have all been shown to have benefit with sciatica patients, depending on the specific cause of sciatica.

Surgery

For more severe cases, doctors and orthopaedic surgeons may recommend surgery to remove the cause of inflammation or blockage of the sciatic nerve, although any surgical intervention comes with significantly higher risk of potential complications. 

Tips to help treat Sciatica naturally at home

1. The first step in self care is to avoid the cause of your sciatica pain. You should avoid aggravating factors that may be responsible for your sciatica pain such as sitting or standing for long periods of time, or excessive forward bending, which can worsen sciatica pain. Avoid prolonged sitting on anything that is soft that may compress the low back, and minimize any hunched or slouched posture.
2. Staying upright and moving around, ideally walking, will help with sciatica pain relief. Movement in your lower back is important to minimize the strain on the intervertebral discs and nerves in your low back. Movement is important, so you should only lay down if walking or standing is too painful, or you are becoming tired. Laying down is preferable to sitting.
3. If you have to lay down, the best option is on your back with a small pillow under your knees, to help keep your hamstrings relaxed. Alternatively, you can lay on your side with a pillow between your knees.
4. It is important to avoid or minimize how much sitting you do in the first hour of the morning, particularly after getting out of bed. It is important to stay upright and moving for the first 30-60 minutes in the morning, to minimize the pressure on the lumbar discs for pain relief. There is more pressure in your lumbar discs at first when you get out of bed, so this is the time of the day you must be most careful with sciatica.

Hot or Cold Treatment for Sciatica?

The most current research shows that cold treatment or ice treatment is likely most effective in the initial stages of acute sciatica, the first 24-48 hours, after the onset of sciatic pain. Beyond this initial symptomatic stage, research shows that the vast majority of sciatica patients benefit more from heat therapy application for pain relief, particularly if the sciatic nerve pain is beyond 48-72 hours in duration.

For most people, applying the heat over the lower back and gluteal/pelvic area seems to be most effective, and will help to release some of the muscle tension in the area, which may be part of the cause of the pain.

Can a chiropractor help sciatica?

There is strong research evidence for chiropractic care to help sciatica pain relief, with more limited evidence for other conservative treatments like massage therapy and acupuncture. Chiropractors use spinal manipulation and gentle mobilization exercises to treat the nerve roots that are pinched or damaged by inflammation or swelling, or by a herniated disc in the lower back. 

Chiropractic treatments are designed to restore proper mobility and movement into the irritated areas of the spine, most often the lower lumbar spine. By restoring movement, which is critical for all sciatica sufferers, this helps to decrease inflammation and swelling, and helps to restore proper muscle function in the area.

At our chiropractic clinic in Toronto, Transform Chiropractic, we also focus on restoring proper posture to minimize any flexed hunched posture, which will help to take tension off of the sciatic nerve roots, helping to decrease pain. Research also shows that restoring proper joint movement helps to block some of the local inflammatory pain signals, helping with recovery.

Furthermore, our chiropractic doctors recommend certain exercises or stretches for sciatic nerve pain that help to alleviate some of the pain, accelerate recovery, and potentially prevent relapses in the future. For more information on our chiropractic sciatica treatment, please visit our sciatica treatment page at https://transformchiropractic.com/sciatica-toronto/.

Sciatica Exercises and Stretches

As with any injury, the goal is not “no pain, no gain” but initially to manage pain. Start out gently, and do not push the exercise if there is increased pain. Sciatica stretches and exercises are a critical part of self-care treatment. 

Sciatic Nerve Flossing: 

Developed by Dr. Stuart McGill, this exercise is designed to floss the sciatic pinched nerve, to help to remove any restrictions to its passage in the spinal canal or foramen, and to minimize any associated inflammation or tension on the nerve root.

Piriformis Muscle Stretch:

The Piriformis stretch is intended to take pressure off of the sciatic nerve. The piriformis muscle crosses the sciatic nerve, and if it becomes chronically shortened and inflamed, it can compress and irritate the nerve. By stretching and taking tension off the muscle, it is intended to release tension from the sciatic nerve, at one of its most likely impingement points.

FAQ

What makes sciatica flare up?

Sciatica generally flares up when the activity directly irritates the inflamed tissues surrounding the sciatic nerve. In the majority of cases, prolonged sitting or in particular forward bending tend to cause sciatica flare ups. This will depend on the underlying cause of sciatica, but with disc bulges or a herniated disk being common causes of sciatica, both sitting and forward bending aggravate lumbar discs, and would contribute to flare ups. Try to avoid prolonged sitting, and avoid excessive forward bending, particularly early in the morning.

How do you know when sciatica is getting better?

Sciatica is generally recognized to be improving when there is less pain, but particularly when there is less pain down the legs or into the feet. This term is called centralization, meaning that if the leg or foot pain is gradually disappearing, this indicates that there is less irritation of the sciatic nerve. There may still be back pain, and in some cases the back pain may slightly worsen, but if the leg pain is slowly improving, or moving from lower in the leg to higher up the leg, back towards the lower back, this is a sign of healing and improvement of sciatica.

How long does it take for sciatic nerve pain to go away?

The duration of sciatica will vary significantly, based on the underlying cause of sciatica. If the sciatica is caused by muscle tension or piriformis syndrome, is will tend to improve much faster than a more complicated cause, such as a herniated disc, disc bulge, or spinal stenosis. 

In general, for the majority of people, sciatic pain may last for about four to six weeks, and then gradually improve over time. However, in some cases of more complicated origin, sciatic nerve pain may last for month, particularly if the underlying cause is being continually re-aggravated. 

If you have any further questions about sciatic nerve pain, or if we can help, please don’t hesitate to contact our Toronto chiropractic clinic at www.transformchiropractic.com, or at 416-604-4184.

Dr. Byron Mackay

Prenatal chiropractors have had specialized training in techniques most appropriate for pregnant women: specific gentle adjustments to restore proper spinal and pelvic motion and alignment, muscle techniques, and specific stretches and exercises to assist with pregnancy and in preparation for delivery. They also focus on helping pregnant women strengthen their pelvis, back and abdominal muscles to help with labor and delivery.

Pregnancy chiropractors are often certified by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), like our chiropractors at Transform Chiropractic clinic in Toronto, and work with pregnant women in a safe, gentle way to provide relief from back pain and other pregnancy related issues. Pregnancy chiropractors work primarily on spine alignment and function as well as other joints of the body that could be contributing to discomfort during pregnancy.

Many prenatal chiropractors use techniques specifically developed for pregnant women to help with pelvic pain and in utero constraint. The Webster Technique helps ensure your baby has enough room to move around in-utero and may also help in allowing your baby to get positioned into head-down positions in late pregnancy, allowing for optimal baby positioning. Pregnancy chiropractors do not turn breech babies, but rather assist the body to position the baby naturally.

Is it safe to go to a chiropractor during pregnancy?

Before seeing any chiropractor, it is important to ensure that your chiropractor is licensed by their governing body. Additionally, it is worthwhile to enquire whether they have additional training specifically in treating pregnant women, and how much experience they have in this area. They should also have the necessary equipment for pregnancy care, in addition to the standard chiropractic equipment.

In order to ensure that pregnant patients are as comfortable as possible during each session, particularly during the third trimester, it’s important to find an experienced prenatal chiropractic doctor who has specialized equipment like drop tables for pregnant women, as well as pregnancy pillows for the growing abdomen. This helps to make the pregnancy chiropractic adjustment as comfortable as possible.

In general, pregnant patients should minimize how long they lie on their back during the third trimester, but the use of pregnancy pillows and specialized tables make chiropractic treatments safe and effective well into the third trimester.
Overall, prenatal chiropractic care is a safe and effective option for pregnant mothers. The therapy can help relieve pregnancy-related discomfort, improve posture, reduce low back pain, help with both the pregnancy and delivery, and help to prevent future injuries post-natal.

For more information on our pregnancy chiropractic care at our Toronto chiropractic clinic, please visit our prenatal chiropractic webpage.

Pregnancy Chiropractic Techniques

Prenatal chiropractors use a number of techniques when treating pregnant women. In our chiropractic clinic we use primarily hands on adjusting of the spine, pelvis and other joints, but will also employ instrument adjusting (activator) and other muscle techniques where needed. 

Pregnancy chiropractors are trained not to exert pressure on the women’s abdomen, and to use specialized techniques to minimize pressure on the sacrum and pelvis.  The use of specialized pregnancy chiropractic tables and pillows help make chiropractic spinal manipulation especially gentle for moms to be.

Many practitioners will adjust their techniques accordingly with pregnant patients and focus more on pelvic region health with regard to reducing stress on ligaments and overall uterine health. The Webster Technique is a gentle technique and is a common pregnancy technique used to help with pelvic pain, pelvic alignment and to minimize in-utero constraint for the baby. 

Your pregnancy chiropractor may also suggest specific stretches and exercises to help with your chiropractic care, and to prepare your low back, abdominal muscles and pelvis for labour and delivery.

When to Go to a Chiropractor During Pregnancy

Ideally, the best time to start chiropractic care during pregnancy is as early as possible, before there are significant postural changes to your spinal column and pelvic stress. Many women will in fact begin prenatal chiropractic visits before they are pregnant, to better prepare their body for all the changes to come.

The earlier during the pregnancy a woman goes to a chiropractor, the more likely she will be able to avoid problems like lower back pain.

Some general guidelines for when it would be appropriate for a woman to see a chiropractor include if she experiences pain during the pregnancy; low back pain that does not improve with rest; pelvic problems such as sciatica, back pain, and pelvic girdle pain; or if she has a joint injury that is not healing properly.

The chiropractor can help the pregnant woman’s body recover from the various changes that occur during pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester as the abdomen continues to grow. Regular manipulation of muscles and joints is highly beneficial for a pregnant woman, as it not only helps with back pain, neck pain, sciatica and headaches, but also helps to protect her overall health and well-being, and that of the baby.

Benefits of Seeing a Chiropractor while Pregnant

Prenatal chiropractic care is a safe and effective option for pregnant mothers. Because of the focus of pregnancy chiropractic on the muscular system, spine, and joints, it is particularly helpful for women during this time. It not only helps to maintain balance in the body, but this type of care can be especially helpful for certain pregnancy symptoms like back pain or sciatica.

Many doctors are now recommending alternative medicine and treatments and recommend that patients seek out prenatal chiropractors who can help them with the following:

• Help relieve back pain and other symptoms associated with pregnancy
• Improve pelvic alignment and balance to aid with fetal positioning in-utero
• Improve pelvic mobility and alignment to assist with the delivery process

Pregnancy chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to manage pelvic balance, improve posture, and to relieve pain associated from pregnancy in the back, hips, and joints. It may also help pregnant women avoid problems that may cause long-term health issues for both them and their baby.

In general, chiropractic manipulation is an effective form of manual therapy that can help prevent future injuries from poor alignment of the pelvis and may help mothers experience a more comfortable and relaxed labor and delivery process that is also safer for the baby. Many pregnant women experience these benefits by seeing a pregnancy-friendly chiropractor during their prenatal care visits.

How Often Should I Go to the Chiropractor During Pregnancy?

During pregnancy, a woman’s body changes in order to accommodate the growing fetus. This includes movement and increased stress on the bones and joints, which may lead to pain or other discomfort during pregnancy. Your chiropractor will work with you on an individual basis as well as your doctor to determine how often you should schedule visits for treatment and care throughout your pregnancy.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, many women will see a chiropractor once a month in their first trimester and then again about every other week during the second and third trimesters. As they approach week 36, towards the last month of pregnancy, many may need more frequent visits depending on how their pregnancy progresses and their level of symptoms.

After delivery, it’s not unusual for women to see their chiropractors weekly or biweekly in the beginning to help with recovery from the pregnancy and delivery, and in order to maintain good posture and prevent future problems related with pelvic instability from the pregnancy. Some women elect to have their newborn checked at this time also by their pediatric chiropractor, particularly if the labor was difficult or complicated.

Pregnancy and Sciatica

Pregnancy and sciatica are unfortunately often linked, with sciatica often caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve that runs from the lower back to the buttocks area and down the leg.

Sciatica is a common condition during pregnancy due to pelvic imbalance and the increased stress on the lower back. As the abdomen grows, it often results in severe lower back pain, hip pain, pelvic discomfort and even difficulty sitting and walking.

If you are experiencing sciatic nerve pain, your chiropractor will perform a chiropractic evaluation and work with you to develop a course of action based on the symptoms and severity of your condition. Chiropractic treatment is an effective way to relieve sciatic pain for any pregnant patient, and is a great alternative when you’re unable to take medications during your pregnancy.

Chiropractic treatment for sciatica will involve an assessment to determine the underlying problem, and most often gentle chiropractic adjustments to restore the proper balance and movement in your lower back and pelvis. 

Very often, the prenatal chiropractor will also recommend other forms of physical therapy and sciatica stretches and sciatica exercises to help with pain relief, and to strengthen and stabilize your pelvis safely.

If you have any other questions about chiropractic care while pregnant, don’t hesitate to reach us through our website at www.transformchiropractic.com, or at 416-604-4184. Wishing you all the best,

Dr. Byron Mackay

There are many types of chiropractors and chiropractic specialties, but the one commonality among all of them is the primary use of the chiropractic adjustment or spinal manipulation in patient treatment and care.

What is a chiropractic adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is a spinal manipulation or joint manipulation administered by a chiropractor (spinal specialist) to realign or restore proper joint motion in the body, most commonly in the spine.

Classically done by hand, although sometimes also with a small instrument called an activator, a high velocity low amplitude controlled force or thrust is applied to the misaligned or stuck vertebra to improve spinal motion, joint alignment, and to decrease nerve irritation and associated pain.

Techniques of joint manipulation have evolved over time to include not only adjustments in the neck, back, or spine of the patient, but to also include misaligned extremity joints as well.

What is a Spinal Misalignment and what causes it?

A spinal misalignment is a condition in which one or more vertebrae are out of place. This may be the result of an injury, chronic tension, or other issue.

Spinal misalignment can be caused by a number of factors, including: injury such as from a car accident or fall; muscle contractions from chronic tension that pull your joints out of alignment; poor posture (either while awake or while sleeping); and repetitive motions.

When the spine is misaligned or stuck, this can create inflammation and irritate spinal nerves, causing pain and other problems. Chiropractic adjustments or spinal manipulation are a chiropractic treatment used to correct spinal misalignments.

How do chiropractic adjustments work?

A chiropractic adjustment works by a chiropractor applying a high velocity, low amplitude thrust to a stuck or misaligned spinal joint or vertebra, sometimes referred to as a vertebral subluxation.

This restores spinal motion and function to the restricted joint, decreasing localized inflammation and nerve irritation, decreasing pain and associated local muscle spasm.

The adjustment or spinal manipulation is often accompanied by a popping sound, termed a joint cavitation, which is caused by a pressure change in the joint capsule and the release of nitrogen gas.

This release of joint pressure with the adjustment will often also be accompanied by an immediate feeling of pain relief and an immediate improvement in the spinal movement and overall mobility in the area of the adjustment.

There are a number of different approaches or techniques of adjustments. Some of the most common chiropractic adjustment techniques are Gonstead, Diversified, Thompson, Activator and Chiropractic Biophysics.

In our Toronto chiropractic clinic Transform Chiropractic, we utilize all of these techniques, depending on the specific needs of the patient.

Almost all adjustments have the goal to correct spinal and vertebral misalignment and to restore movement. Because each individual patient is unique, each chiropractor adjustment will be customized to the particular patient.

Chiropractic manipulation has been demonstrated to decrease pain, decrease inflammation, restore joint biomechanics, and to decrease localized muscle spasm. When combined with other chiropractic treatments, it has also been shown to improve overall global spinal movement and improve posture.

How do chiropractors know where to adjust?

Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to determine where to adjust a patient’s spine. This includes, but is not limited to, taking a patient’s medical history, discussing their symptoms, and examining the patient.

They may also use diagnostic tests such as palpation, posture analysis, range of motion, leg length measurement and analysis, gait, and advanced imaging tests like x-rays and MRIs to help them better understand the condition of the spine and identify any areas that may need adjusting.

A chiropractor will use palpation to test for any stiff or misaligned trouble spots. By applying gentle pressure along the spine, the chiropractor can look for restricted or misaligned vertebra.

This information is used to create a treatment plan that will help to restore normal motion and realign the spine to decrease pain and improve the patient’s health over time.

How does a chiropractor perform a chiropractic adjustment?

Originally done exclusively by hand, although sometimes more recently with a small instrument called an activator, a chiropractic adjustment is classically a high velocity low amplitude controlled force or thrust to a misaligned or stuck vertebra (often termed a vertebral subluxation).

This spinal manipulation thrust is designed to improve spinal motion, joint alignment, and to decrease nerve irritation, inflammation and associated pain.

The chiropractor applies a quick, short force to the joint, which will then release the muscle tension and allow the joint to go back into its proper place. The chiropractor is able to do this by understanding how each of your muscles attach to certain bones and joints.

Chiropractors are able to adjust the spine without producing a sound and still provide significant therapeutic benefits. The audible pop that is sometimes heard during an adjustment (termed a joint cavitation) is not necessary for the chiropractic manipulation to be effective.

Many people report feeling better after just one adjustment, regardless of whether or not there was an audible pop.

There are numerous chiropractic adjusting approaches or techniques, although most will have a similar outcome or goal. To restore movement in stuck spinal joints (or in some cases extremity joints), restore proper alignment, allowing the spine and nervous system to function better, resulting in less pain and improved health for the chiropractic patient.

Do chiropractors actually adjust anything?

Yes, chiropractors do adjust spinal joints (and in some cases extremity joints in other areas of the body). The term “adjust” is defined as “to alter or move something slightly in order to achieve the desired result”.

Chiropractic adjustments have been demonstrated on both x-ray and fluoroscopy (a medical procedure that shows real-time movement in the body) to achieve specific movement in restricted spinal joints with a thrust to the misaligned vertebra, as per the definition of “adjust”.

How do I keep my chiropractic adjustment in place?

After you begin chiropractic care and starting receiving chiropractic adjustments, your body at first may not be used to it’s new aligned posture and movement patterns. Some of your postural habits and muscle adaptation has likely been present for years, and it will take time to form new postural and movement habits.

During this early stage of chiropractic treatment, while your body is in a transitional stage, your spinal muscles and nervous system are not used to this new posture, and may start to slowly pull and return the misalignment vertebrae back into their old position.

To help your chiropractic adjustment to stay in place and “hold” better, we recommend patients walk after every chiropractic adjustment for five to ten minutes, in order to reinforce some of the new movement patterns.

At our chiropractic clinic in Toronto, we also provide specific stabilization exercises to patients, to help strengthen their spine, which will help to keep their adjustments in place for longer. Addressing chronic postural problems is critical for this. If poor posture is left unaddressed, this will pull the adjustments out of place faster.

As per the Chiropractic Biophysics technique, we also provide specific corrective postural exercises and stretches, along with spinal traction devices (Denneroll spinal orthotic), customized to the x-ray results of the patient.

These take home exercises and traction devices help to change the patient’s soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments) over time, allowing for the structural changes from the chiropractic adjustments to stay in place for longer, and for the patient to achieve better and more long lasting symptomatic improvements.

How do chiropractors adjust themselves?

Chiropractors are not able to adjust themselves. In order to have their spine properly assessed and adjusted, they would need a proper chiropractic examination (posture analysis, leg length/gait analysis, palpation, range of motion, special imaging) and another chiropractor to perform the chiropractic adjustment.

Who can benefit from a chiropractic adjustment?

Chiropractic adjustments have been shown in multiple research studies to be beneficial for patients experiencing a number of conditions: lower back pain, neck pain, sciatica, arthritis, disc herniations, chronic pain, bad posture and headaches.

Chiropractic treatment can benefit a wide number of patients as the adjustment has been shown to decrease pain, increase movement and flexibility, decrease inflammation, minimize joint and muscle injuries and improve posture.

Is spinal manipulation and chiropractic care an effective form of treatment for back pain, neck pain and joint pain?

Spinal manipulation and chiropractic care are considered effective forms of treatment for low back pain, neck pain, joint pain and overall musculoskeletal pain. Chiropractors use spinal manipulation or a specific adjusting technique to restore proper spinal alignment to relieve pressure on a given nerve or soft tissue, help to restore normal movement, provide pain relief and improve overall function.

If you have any questions, or we can help in any other way, please feel free to contact us at our Toronto chiropractor clinic.  

Dr. Byron Mackay

This article will give you a breakdown of what to expect when it comes to cost for chiropractic treatments as well as how pricing for a chiropractor may vary in Toronto. It’ll also explore some of the factors that affect the price, such as treatment approach, location, and insurance coverage and extended health benefits.

How much does a chiropractic visit cost?

The cost of treatment for chiropractor services is often significantly less than what you might think.

For example, according to the Ontario Chiropractic Association, the average cost for an initial visit (consultation and initial assessment) in a chiropractic office in Toronto may range from $75 – $150, and for subsequent visits or adjustments it’s approximately $40 – 80 per session.

This first consultation price will vary somewhat depending on the location, but most chiropractors in Toronto charge $75-150 dollars in order to provide a thorough examination of any health concerns, with some variation based on any specialized tests needed, such as spinal x-rays or MRIs.

The prices for chiropractors will vary somewhat based on location, with downtown Toronto chiropractors generally costing slightly more than chiropractors in the suburbs or country.

The chiropractic pricing in our downtown Toronto chiropractic clinic, Transform Chiropractic, is $75 for a full examination and assessment of a new patient. This initial examination generally requires 45-60 minutes. Depending on the patient, if x-rays are necessary, we have digital x-ray facilities in our Toronto chiropractic office.

As you can see, chiropractic visits are amongst the most affordable treatment options for neck pain, back pain, sciatica and overall pain relief.

In some offices, additional therapies or treatment modalities may be recommended in a thorough treatment plan, such as ultrasound, tens, laser therapy, or spinal decompression, and may have add-on costs to a regular visit.

Is chiropractic covered by insurance?

In most instances, chiropractic is covered by insurance or by extended health care plans. Health care coverage will vary based on the insurance plan, with the examination and treatment or adjustments most often covered. Additional services like x-rays, physical therapy or additional modalities may not be covered. To find out which chiropractic treatment may be covered under your health insurance, it is best to follow up with your specific insurance provider.

Chiropractic insurance coverage is meant to remove the burden of neck pain and lower back pain from the medical system, reduce the need for opioid use, and minimize the need for costly and invasive spinal surgeries. Routine chiropractic care has been shown repeatedly to provide great results for patients.

Is chiropractic covered by OHIP?

In the past, chiropractic was covered by OHIP. Unfortunately, along with physiotherapy and a number of other health care practices, it was delisted from OHIP coverage in the early 2000s. Chiropractic care, like massage therapy, acupuncture and physiotherapy, is not covered by OHIP presently.

How much does a chiropractor cost without insurance?

The cost of a chiropractor without insurance will vary, but in most cases is surprisingly reasonable. In the majority of chiropractic offices, the cost of a chiropractor with no insurance will range from $75-150 for the initial examination, and the cost of chiropractic treatments range from $40-80.

How much does a chiropractic x-ray cost?

The cost of chiropractic x-rays will depend on the x-ray facility and the specific injury or x ray views required.

In general, for any spinal area, a minimum of two x-rays are needed at 90 degrees to each other. These are generally an xray from the front or back, along with a side or lateral view x-ray.

The costs for x-rays will vary greatly among chiropractic offices, from $50-250 dollars, depending on the number of views and the specialization of the views.

In our clinic we have digital x-ray facilities. We charge $15 per view. For a typical new patient that may require x-rays (depends on the specific case), the x-ray views would range from $30-60 total.

If you are looking for a chiropractor that does x-rays near you, it is best to call the office, as this may not be listed on the clinic website.

If you have any additional questions about how much chiropractors cost, or how much for a chiropractor adjustment specifically, please feel free to follow up with our Toronto chiropractic clinic Transform Chiropractic. We can also be reached at 416-604-4184.

Dr. Byron Mackay

What Are The Benefits Of Chiropractic Care?

Many people think that chiropractic treatment is only for people with neck pain and back pain, but this could not be further from the truth. Downtown Toronto chiropractors with the right experience can help relieve pain in any joint or muscle in the body, as well as helping to improve your overall mobility, function and health.

In addition to helping to relieve all kinds of musculoskeletal pain, chiropractic treatment has been shown to reduce the body’s overall stress levels and to improve your overall health and wellbeing.

Many people are unaware that your nervous system is the control center for your body, and when it is not working properly, you may experience a wide range of potential health issues. Chiropractic services can help to resolve these issues by removing interference in your nervous system, helping your body to function better and helping you to feel better overall!

Is it safe to receive treatment from a chiropractor?

Numerous studies have demonstrated both the benefits of chiropractic care, and also established it as a very safe form of treatment. Anyone considering chiropractic services should rest assured that it is one of the safest musculoskeletal treatments available. When working with a professional practitioner, most people find that their pain decreases quickly after starting regular treatments from a local chiropractor in Toronto.

What conditions can chiropractic help?

Chiropractic treatment can be effective for many different conditions. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Lower back pain:

This is one of the most common conditions that chiropractic services can help with. Lower back pain originates from various conditions including chronic postural stress from sitting for long hours and occupational stress from frequent bending and lifting, among others. To effectively address this type of pain, it is important to find a Toronto chiropractor who can provide a comprehensive treatment plan.

• Neck pain:

Statistics show that about 70% of the population suffers from either acute or chronic neck pain at some point in their life. This pain can be caused by various factors such as whiplash, poor posture, and stress associated with long screen hours. You don’t need to live with this pain, it can be treated naturally without the use of medications, through chiropractic services near you.

• Stiffness in joints:

This could be due to a number of reasons such as age, arthritis, and injury. When the joints are not used regularly, they can become stiff and achy. This can impact mobility and quality of life. If you regularly suffer from stiffness in any joint in the body and regularly experience shoulder pain or pain in the knees or hips, chiropractic services may help.

• Sciatica:

This is a condition that is caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the body. It can result in pain, numbness, and weakness that runs down one or both legs, and can be debilitating. If you are experiencing pain down your leg, this is a type of pain that can be treated with chiropractic services.

• Headaches:

Headache sufferers may benefit from chiropractic care, as it may help to improve blood circulation and reduce tension headaches. Additionally, many chiropractors in Toronto are experts when it comes to posture and how it relates to headaches, so if you suffer from frequent headaches, you should schedule an appointment with a chiropractor near you as soon as possible.

• Sports injuries:

Many professional athletes and recreational sports men and women have been visiting chiropractors for as long as they can remember, as the treatments typically help with both injury prevention and recovery.

Some chiropractors specialize in sports medicine, which means that they can help athletes prepare for the upcoming sports season. Chiropractic skills are particularly useful for helping both amateur and professional athletes avoid injuries that can derail their careers. Chiropractors can also provide rehabilitation services that assist with the recovery process once an injury has occurred.

Downtown Toronto chiropractors use a combination of treatments to address all these issues, including spinal adjustments and customized exercises to get you back to great health again.

FAQs About Chiropractic Treatment Costs

One of the most common questions before seeing a professional chiropractor near you is what type of investment you’ll need to make. Here are answers to some of the most common questions you may have:

How do downtown Toronto chiropractors charge their patients?

Chiropractors typically charge on a per-session or per-treatment basis. The amount you will pay will depend on the complexity of the care you need as well as the number of sessions required to complete the treatment regimen. In general, you can expect to pay around $50-$100 for an initial consultation, assessment and treatment session.

How much does it cost to see a chiropractor in Toronto?

The initial consultation will generally cost around $75-$150. After that, visits to a chiropractor in Toronto typically cost between $50 and $75 per session for chiropractic treatments.

Do insurance plans cover chiropractic treatment?

Most insurance plans cover a certain number of chiropractic sessions per year. However, it is important to check with your individual plan to see what is covered. In addition, most chiropractic clinics are able to provide you with detailed insurance receipts to make direct billing easier from your insurance company.

How much do chiropractic adjustments cost without insurance?

The cost of chiropractic adjustment without insurance will depend on the specific situation. You can expect to pay around $75-$150 for the initial session for your assessment, and then about $50-$75 for each re-evaluation session. However, this may vary depending on the severity of your condition.

There are a number of ways to reduce the cost of seeing a chiropractor. Some chiropractors in Toronto may offer payment plans, and others may provide various treatment package options, which offer a lower per-session rate. If you have concerns, discuss the various options with your chiropractor to find the one that works best for you.

Chiropractor Toronto: What To Look For In A Professional Chiropractor Near You

The first visit to any healthcare service provider can be both nervous and exciting. It is important to know what to expect when you visit a chiropractor in Toronto.

During your first appointment, the chiropractor will ask you a number of questions about your medical history and conduct a physical examination. After assessing your examination findings, they will then explain your diagnosis and present the treatment plan. Aside from this, what else should you look for to choose a good chiropractor near you?

Ask for recommendations

The best way to find a good chiropractor is by getting recommendations from friends and family who have had a positive experience with one. Ask them about the practitioner’s approach and treatment techniques, whether they felt relief after the treatment, and if they would recommend the chiropractor to others.

You should also ask them about the chiropractor’s experience in treating patients with your specific health condition. This can be helpful because some providers specialize in treating specific types of conditions and not others.

Do your research

One of the ways to do this is by checking online reviews. Check what other clients are saying about the chiropractor’s approach, bedside manners, costs, and overall effectiveness.

Do this for several chiropractors near you and then compare what their clients have to say about them. This will give you a good starting point as you make your decision.

Background check

It is also important to do a background check on the chiropractor. Find out about their education, professional experience, and certifications.

All provinces and states require chiropractors to maintain a professional license from their governing body. So, make sure that your prospective chiropractor is properly licensed to practice in your area. You can search this online or contact the chiropractic governing body in your area.

Health Insurance

If you have health insurance or extended health coverage, make sure to check with them about whether they cover chiropractic care. Some insurance companies may cover a portion of the cost of chiropractic services. If you are not sure whether your insurance policy covers chiropractic treatments, then call the company’s customer service line and ask.

Pay close attention during your first visit

There’s a lot you can observe from your first encounter with a chiropractor. You can get a good idea of whether or not they are experienced by how they handle the assessment, the questions they may ask you, their response to your questions, and their ability to explain to you the recommended treatment techniques or the program of care they recommend.

It is important that you feel comfortable with your chiropractor so that you can have an open dialogue about your health concerns.

Why Choose Us?

If you are looking for a chiropractor near you, Transform Chiropractic can help. We offer the latest in evidence-based treatment options designed to provide your body with the care it deserves.

Our team of award-winning professionals has successfully helped thousands of patients regain a pain-free, high-quality life. We take pride in helping our valued clients achieve optimum health and wellness.

A treatment plan tailored for you

We offer customized treatment plans that are tailored to your specific needs. Additionally, we will help you adjust your lifestyle through customized stretches and exercises to support the healthier and pain-free version of yourself. You can be sure that you’re getting the best possible patient care when you choose our chiropractic clinic.

We hope that this article has been helpful and informative. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Dr. Byron Mackay

Yes, plain old walking.

Why is this?

There is more and more research coming out about the benefits of walking, and if you think back to our evolutionary history as humans, it makes sense.

Quite simply, you are designed to walk.

What anthropologists have found is that our ancestors did not evolve and grow by elaborate hunting techniques, or by being bigger or stronger or faster than their prey, but simply by being better walkers.

Strange, but true.

If you look at humans compared to many of the animals we’ve hunted in the past, physically speaking, we hardly stand a chance.

Whether it’s a buffalo, or a mammoth, or a giant elk, or some other large animal 10,000 years ago, they were bigger, faster, stronger, and more dangerous than we were.

But, we evolved to our present state largely by eating these large animals, ingesting large amounts of healthy proteins and fats, allowing our brain and central nervous system to develop to our present state.

So how did we do it?

After analyzing our gait patterns, basically how we move, scientists have found that we’re horribly inefficient when we run. We burn massive amounts of energy (not good for long-term survival), and are slow, and can’t go very far.

If we were relying on running down our prey to survive, we’d lose almost every time, and basically starve.

So how did we do it?

We walked and walked, and just kept on walking.

Humans are amazingly efficient at walking, we can literally do it for hours and hours, even days, barely having to stop.

We don’t go fast, but we can go for a long, long time.

We’d basically walk down our prey. We’d see a giant elk, start walking towards it, it

would run, be way out in front, and we’d just keep walking towards it.

This would disturb it enough that it couldn’t really rest, or eat or drink properly, and finally after hours and hours of this, even days, it would eventually get so tired and weak that it would literally fall over. We’d then finally be able to catch up to it, and finish it off.

So simple, it almost boggles the mind.

So yes, you and me and all human beings are designed to walk.

Research shows that our ancestors from 5000 or 10,000 years ago used to walk on average 5-10 miles per day, or roughly 8-16 kilometres, every single day!

Some of it was for gathering berries or other foods, for moving camp, or for walking down animals while hunting.

But the fact is, we are meant to walk, a lot.

So, what is one of the best exercises for YOU to do? Walking!

We are virtually identical genetically to our ancestors from 5000 years ago (99.9% the same), so if it was good for them, it’s good for you.

Current research also shows how beneficial walking is not only for our cardiovascular system, but also from a biomechanical perspective, to help ensure the proper gyroscopic motion of your pelvis.

Walking helps to maintain the proper rhythm of your lumbar spine and pelvis, which is critical for the long-term health of your low back and hips. 

Try to take good long strides when you walk, at a good pace, to allow for proper pelvic motion.

As well, swing your arms about your shoulders (not just at your elbows), so that both your legs and your arms are moving forwards and backwards when you walk. This movement is very helpful for the health of your spine, and for stimulation of your brain.

So, if in doubt, put on some shoes on, and hit the sidewalk or trail.

You don’t have to do 10 miles, but even a couple kilometres can make a huge difference.

Happy trails!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Dr. Byron Mackay

www.transformchiropractic.com

What have you been told about backpacks since you were a kid?

To protect your back and spine, wear it with both straps on at the same time, to distribute the weight in a balanced fashion.

Sounds good, but is that actually true?

Does wearing both straps evenly at the same time really protect your spine?

No. In fact, this likely CREATES problems.

What???

You heard me, I do NOT recommend wearing backpacks with both straps on at the same time.

Why not?

Because, as you do this, the backpack shifts your weight backwards, over your heels. This starts to pull your whole body backwards.

As a result of this, guess what compensation your body innately makes, without you even thinking about it? To keep you from toppling over backwards, it shifts other parts of your body, forward, to counterbalance this weight.

Venture to guess which part gets shifted forward?

YOUR HEAD.

Can you see a potential problem with this? The backpack pulls you back, and your body shifts your head further and further forward, to counteract this backward pulling stress.

This is bad because this worsens a very common habit we see in so many people…forward head displacement, or the more common term these days, text neck or tech neck.

This forward hunching of the upper back and neck (think nursing home posture) is becoming more and more common, largely

because of people sitting at desks and looking at computers all day, and from staring down at smart phones for hours on end.

Not good!

If you absolutely must wear a heavy backpack, for instance when going on a major hike or trip, try to wear the weight as HIGH UP on your back as possible, and as CLOSE TO YOUR SPINE as possible.This will minimize the backward pulling stress of the backpack on your body, and minimize the amount your head is thrust forward to compensate.

The worst are backpacks whose straps are so long, and so loose, that the majority of the weight is carried low down and back towards the butt. This significantly forces the head forwards to compensate.

So, if I don’t recommend using two straps, what do I recommend?

Alternating straps. Yes, wear it over one shoulder, only ONE SHOULDER, for 5 or 10 minutes, then SWITCH SHOULDERS.

This actually functions to TRAIN the spinal muscles, by forcing the outside muscles of the spine to stabilize you from falling over. This strengthens and conditions the muscles, which is a very good thing.

You would then switch sides, to balance this stress and conditioning. If you don’t switch sides, this will eventually create an imbalance in the pulling of these muscles, which long term is not good.

So, carry it over one shoulder, just like everyone told you NOT to do when you were a kid. But remember to alternate sides.

Have fun being the rebel you always wanted to be!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Dr. Byron Mackay

www.transformchiropractic.com

While I generally LOVE people exercising, and taking the time to make themselves stronger, to maintain muscle mass so they can do the stuff they want to do for as long as possible, my answer to her was to STOP doing the exercise.

What?

Why would I tell someone, who is exercising, to stop?

Because the particular exercise she was doing, was not only NOT beneficial for her low back, but would very likely INJURE her if she continued doing it.

In fact, she prefaced her question about the exercise by telling me that she’d hurt herself, and was sore from exercising.

She then asked me why the gym would have machines that were potentially not beneficial, and may very well injure someone.

A good question.

I explained to her that my recommendation for back exercises, and really for ALL exercises,  are COMPOUND exercises, ones that recruit multiple joints and multiple muscles with the same exercise. NOT exercises that isolate one muscle group, which is what most machine exercises do.

Why is this?

Because we live our lives through compound movements. When you are climbing the stairs, you are using multiple joints and multiple muscles at the same time.

When you’re squatting down to lift something, you are using multiple joints and multiple muscles at the same time. With virtually EVERYTHING that you do, you are using multiple joints and muscles AT THE SAME TIME.

So WHY would you do an exercise that isolates only one particular joint, and one muscle, to make it strong, while totally ignoring and separating it from the other joints and muscles you use it with for 99% of the things you do.

It does not make sense.

Not only is it a great way to injure yourself because the strength of your muscles and joints will be OUT OF BALANCE, but when you do isolation exercises (only focusing on one muscle), exercising takes SO MUCH LONGER. And in my opinion, it’s also much more boring.

Think about it. If you do a squat, you target your calves, your quads, your hamstrings, your gluts, your low back, and a bunch of other stabilizing muscles and joints, ALL WITH ONE MOVEMENT. 3 sets of those, and you’re done.

If you were to do isolation exercises, likely using machines, for each of those body groups, it would take you 5x longer to exercise all of those areas. The ultimate result would NOT be 5x better, but likely worse, because the muscles were not exercised as you’d normally use them, but in isolation, so in a totally artificial way.

The other issue with machines is that they do all the stabilization work for you, which is not a good thing.

It likely means you can use more weight, but also means that all the really important stabilization muscles are not worked properly, are not strengthened, and become out of balance with the other larger muscle groups, which is a great way to get injured.

This is how so many people end up injuring their shoulders, because the rotator cuff muscles, the small STABILIZING muscles, are weak, and out of balance, with the larger muscle groups.

In general, try to avoid the use of machines, because they force you to isolate specific muscle groups, unlike your real life, which is all about using muscles and joints in combination.

Rather, try to do simple, compound exercises. The ones I typically recommend are things like planks, side planks (both great for the core), squats, push-ups, and some version of a pull up.

If you did these, even doing easier modifications to start with, you’d be far less likely to be injured, spend way less time exercising because they are working multiple areas with one exercise, would need way less equipment (or none at all), and would experience significantly more benefit and gains over time.

They may not be fancy, but they have stood the test of time…because they work.

Any questions about any of this, please feel free to contact us.

Dr. Byron Mackay

www.transformchiropractic.com

For starters, what does her friend mean by arthritis?  The type she is likely referring to is osteoarthritis, which is sometimes referred to as “wear and tear” arthritis.  This basically happens when the movement of a joint is altered or stops, or the stresses on a joint are increased, over many years, resulting in excessive abnormal stress on the joint, and eventually breaking the joint down prematurely.

Think of this sort of like driving a car with the alignment and balance of the car being off. You take your car for tune-ups on a regular basis, and on occasion they balance the tires and check the alignment.

Why do they do this? Because the mechanic knows that if the balance of your tires and car is off, and the alignment of the tires and axle is off, what happens?  There is more stress and wear on the tires of your car, on the brakes of your car, on the axel and struts of your car, and they wear out faster.

When the alignment of your car is off, your car wears out and breaks down faster. If your car was a human, they would call this ARTHRITIS of your car.

The exact same thing happens to humans. If the alignment of your spine is off, the movement of your spine decreases, and the stress on your spine increases. Less movement, and more stress, add up to arthritis;(as well as inflammation, muscle spasm, nerve pressure and altered neurological and brain function, resulting in a host of other problems over time).

So, can being adjusted on a consistent basis lead to arthritis? Since the adjustment restoresthe alignment and movement of a “stuck” joint, then no, adjustments of the spine cannot cause arthritis.

In fact, they do quite the opposite, they slow down, prevent, and in some cases, even help to reverse arthritis.

Just like any stuck joint, to maintain the health of the joint, movement is critical. If your knee is in a cast, or your elbow is in a cast, or any other joint is in a cast, once it’s healed sufficiently, and the moment the cast is off, thefirst thing they do is get it moving again.

Why? Because it’s a known fact in the medical literature that joints heal and repair when movement is restored to them. The better the movement and alignment of the joint, the more fully the joint will heal, and the better the overall function, mobility, and strength of the joint.

Your spine is no different. You have more joints in your spine than any other part of your body!

People sit on their spine for hours and hours per day, compressing it, potentially mis-aligning and damaging these joints, the bones, and discs over time. The best thing for your spine, all of its joints, and your spinal cord and nerves, is to maintain the alignment and proper movement of your spine.

This is why we do a detailed assessment of your spine, including structural x-rays, to determine exactly where you need to be adjusted. So we can maintain the alignment and motion of your spine, minimizing arthritis, and maintaining yourm obility and strength, so you can do all the stuff you love to do and need to do, for many years to come!

Dr. Byron Mackay

www.transformchiropractic.com

But other than feeling tired, does it affect our physiology, and have any potential long-term health consequences?

To answer this, the researchers took a group of people, and allowed them to sleep only 4 hours per night for a week. The other group, they allowed to sleep a regular amount, 7-8 hours.  They then measured a bunch of blood chemicals, but particularly insulin and glucose levels.

Why did they measure these? Because elevated glucose levels in the blood, and insulin resistance, are associated with pretty much every disease process, from diabetes to heart disease, to stroke, to cancer.  Elevated blood levels of glucose for extended periods of time are really, really bad.

What did they find?  That after only 2 nights of impaired sleep, the insulin sensitivity dropped by 40-50%, and glucose levels in the blood increased by 40-50%.

Glucose in the blood increased by 50% because they didn’t get enough sleep!

Which essentially means that if you’re not getting enough sleep on a consistent basis, your chance of diabetes, and heart attacks, and strokes increase significantly, maybe by as much as 50%.

Wow!  When I thought about this, I was kind of floored.  So, what should you do about it?

First thing is, prioritize your sleep. It’s not just a “nice to have” optional thing, it’s super important.  If you aren’t consistently getting 7-8 hours per night, here are some things to consider.

Totally dark:

Research shows that the darker your room, the better your sleep, period. Even a dim clock radio can affect your hormone production as you sleep, and the quality of your sleep. Black out curtains on the window are a must to minimize light leakage, and a poor sleep.

Screen time:

Avoid screen time…cell phone use, tablet use, computers, within 30-60 minutes of bed. The blue light they give off affects your brain, and your ability to get a deep sleep.

Temperature:

Turn the temperature down when you sleep. All the research shows that people sleep better at lower temperatures, so drop it by 3 or 4 degrees.

Try all these things, none of which are hard, and let us know how it goes. Of course, getting adjusted consistently, so that your body is not sore and you can get comfortable when you sleep, is critical for a good night sleep.

Wishing you a deep, restful, healthy sleep.

Dr. Byron Mackay

www.transformchiropractic.com

Essentially, what it comes down to, is this…if I asked you to move your misaligned and stuck 4th vertebra in your neck 2 mm to the left, could you? The answer is no, for many reasons.

The biggest reason is that you have no voluntary control over these segmental and deep spinal muscles. Your brain absolutely is connected to them through nerves, and controls them, but you have no voluntary or conscious control of them.

This is unlike say your elbow, a joint as well, where if you contract your biceps, or triceps, you can voluntarily move it. The elbow joint is a much simpler joint than your spinal joints, it only has one plane of motion, and is way less complex because you don’t have a spinal cord passing through it.  

So in your body, there are some muscles and joints you can voluntarily move.  

Your spine isn’t one of them. You can control the larger muscles around your spine, but you can’t voluntarily control any of the smaller spinal muscles controlling the specific movement of any of the 24 vertebra in your spine.

Then what about exercise? Doesn’t exercise move the vertebra in your spine?  

Absolutely. You can do neck stretches, or neck retraction exercises, or low back or mid back exercise or stretches, and these will absolutely move the vertebra and joints of your spine in these areas, but not specifically.

When you stretch your neck to the side, you move all the vertebrae.

When you bring your knees into your chest, you move all the vertebrae in your low back.  

This can be a good thing. But it is not specific.  

If you have one or two or five vertebrae that are shifted or stuck, these stretches or exercises will bring motion into the area, but not specifically to that stuck joint or misaligned vertebra.

A stretch or exercise will not move these individual vertebrae or joints. They are stuck, and in some cases have scar tissue and fibrosis built up in them from years of damage, or arthritic degeneration.

Stretches and exercises can be good, but not in all cases. If there is damage, in some cases this can aggravate it.  

This is why the adjustment is different.  

This is why we do an assessment, and X-rays, to measure and know the exact vertebra and joints that need adjusting.  And this is why we don’t do a generalized mobilization, like a stretch, but adjust the specific vertebra or joint that needs it.

The chiropractic adjustment brings the joint into something called the paraphysiological space, which is a space and movement beyond your regular active or passive range of motion. That is sometimes accompanied by that “popping” sound, but not in all cases.  

This movement into the space breaks up scar tissue and fibrosis unlike anything else, and starts to restore the proper movement into the joint and vertebra again, and normal nerve function.

This type of movement from the adjustment is different from any other active or passive movement…no exercise or stretch can duplicate the effect on the joint, on the nerve, and on your brain function.  

This is why exercise or stretching or yoga or Pilates are not the same as a chiropractic adjustment.

Now, let us clarify, we love exercises and stretches and yoga and Pilates and many other things. They are good, and we personally have done and do many of them.  They are good, healthy practices.  

But they are not the same as a chiropractic adjustment, both on the motion and function of your spine, the prevention and reversal of arthritis, and your neurological and brain function.  

The adjustment is unique in what it can do for each of these, which is why chiropractic has been around as long as it has, and why millions of people get adjusted every single day, from babies to 90 year olds, from the inactive to pretty much every major professional athlete in the world.

Dr. Byron Mackay

www.transformchiropractic.com