So here we are, a new season is starting. The trees are changing colours and soon your yard will be filled with them. What comes with leaves on the ground is hard work because they need to be picked up. Every season I get a couple of patients that injure themselves during that time.

So here are some of the things to remember when you are picking up the leaves in your yard.

So it has been a few weeks since I wrote on my blog. Life has been busy here with activities, school and sports.

Today I wanted to talk about what we treat. I have had 3 clients in the last few weeks shocked to find out that we treat knees, elbows and extremities. Chiropractors are trained to treat any thing that relates to your musculoskeletal system. That means anything that has to do with the spine, muscles and nervous system. So we can evaluate any conditions and decide if we are able to treat or we need to refer out.

I wanted to talk briefly about starting out an exercise program. I had an interesting case come through the clinic on tuesday. The lady has an acute torticollis. She could not move her head at all right or left. She could not look up. The muscles were all in spasms around the neck and shoulder. So what happened? I questioned and asked a bunch of question and she said it just started like that sunday morning. So with my experience I inquired to see what she had done that would have been different on saturday and there it was! She mentioned that she had decided to do a spinning class. It had been a long time since she had done one she said. So questioning more I said ” could you have used your neck muscles to help you pedal” the answer was “yes”. She used other muscles to compensate for the weaknesses to help her in the spinning class. So I am pretty convinced that she injured herself on saturday but the inflammation and the spasms only came about 24 hours later.

I thought it would be interesting to share a bit of chiropractic history. Did you know chiropractic was discovered over 110 years ago!! Yes chiropractic has been around that long. Chiropractic was discovered by D.D. Palmer a canadian who then went to the United States. The history says that D.D. Palmer would have performed an adjustment on a janitor who was partially deaf and that is hearing restored. D.D. Palmer had been experimenting with the spine for a long time and decided to name his discovery CHIROPRACTIC. It comes from greek : Chiro which means hands and practic which means done by therefore done by hands. Since then chiropractic has made many advancement and research has proven that chiropractic can help many discomfort. Chiropractic is taught around the world and focuses on the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal problems. We use manual techniques or adjustments to help the joints, the muscles and the nervous system.

So today I wanted to talk about the fact that each patient is different. Why am I saying this is that a lot of people think that all chiropractors do is “crack” . I always like to take the time to explain to my patients that I am equipped with a lot of tools in my bag!! After the examination, I can determine with the patient which tool will be best to use for that person!! No I do not adjust everybody. Well actually I do but with different techniques! Some people I would only do some special muscle work others I would use a little tool or my table to help me adjust. On babies I do a special technique called craniosacral which is very soft touch. I want people to know that they can talk to me and actually tell me what they are comfortable with. Remember we have many techniques that can be used depending on age, case or problem. Not all of them require the famous sound!! So go see a chiropractor and discuss how you feel and find a technique that works for you. That is the beauty of our profession it is an art as well!!! Don’t forget that you are unique and your care will be unique to you as well. My treatment will match your individual needs!!!