Our patients are represented by persons of all age groups.  Most patients present to our clinic with symptoms of physical discomfort or pain significantly affecting their quality of life and functioning. 

These disorders include typical back pain presentations, but also include problems causing neck pain, shoulder pain, hip and knee pain, and foot and ankle pain disorders. 

Some patients find that chiropractic treatments based on SMT delivered on a regular interval, such as one visit a month, helps to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of symptom flare-ups, such as previously troublesome bouts of back pain, in particular as it relates to underlying osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease. 

A more comprehensive list of disorders, examined for and cared for, can be found under the heading "Specific Conditions Treated"

WSIB We are registered as a healthcare provider for WSIB for low back pain programs of care, rotator cuff injuries, carpal tunnel disorders, and tennis elbow. Forms - this website can provide examples of forms used by patients for WSIB claims, by links to the WSIB of Ontario.  Chiropractic care is completely covered by WSIB for specific treatment services in approved cases.  Our friendly and courteous staff can help with your questions in completing the appropriate forms so that your care can be initiated and completed as soon as possible.  Chiropractors pride themselves in cost-effectiveness and efficiency in returning injured workers back to the workforce through comprehensive working neuromusculoskeletal diagnoses, specific treatments directed at pain reduction, return of function, exercise and education.

Automobile Insurance Injury Claims (MVA)

• We provide care for patients whose injuries were sustained as a result of a motor vehicle accident, including whiplash injuries. 
• Many of our patients who present with MVA injuries sustain injury to multiple sites.  It is not uncommon to experience strain to the shoulder girdle from seatbelt restraint, trauma to the neck and head from acceleration-deceleration forces and airbag deployment injury to the face and neck, as well as trauma to the legs from contact with the dashboard, all as a part of a high speed collision.
• You do not require a medical referral to consult a chiropractic clinic, although we have on occasion seen patients referred directly from the ER, as well as had referrals from family physicians.  We obviously appreciate the physician's confidence in our delivery of chiropractic care. 
• Our friendly and courteous staff can assist patients in obtaining the appropriate insurance forms for completion as part of the patient's responsibility for insurance claim coverage.  

Maternity Care We have a designated maternity treatment table and provide care to expecting mothers experiencing low back pain associated with pregnancy, as well as for mid and upper back pain from related ribcage strain related to fetal pressure and gastrointestinal discomfort.

Care For Infants and Children

• We provide treatment for infant colic and help assess infants and children for underlying disorders causing sleep disturbances, behavioural issues, irritability, and growing pains.  What do we look for clinically?  Infants with furrowed brows (from discomfort), hiccupping excessively, spitting up after most feedings or projectile vomiting,  are excessively gassy, have difficulty latching on, have neck stiffness…and no fever or medical signs of illness.  What do we treat specifically?  Some examples include TMJ manipulation for in utero positional jaw strain (meaning that before birth the infant had his or her fist pressed against the face straining the jaw joint.  Occasionally there is an associated displacement of the ear cartilage (external auditory meatus) on the same side. This treatment is performed to assist in latching on with breast feeding by correcting a biomechanical problem noted with the joint.
• Colic symptoms, the most common infant disorder examined for and treated at this clinic, are managed by manipulating the infant with traction forces to the costal (rib cage) margins of the spine.  Gas movement  during or immediately following treatment is noted with increased flatulence, burping, ease of BM, and a reduction in physical symptoms of arching, restlessness, and ease of settling for rest/sleep. 

Foot Care We are affiliated with a podiatric style lab for the provision of custom-fitted plaster cast orthotic manufacturing for the specific treatment of biomechanical ankle and foot disorders including excessive pronation, adult aquired flat foot, metatarsalgia, plantar fasciitis, and bunion formation.  Not everyone requires orthotics, but those who do often complain of knee pain, tired and achy legs, as well as frequently recurring low back pain.  Slight mechanical distortion at the ankle mortise joint is amplified upwards through the tibia to the knee joint, often causing unresolving knee pain (often because treatment is only focused at the knee as the source of the problem, whereas in this case it is secondary to a foot/ankle problem).  Biomechanical assessment of the lower limb includes gait analysis. This involves observing a patient walk over a distance of approx. 50 feet either barefoot or with socks on, noting changes in foot angle and heel-achilles placement.  Excessive pronation and supination are recorded, and further tested on weight-bearing examination.  Custom-fitted prescription orthotics can be modified with a slight cork heel lift on a short leg side, and heel posts can help reduce heel roll in cases of excessive pronation.

Exercises for patients

Patients of our clinic are frequently prescribed exercises to help with their recovery and maintain functioning.  Regular exercise is encouraged whenever appropriate, and gauged to the patient's level of activity and lifestyle. 

The Canadian Chiropractic Association has an excellent general fitness program called FIT in FIFTEEN.  We also provide direction for patient injuries from motor vehicle accidents with strength recovery programs co-ordinated through regional fitness centers, enlisting personal trainers provided at those centers. 

The following exercise programs are custom designed for each patient depending on their level of progress and symptoms: 

• Low Back Exercises
• Shoulder Exercises 
• Spinal Stretches 
• Squatting Exercises 
• Hip Exercises 
• Wrist Exercises 
• Restless Legs Syndrome Exercises 
• Osgoode-Schlatter Knee Pain Exercises 
• Neck Exercises 
• Planar Fasciitis Exercises

Outcomes and Measures

How does a patient's condition get evaluated, and how do the patient and practitioner know the patient is improving?  This clinic utilizes a numerical pain scale, often on initial examination, to record a patient's perception of pain or limitations.  Effective treatment is dependant on as specific a diagnosis as possible.  We will often pull up all relevant health information, recent diagnostic tests, MRI results, etc. to complete the clinical picture.  When appropriate, we will work with other healthcare providers to obtain further information into a patient's general health and functioning.  This has included EEG studies to rule out epilepsy, endoscopic and  colonoscopic examination to evaluate upper and lower gastrointestinal integrity, and diagnositic ultrasound examination to  assist with vascular evaluation. 

Sleep Clinic referrals are just a part of the diverse services that this clinic utilizes to assist in bettering the healthcare status of our patients.  Many patients have been subsequently diagnosed medically with sleep apnea and effectively treated with CPAP devices as a direct effort of our clinic.  Why would a chiropractor refer a patient to a sleep clinic?  The need for normal physiological sleep for human functioning and performance is so basically essential that problems with sleep, such as those caused by sleep apnea, RLS, or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) to name but a few, will generally cause physical symptoms.  These symptoms will include low back pain, leg pains and fatigue, headaches and migraines, achy and sore joints, neck pain, and any number of combinations thereof.  Yet the patient "appears" healthy: Often all blood work and usual diagnostic tests are unremarkable.  The outcomes and measures that are utilized by the WSIB and associations like the Ontario Chiropractic Association practice guidelines help practitioners formulate how often a patient needs to be treated for a particular problem, and how long it should typically take for the patient to get better.  So what about those patients who fail to respond in reasonable times?  Why do some patient's symptoms continue to reoccur, or persist after usual measures are provided that would typically work?  This is just one reason why a comprehensive diagnosis is essential if treatment is going to be truly effective (and cost efficient). 

Glossary of terms:

SMT- spinal manipulative therapy

Cryotherapy- Ice pack applications, limited to 10 minutes @application to a specific region as directed by the practitioner Mobilization/manipulation-technique whereby joint is physically treated with movement to reduce pain in surrounding tissues and muscles

Referred pain- Pain that presents as a symptom in the musculoskeletal system from an underlying organic disorder.

Electrotherapy- Low volt stimulation applied to a particular area to reduce pain and muscle tension.

Ultrasound- Therapy directed to injured or inflamed tissue to accelerate recovery times and promote healing of injured tissue.

ER- Emergency room: The first and best place to be for any and all symptoms of chest pain with or without left arm pain, jaw pain, nausea and shortness of breath.  The ER team of healthcare providers can effectively assess the possibility of cardiac or pulmonary problems affecting your health with these symptoms. 

Emergency Care:

The following is list of Stroke Warning Signs, as presented by the Heart & Stroke Foundation:  If you experience any of these symptoms, do not wait to consult your chiropractor or medical doctor, but call 9-1-1, or your local emergency number immediately: 

• WEAKNESS Sudden loss of strength or sudden numbness in the face, arm or leg, even temporary 
• TROUBLE SPEAKING Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding or sudden confusion, even temporary 
• VISION PROBLEMS Sudden trouble with vision, even temporary 
• HEADACHE Sudden severe and unusual headache 
• DIZZINESS Sudden loss of balance, especially with any of the above signs