Call Us - Hunt Club613-224-2077 Call Us - Kanata343-309-9654 Book Online Today Questions to ask your chiropractor Preparing for your first visit Don’t assume that just any chiropractor is the right one for you. There are many levels of skill, ability and competence – just like in any profession. If you're unfamiliar with chiropractic care and how it can help you, the best thing you can do during your first appointment is to ask the right questions. At the very least, you might be wondering what conditions they treat, and if what they do can help you. It’s important that you get to learn more about what you should expect for your chiropractic appointment and how you can prepare for your first adjustment. What Is a chiropractor? A chiropractor is a healthcare professional that specialises in spinal health. They’re trained to assess, diagnose, and treat disorders related to your body’s structure, to relieve pain and to improve function. Your chiropractor can help diagnose and treat neuromuscular disorders by adjusting and manipulating the spine to reduce your back and neck pain. Plus, they will teach you how to improve your health and the functionality of your body. Reasons to see a chiropractor While chiropractors are known mainly to help with back and neck pain, they can treat many other ailments. In fact, many people visit a chiropractor to help with stress relief, blood pressure normalisation, and even to improve their quality of sleep. Other reasons to visit your chiropractor are to address and improve chronic pain, muscle aches, fatigue, and more. Questions to ask your chiropractor When you’re working with a chiropractor, we recommend you always do your research to make sure they are qualified and reliable. One way you can do this is by asking your chiropractor questions before your appointment. 1. What are your qualifications? First, it’s important to learn more about your chiropractor’s credentials. This includes their education, training, and background. Learning more about these qualifications will help to ensure you find a qualified chiropractor. Their education will teach them about anatomy, physiology, spinal assessments, adjustment techniques, and more. Similarly, make sure that your chiropractor is licensed to practice where you live. The College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO) is the governing body established by the provincial government to regulate chiropractors in Ontario. If they’re licensed, it proves that they did the necessary work to take and pass their licensing exams. 2. What specific areas do you treat? Spinal health can be quite complex. There are many different areas of your spine where you may be experiencing pain. Because of this, it’s important that you learn more about what specific areas your chiropractor treats. For example, some chiropractors simply treat back and neck pain. Others will help with whiplash after car accidents, cervicogenic pain (headache related to a problem in your neck), or even sciatica. Chiropractors also have many different specialties. To make sure you find a chiropractor that aligns with your needs, you should ask them if the care you need falls within their specialty. This can include alternative medicine, acupuncture, physical therapy, pain management, sports medicine, and more. This way, you can find a chiropractor that specialises in the type of treatment you require. 3. What is your treatment style and philosophy? Many chiropractors believe the philosophy that optimal health is linked throughout your body. Because of this, many chiropractic treatments can help you improve other aspects of your health. To make sure you find a chiropractor that fits your needs, you should learn more about their treatment style and philosophy. Does your chiropractor focus only on pain relief? Or will they try to find ways to help you improve your overall health? Will they assess and diagnose on the first visit but not offer any treatment during that first appointment? During follow-up visits, are they just going to give a quick manipulation and send you on your way, or will they take sufficient time and attention with each visit? 4. How many patients have you treated with my specific condition? To get the best treatment, ask your chiropractor about their experience treating your specific condition. If you’re dealing with an injury after a car accident, for example, you want to be sure that your chiropractor specialises in motor vehicle accident rehabilitation. This way, you will be confident that they can help you recover. If your chiropractor offers specific techniques, like cold laser therapy, you should also make sure that they have had proper training for these methods. 5. How often and how long will I need treatment? Next, you need to learn more about your treatment plan. How long will it last and how many chiropractic adjustments will you need to get? Often, your chiropractor will recommend getting several alignments for the most successful rehabilitation. But some chiropractors will push their patients into buying pre-paid treatment packages. At Elysian, we don’t offer treatment package options and you can book one appointment at a time if you choose to do so. 6. What kind of outcome can I expect? When you are dealing with back pain or any other issues, it is important that you ask your chiropractor about the outcome you can expect. You can do this by asking them about their treatment success rate. Treatments should not be indefinitely ongoing — there should be a goal to ultimately remedy your issue. If they’re unable to fully treat your back pain or other issues, you may want to find another treatment option. 7. Should I combine chiropractic care with other treatments? While every chiropractor offers spinal adjustments, it’s important that you learn more about the other services your chiropractor provides. There are other therapies that work together with chiropractic care to speed up your recovery. For example, many chiropractors include massage therapy services, physical therapy services and more as part of your treatment plan. Using all of these therapies together will help you recover faster and get better care for your back. At Elysian Wellness Centre we can provide you with each of these services and much more. Other services that our team offers include cold laser therapy, acupuncture, shockwave therapy and even registered dietician services. 8. What diagnostic services do you offer? Finally, you need to learn more about the diagnostic services your chiropractor offers. While they may be able to help you treat your pain, finding ways to diagnose your underlying issues will provide you with better treatment options in the long run. Most chiropractors can (and should be able to) diagnose spinal disorders that cause nerve pain or musculoskeletal pain. On the other hand, some clinics require that you get an x-ray, no matter your symptoms or condition. X-rays should only be needed when they are absolutely medically necessary. Contact us today to schedule an appointment Name* Email* Phone* Choose location*West Hunt ClubKanata Choose service*PhysiotherapyChiropractorAcupunctureMassage TherapyDietitianYogaCold PlungeInfrared SaunaIV Therapy Message* Input this code: Thank you for requesting an appointment We usually respond within one business day. If you’ve messaged us outside of normal business hours, we will be happy to help you once we’re back. Please note that no bookings are final until we have reserved a time slot using your credit card. Hours of operation Monday to Thursday: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM Friday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday: Appointment only Sunday: Closed Please be aware of our cancellation policy. Be prepared for your chiropractic visit Above all, don’t avoid visiting a chiropractor just because you’re not sure what to expect. By asking your chiropractor each of these questions, you can be better informed and prepared for your adjustment, and feel confident in your treatment. Do you want to learn more about what to expect during your first chiropractic visit? Elysian Wellness Centre can help. Our team offers a wealth of services under one roof — everything from spinal manipulation therapy to soft tissue release and more. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us [link to contact us page]. We’re here to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment Book online now