Barrhaven Chiropractic Health Centre

At the Barrhaven Chiropractic Health Centre, we raise the bar when it comes to your health, offering the following services and products:

Chiropractic Care
Adjustments
Active Release Technique (ART)
Orthotics
Activator
Nutritional Counseling
Therapeutic Modalities
Rehabilitation Programs
Products

What is Chiropractic?

The word “Chiropractic” comes from ancient Greek and means, “done by hand.”

Chiropractic is one of the largest primary health care professions in Canada with approximately 4.5 million Canadians visiting a chiropractor each year.  Doctors of chiropractic are health professionals concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of muscle and joint injuries.  Chiropractors are specialists in manual adjustment of the vertebrae of the spine and other joints.  Adjustments help relieve pain and restore normal functioning to the spine, joints and supporting structures of the body.

Chiropractors are also trained to prescribe therapeutic exercise, nutritional counseling, and recommend rehabilitation and injury prevention strategies.

What is an adjustment?

An adjustment is a highly skilled and precise movement usually applied by hand to a joint of the body. Adjustment loosens the joint to restore proper movement and optimize function. When a joint is adjusted, a gas bubble escapes causing the popping noise you may have heard about.

When should I see a chiropractor?

Eight out of ten Canadians will experience back pain at some point in their life, For many people, the pain can keep them away from work, school or even their day-to-day activities. If pain causes interruptions and restrictions in the activities of your daily life then you should consult a chiropractor.

What kind of education does a Chiropractor have?

A Doctor of Chiropractic has spent four years at an accredited chiropractic institution after they have completed a minimum of 3 years in a university undergraduate program.  Chiropractic students receive more than 4,200 hours of specialized clinical training, and are one of only five classes of health care professionals in Ontario that are able to use the title Doctor, with its accompanying rights and obligations.

Why do people without pain, elect to see
a chiropractor?

When a patient elects to pursue regular chiropractic care it is defined as Maintenance Care.  Maintenance Care focuses on maintaining good mobility and joint function of the spine to help in the prevention of back pain and to promote spinal health.

Your spine houses your spinal cord.  Your spinal cord is a bundle of wires containing millions of nerves.  These nerves send messages to and from your brain to virtually every cell in your body, responsible for your breathing, digestion, heart beat, etc.  If the bones of your spine move incorrectly, move out of position or get “stuck” the nerves can become irritated causing the signal from the nerve to become interrupted; like a short circuit.

Maintenance Care aims to keep spinal segments from getting “stuck,” preventing nerve irritation and promoting overall better health.

Active Release Technique
What is Active Release Technique (ART®)?

Active Release Technique is a hands-on treatment used for treating soft-tissue (i.e. muscle, tendon, fascia, nerves).  A certified ART® practitioner utilizes a thorough history, physical and biomechanical exam to properly diagnose the soft-tissue injury.  These injuries are often a result of repetitive strain, cumulative trauma, adhesions, tissue hypoxia and joint dysfunction.

How does one develop a soft-tissue injury?

In order for a muscle, ligament and/or nerve to function it must be supplied oxygen, via the blood (circulatory system). Repetitive work tasks, poor posture and endurance sports can all cause a tissue to remain in a tightened or stressed position for a prolonged period of time.  As a result the blood supply to that tissue becomes compromised, decreasing oxygen to the area resulting in “tissue hypoxia.” Tissue hypoxia results in the body replacing the tissue, with tissue that does not require as much oxygen to function; known as “Scar tissue.”  Scar tissue causes poor muscle contraction, decrease range of motion, tissue friction and nerve irritation.

How does ART® work?

ART® practitioner’s locate the scar tissue structures and use their thumbs or fingers to place tension on the muscle while the patient actively moves that body part to stretch the muscle and break up the scar tissue.  Ideally, your practitioner will add some rehabilitation exercises to help promote the new tissue from developing properly.

Rehabilitation programs

Rehabilitation programs are prescribed exercises aimed at reducing pain and restoring strength, flexibility, endurance and physical abilities affected by an injury.  Patients are instructed to perform specific exercises tailored to their condition, which they can easily perform at home or at their office.  Doctor prescribed exercises ensure that the exercises do not aggravate symptoms, which can often occur when exercises are given by someone who does not understand your condition.  

Therapeutic Modalities

Interferential Current and Ultrasound are types of therapeutic modalities used at our clinic as an adjunct to treatment to help reduce pain, decrease inflammation, promote healing and restore function.

Orthotics

The American Podiatric Medical Association says that the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, which can be a lot of walking for an individual with poor-fitting shoes or painful feet. It is important to realize that your feet have a direct impact on your body and support you with every step.  Research has shown that even the smallest abnormality in foot function can have a large impact on the joints in our body, and may be the cause of foot, ankle, knee, hip and back pain.

Orthotics are inserts that comfortably fit into shoes.  A foam cast, plaster cast or computerized scan is used to take an imprint of your foot to ensure that the orthotic is specifically designed for you. The custom made orthotics provide support, improve the functioning of your feet and can relieve pain.

Health care practitioners may prescribe orthotics to patients for:

• Pes plantus (flat feet)
• Pes Cavus (high arch)
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bunyions,Calluses and Corns from poorly fit shoes
• Ankle conditions
• Knee conditions
• Hip conditions
• Low back conditions
• Diabetic feet
• Sports performance

We have been prescribing custom orthotics for the better part of 32 years, using the same company with proven craftsmanship. We have seen the benefits and impact orthotics can have, for all age groups.

Activator

The activator method has grown to be the most widely used “low force” technique in chiropractic.  Activator technique utilizes a small spring-loaded adjusting instrument to deliver a focused corrective impulse to the desired spinal segment to help restore proper motion.  This technique is commonly used in patients who prefer a low-force correction without the traditional “hands-on” thrust.

Nutritional Counseling

Proper nutrition and supplementation have long been emphasized as a fundamental component to optimal health. The food we intake allows our body to function and perform our daily duties. However, certain foods can also have an affect on specific health conditions, exacerbating symptoms. Conversely, certain foods and supplements can also be beneficial in managing different conditions and/or symptoms.

Digital X-Ray Facility

On- site x-ray facility allows for convenient access for patients who may require an x-ray for further evaluation of their present condition.

Products Available

Chiroflow Pillow       

A water based pillow, designed to provide neck and head support while responding to changing sleep positions.  Clinically shown to reduce neck pain and improve quality of sleep. Get more information on the Chiroflow Pillow at www.chiroflow.com.

Biofreeze Products

A unique, effective pain reliever formulated to provide a variety of benefits for therapy, pain relief, exercise/training and overall comfort. To see the full line of Biofreeze products visit ww.biofreeze.com.

Elastic Sacro Braces

Traction Kits