215331
Back to Basics  

Chiropractor’s role in rehabilitation

 

Although doctors of chiropractic treat acute injuries every day in practice with patients who hurt themselves in falls, car accidents and in sports, they are not typically considered on the front lines of injury rehabilitation. This is a notion however that could not be further from what is happening in many chiropractic offices.

For starters, chiropractic treatment involving spinal manipulation is considered a gold standard for treatment of acute low back pain and cervical spine (neck) injuries. Not only is spinal manipulation an incredibly safe treatment method it is also very effective at reducing pain, improving mobility and correcting the source of the initial problem. The effectiveness of chiropractic treatment in acute injuries and rehabilitation reaches far beyond treatment of the spine however. Chiropractic can be a very effective treatment option for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) rehabilitation, soft tissue and overuse injuries. Additionally, many chiropractors are also very well versed in exercise based rehabilitation and the use of passive modalities such as ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation and therapeutic laser.

Chiropractors have been at the forefront of injury rehabilitation for many years. Rehabilitation of the Spine by Dr. Craig Liebenson (a chiropractor) is considered to be one of the landmark textbooks for the treatment of back pain over the last 20 years and is a heavily relied upon reference book by practitioners of all disciplines including chiropractors, physical therapists and medical physicians. Active Release Techniques® (ART®) is considered one of the most important advancements in the manual treatment of soft tissue and nerve entrapment injuries over the last 15 years and was developed by Dr. Michael Leahy (a chiropractor). ART® has been taught to thousands of practitioners who must complete extensive training and pass rigorous testing to become certified. ART® trained massage therapists, chiropractors and physical therapists provide treatment to athletes at every Ironman race in North America to help them prepare for that gruelling event.

Chiropractic services are also retained by nearly every professional sports team in North America as they have recognized the important role that chiropractors play in keeping their athletes functioning at the highest possible level. Many interdisciplinary workers compensation and large rehabilitation clinics also include doctors of chiropractic as part of the services available to their clients.

The field of chiropractic is quite diverse and there are many different specialties including rehabilitation and soft tissue treatment. Chiropractic treatments can vary greatly depending upon specialties and training. For your personal needs it is important to choose a chiropractor whose approach and philosophy towards health is similar to yours.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



More Back to Basics articles

About the Author

Dr. Nimchuk graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic and has been practicing in Kelowna since 2008.  Dr. Nimchuk is one of a few full body certified Active Release Technique practitioners in the Okanagan Valley. It has become known as a very effective treatment for muscle and nerve in athletics with almost every professional sports team in North America retaining the services of an ART certified Chiropractor. Dr. Nimchuk has worked with athletes ranging from weekend warriors to Olympic champions and brings the same philosophy and treatment approach to every patient.

Dr. Nimchuk has recently opened Momentum Health, a new interdisciplinary health centre in downtown Kelowna.  The centre offers chiropractic, registered massage therapy and exercise therapy. 

In addition to being a chiropractor, Dr. Nimchuk is also registered as a Certified Exercise Physiologist with the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology, which is the highest level of professional fitness certification available in Canada.

In addition to private practice, Dr. Nimchuk works with both the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Border Services Agency as a consultant to assist recruits and members reach and maintain the required health and fitness for their work. Dr. Nimchuk also a frequent speaker to business organizations and community groups on topics such as injury prevention, ergonomics and workplace health.

Please visit our website at www.momentumkelowna.com or call us at 778-484-6070.



The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

Previous Stories