Tag: Featured

June 2023 blog.

Source: Canadian Chiropractic Association.

Stretching can offer a variety of benefits for golfers. Golf stretches prevent shoulder, knee or back pain is essential to continue to enjoy the game. Try these chiropractor recommended stretches below:

1. Hip flexor lunge

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Step one foot forward into a lunge position. Keep your body upright and back straight. Bend both knees so that you feel the stretch. Do not let your forward knee pass over the ankle of your front foot. Use a golf club to keep your balance. Hold 15 seconds. Repeat twice on each side.

2. Side bending stretch

Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Hold the golf club above your head with your arms straight. Slowly bend to one side, without rotating, until you feel a stretch along the side of your back. Hold 15 seconds. Repeat twice on each side.

3. Seating twist

Sit on a bench or golf cart with your knees together and feet flat, pointing forward. Reach across the front of your body and grasp the back of the bench or cart. You should experience a stretch in your spinal muscles. Hold 15 seconds. Repeat twice on each side.

4. Seated forward bend

Sit on a bench or golf cart, knees bent and feet flat. Place one ankle onto your opposite knee, and relax this leg so that your knee falls out to the side. Slowly bend forward, keeping your back straight. You may gently pull on your bent knee to generate a deeper stretch. You should feel a stretch in your buttock area. Hold 15 seconds. Repeat twice on each side.

If you are suffering from an injury that is preventing you from playing golf or if you would like to increase your mobility to improve your performance, a chiropractor can help.

We help each member of the family to relieve their pain or other symptoms, correct their posture and obtain optimal spinal function, and then to maintain optimal health through, amongst others, regular adjustments and physical activity.

To be without pain… is this being cured? Of course not. In our society, little emphasis is placed on prevention. Yet everyone agrees that “prevention is better than cure”. Prevention is not only economical; it is also the best way to not lose valuable time on being sick.

1. Intensive initial care
If you suffer from acute pain, emphasis will first be put on relieving the symptoms. Your chiropractor will nonetheless do a complete health check and will also examine your spine and your posture during your first visit.

Pain that suddenly appears following for example, a false movement, is often the result of several months, even several years of poor function. It is essential that your chiropractor examine you thoroughly to detect all possible causes of your acute symptoms.

In addition to spinal “adjustments”, muscle work and other therapies performed during your first visits, your chiropractor will provide advice in order to quickly regain control over your acute condition.

2. Corrective care
During your third visit, your chiropractor will recommend corrective care. We will explain whatthis implies: the time required, the frequency of visits, the exercises to do and any recommendations that your chiropractor may give you in order for to you obtain optimum health.

Corrective care requires time. Posture disorders, misalignment of the spine and other disorders that your chiropractor will recommend correcting have settled slowly over the years. This is true, even if thepain has appeared recently due to something insignificant.

3. Preventive and periodic care
Once you have completed your corrective care, your chiropractor will usually recommend periodic preventive care, also known as wellness treatment. They have several objectives and benefits:

– Maintaining optimal function of your spine.
– Preventing relapses of acute injuries such lower back injuries.
– Early detection, before symptoms appear, of posture and spine disorders.
– Monitoring problems or discomfort you feel on a daily basis.
– Maintaining your current file at our clinic, in order to facilitate access to care, in case of an emergency or pressing need.
– Getting answers to your questions concerning your health from an available qualified Healthcare Professional.

April 2023 blog.

Image: International Journal of Spine Surgery

Chiropractors are now able to prescribe advanced medical imaging tests as well as conventional x-rays for their patients. They can request magnetic resonance imaging tests, scans, ultrasounds or a bone density test, according to the needs of the patient.  In order to provide these new professional services, chiropractors must demonstrate that they have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge and have completed the necessary additional training.  In this second part of our blog, we discuss specific situations in which your chiropractor may prescribe advanced imaging

Case #1.   A 38-year-old man visited his chiropractor with lower back pain radiating to the right leg.The pain had started 3 weeks earlier and for no known reason.Following the consultation, examination and x-rays, the chiropractor diagnosed lower back pain (lumbago)caused by vertebral subluxations, as well as “radiculopathy” (a pinched nerve), which is an irritation of the spinal nerve roots. After 4 weeks of chiropractic treatment combined with exercises done at home, the back pain was almost completely resolved and the symptoms in the lower right leg improved by 50%.However, by the next visit, the leg pain was back and was now associated with a lack of strength and loss of sensation in the calf and several toes.Upon discussion, the patient and the chiropractor agreed to continue the chiropractic care and the exercises for another 2 weeks.Unfortunately, the pain and other symptoms persisted and even seemed to be getting worse despite all efforts to improve the situation.

According to the INESSS guide on the optimal use of MRI for musculoskeletal pain in adults (guide d’Utilisationoptimale de l’IRM dans les cas de douleursmusculosquelettiques chez les adultes): “In the presence of non-traumatic lower back pain, an MRI is generally not recommended before a minimum period of 4 to 6 weeks of conservative treatment unless serious disease is suspected.An MRI is indicated in the presence of significant or progressive neurological deficits or in cases of suspected infectious disease or tumour pathology.”In this case, with the patient suffering from significant or progressive neurological deficits despite 4 to 6 weeks of treatment, MRI could be indicated.

It is important to mention that when a chiropractor prescribes specialized imaging, the associated costs will not be covered by Quebec health insurance, so the patient will have to pay out of pocket.The patient may also choose to be referred to a physician who could prescribe medical imaging covered by the Quebec health insurance plan.

Case #2.   A 22-year-old tennis player arrives with pain in her right shoulder that started a few weeks earlier, during a match.The young woman had already had X-rays which were normal.The chiropractor diagnosed rotator cuff tendonitis and started treatment with a series of rehabilitation exercises.The player also reduced the frequency and intensity of her workouts.The pain slowly improved, so that three months later she was able to compete almost normally.During a tournament, however, she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder while serving.She went backto her chiropractor, but this time things did not go as well.Several months of treatments and exercises were necessary for a meagre 20% improvement.The chiropractor suspected a shoulder tendon tear.He recommended an ultrasound of the shoulder.

Diagnostic ultrasound is very useful for evaluating superficial soft tissues (tendons, muscles, etc.), i.e.close to the surface.The rotator cuff of the shoulder is a good example.This examination does not expose the patient to any radiation and is less expensive than an MRI.

In conclusion, it should be noted that chiropractors can only prescribe advanced medical imaging examinations when these examinations are within their scope of practice, within their skills and knowledge and of course, when required by the patient’s condition.

Over the past 22 years, we have helped more than 5000 people to relieve their pain, correct their posture and find lasting solutions in order to maintain optimal health. Also, many athletes at all levels were able to resume competition and perform at their personal best, thanks to the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries we offer.

With the growing popularity of running, many of our patients practice this activity with passion and commitment. Dr. Lepage being a marathoner himself, our patients arevery confident in the diagnosis and treatment of injuries related to running, in the preparation forlong-distance events or simply to learn how to start running without injury.

The clientele we serve is composed mainly of families whose members place health as their basic value, participate in regular physical activities and maintain good postural hygiene, as well as a healthy lifestyle.

We help each member of these families to relieve their pain or other symptoms, correct their posture and obtain optimal spinal function, and then to maintain optimal health through, amongst others, regular adjustments and physical activity.

The benefits of digital x-rays for chiropractic care

Since August 2019, our x-rays facilities are all digital.  Digital direct radiography (DR) produces images of outstanding quality. A flat panel detector directly converts the pattern of incident X–ray energy into electrical signals. Imaging plates, cassettes and X–ray scanners are no longer needed . The X–ray images are available for diagnosis immediately after exposure. The advantages are numerous:

• Use 70% less radiation than traditional film x-rays.
• Take less time to take and are easier to take than traditional film x-rays.
• Have better quality viewing capabilities than traditional film x-rays.
• Take the waiting out of the development process allowing us to see what is going on immediately.
• Prevent issues from going undetected and/or missed.
• Are easily stored on a computer.
• Can be easily transferred to your family doctor when referrals are needed.
• Environmentally-friendly.