What is Chiropractic

Chiropractic today is one of the largest primary-contact health care professions in Canada with over 5,000 practicing chiropractors. Approximately four and a half million Canadians use the services of a chiropractor each year.1

Chiropractic is a regulated health profession recognized by statute in all Canadian provinces and American states. The benefits of chiropractic care are well recognized by other health practitioners. In a 1995 survey, 44 per cent of Ontario and Alberta physicians indicated that they refer patients for chiropractic treatment.2

Drug-free, non-invasive health care

Chiropractic manipulation is a drug-free, non-invasive manual procedure which utilizes the highly-refined skills developed during four intensive years of chiropractic education. Chiropractors assess disorders related to the spine, nervous system, and joints of the extremities and provide diagnosis, treatment and prevention of those disorders.

The primary goal of chiropractic manipulation, also referred to as adjustment, is to treat areas of decreased movement in the joints of the spine which can create a reaction in surrounding tissues (ligaments, muscles and nerves) resulting in pain, dysfunction and muscular spasm. Chiropractors are also trained to prescribe therapeutic exercise and other non-invasive therapies including dietary counselling.

Manipulation is a highly controlled procedure which rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.

The vast majority of patients who seek chiropractic care do so for complaints of the musculoskeletal system, most often for conditions affecting the spine.3

Scientific study of spinal manipulation has clearly demonstrated that chiropractic treatment improves function and is effective for common conditions such as headache, neck, and back pain.4 Between 86 and 96 per cent of all visits to chiropractors are for these or similar conditions.5

Primary & complementary care

In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the primary method of treatment. Where other medical conditions exist, chiropractic care may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects of discomfort associated with the condition.

Chiropractic care may also be palliative, providing symptomatic relief to patients with chronic conditions. By treating the musculoskeletal elements of such disorders, chiropractic treatment improves the general well-being of the patient. In this regard, Canada’s chiropractors frequently provide complementary care as one element of a patient’s overall treatment program.

For example, the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College is a leader in working with other health care providers to offer complementary care to HIV-positive patients at St. Michael’s Hospital, Wellesley Central Site in Toronto, to dually-challenged children and adults at the Muki Baum Clinics, and to patients at St. John’s Rehabilitation Hospital.

Working with other health professionals

Governments and legislative bodies across Canada and around the world have conducted extensive reviews of the chiropractic profession and have consistently recommended that chiropractic services be included in the mainstream health care system.6

Regulation & standards

In Ontario, chiropractic has been governed by statute since 1925. Currently it is regulated by the Chiropractic Act (1991) which is administered by the College of Chiropractors of Ontario created in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA)(1991).

Chiropractors along with medical doctors, dentists, psychologists, and optometrists have the legislated right and obligation to communicate a diagnosis and to use the title doctor. The College of Chiropractors of Ontario is established by legislation in the same manner, and with the same structure and similar regulations, as the regulatory bodies for other health professions. It is responsible for protecting the public, standards of practice, disciplinary issues, quality assurance and maintenance of competency.

May, 2000

 


  1. Use of Alternative Health Care Practitioners by Canadians, Miller W, Canadian Journal of Public Health, 88(3):154-58, 1997.
  2. Alternative Medicine and General Practitioners: Opinions and Behaviours, Vernoef MJ, Sutherland LR, Canadian Family Physician, 41:1005-1011, 1995.
  3. Chiropractors: Do They Help?, Kelner M, Hall O, Coulter I, Toronto, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1980. Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Chiropractic Patients: A five year study of patients treated at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Waalen DP, White TP, Waalen JK, Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 38(2):75-82, 1994. Canadian Chiropractic Resources Databank: A Profile of Canadian Chiropractors, Kopansky-Giles D, Papadopoulos C, Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 41(3): 155-191, 1997.
  4. See appendix of research references.
  5. Chiropractors: Do They Help?, Kelner M, Hall O, Coulter I, Toronto, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1980. Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Chiropractic Patients: A five year study of patients treated at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Waalen DP, White TP, Waalen JK, Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 38(2):75-82, 1994. Canadian Chiropractic Resources Databank: A Profile of Canadian Chiropractors, Kopansky-Giles D, Papadopoulos C, Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 41(3): 155-191, 1997.
  6. The Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of Chiropractic Management of Low-Back Pain, Manga P, Angus D, Papadopoulos C, Swan W. Commissioned by the OCA. Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health, 1993.Chiropractic Services Review, An Internal Review, Wells et al. Commissioned by the Ontario Ministry of Health, 1994.

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What Happens During a Treatment?

During your first visit, the chiropractor will want to know about your health history as well as your current complaint. Your home and work life as well as your level of physical activity may also affect your health, so don’t be surprised to be asked questions about these.

Although chiropractors use their hands for most treatments, they also use other methods such as heat, light, specialized adjusting instruments, ultrasound, electrotherapy, personalized exercise programs, muscle-testing and balancing. Your chiropractor can also give you information and guidance on how you can stay healthy through proper nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes.