It is important that you consult with your family chiropractor as soon as possible regarding treatment for your injuries. The longer you wait, the longer it can take for treatment and recovery time. Remember, no referral is necessary from your family physician, and your visit is covered by MSP.

Your chiropractor is a primary contact provider just like your family physician, optometrist or dentist. You do not need a referral from your medical doctor to see a chiropractor.

Today's graduating Doctors of Chiropractic have studied and trained in a post-secondary college or university for at least seven years. Just like medical or dental students, they must first complete undergraduate study before applying for admission to a chiropractic college.

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By law, every province requires chiropractors to earn a license before they can practice. Graduating chiropractors must attain passing scores on national and provincial board exams administered by the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board (CCEB).

Chiropractic is a self-governing profession which means that doctors are bound to a professional code of conduct through national and provincial chiropractic associations, such as the British Columbia Chiropractors' Association (BCCA).

This self-regulating and disciplinary process ensures that the public's health concerns are the chiropractic profession's highest priority.

An adjustment is the main method of treatment used by your Doctor of Chiropractic. It is a specialized gentle, controlled and safe pressure applied to your spine to restore the proper motion and position of your vertebrae. It is a precise procedure that your highly skilled chiropractor has learned and perfected over years of Chiropractic College and clinical practice.

Every health procedure, from taking aspirin to giving blood, involves a level of risk. Chiropractic adjustments are among the safest of all health care interventions because they are non-surgical, drug-free and present an extremely low risk. And they work!

As a licensed practitioner, it is the duty of your chiropractor to do the following:

• A thorough review of your specific problem is conducted, including relevant past history and overall health.
• You will be asked to perform physical tests and movements to help identify the problem.
• In certain situations, an X-ray may be used to determine the source of your problem and to investigate for the presence of any pathological developments.
• The problem is diagnosed to help make certain choices clear. If it is not a chiropractic problem, a suitable referral is done. If it is, a plan of treatment is communicated.
• A prognosis is made, taking into account your general health habits, occupation, stress and activity levels.
• Your response to treatment is monitored by your chiropractor, who looks for an improvement to your specific condition, as well as for changes in your overall health. Two of the basis components of chiropractic care are wellness and prevention. Utilization of exercise, along with nutrition and lifestyle modifications are suggested to improve your overall well being and promote active, patient-centered care.

A subluxation (pronounced sub-luck-say-shun) - short for Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC) - is an abnormal condition commonly involving several vertebrae. It occurs when vertebrae in your spine lose their normal position and/or motion.

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