1. What is evidence-based patient care?
2. What do Chiropractors treat?
3. How do Chiropractors treat?
4. What is an adjustment?
5. What does a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree involve?
6. Do individual Chiropractors differ in their treatment styles and standards of care?
7. Does chiropractic care require a referral from an MD?
8. What should I expect during a treatment?
9. I don’t want to be adjusted full spine. Is this a necessary part of the treatment?
10. Can I see you for headache pain?
11. How long does it usually take to get better from a back pain episode?
12. What is the most important thing I can do for myself for back pain?
Q. What is evidence-based patient care?
A. Dr. Staneckyj is passionate about providing patients with the best possible care dictated by the most current medical literature in the field of musculoskeletal health and medicine. Evidence based care requires consistent learning and adaptation of treatment methods and strategies to follow the ever changing and advancing literature in the medical field. This approach allows for the patient care at Sudbury Spine & Sport Clinic to be up to date and centered on the unique demands of each of its patients.
Q. What do Chiropractors treat?
A. Chiropractors can successfully treat conditions that are musculoskeletal in nature. These conditions may include sprains and strains, chronic postural dysfunctions and repetitive strain injuries, acute joint irritations, and other common sports injuries. Majority of conditions relating to the musculoskeletal system can be positively managed to some degree through chiropractic care. Chiropractors treat more than just conditions related to the spine.
Q. How do Chiropractors treat?
A. Chiropractic takes a comprehensive and conservative approach to health care through the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions relating to the neurological, muscular, and skeletal structures of the body. At Sudbury Spine & Sport Clinic, we use a variety of techniques to treat our patients. You can learn more about each technique under our Services page.
Q. What is an adjustment?
A. An adjustment is a non-invasive, highly skilled and precise manual procedure that is designed to restore motion to a restricted joint in the body. The joints in the spine, as well as a number of other joints in the body, such as the ankle and wrist can be adjusted. The main goal of the adjustment is to decrease pain, restore joint motion and optimize function. This is accomplished by improving the movement of the joint and supporting tissues, as well as by decreasing muscle tightness or spasm.
When a joint is adjusted, the joint is brought to tension, causing a change in pressure within the joint. When the adjustment is administered a popping sound may be present, which is a result in a change in pressure from high to low. This “popping” phenomenon is the same as when you open a carbonated beverage and the pressure changes from high to low.
Q. What does a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree involve?
A. Chiropractors are regulated, health care practitioners. They have completed over 4500 hours of academic and clinical education at nationally accredited Chiropractic Colleges. Most people pursuing their Doctorate in Chiropractic have a Bachelor’s degree in a health related field.
Chiropractic curriculum includes classes that range from anatomy/physiology, neuro-anatomy, pathology and bio-chemistry to biomechanics, radiology, clinical sciences related to diagnosis and exercise rehabilitation.
Q. Do individual Chiropractors differ in their treatment styles and standards of care?
A. Chiropractors vary in the standards of care they provide and in the techniques they use to treat. Many of the techniques used to treat are learned from seminars outside Chiropractic College. These include treatments focusing on soft tissues such as Active Release Technique, Instrument Soft Tissue Technique, Kinesiotaping, to those focusing on the joints of the spine and extremities such as the Activator or McKenzie Method. Every Chiropractor will practice somewhat differently based on their preferred techniques. The standard of care at Sudbury Spine & Sport Clinic is provided through evidence based, patient centered care.
It is important that your chiropractor explain what they are doing during each treatment. Patient education is very important to Dr. Staneckyj and the team at Sudbury Spine & Sport Clinic. By taking the time to ensure his patients fully understand the cause of their condition, as well as how they are going to work together to address it, he provides a cooperative model of care which is essential for treatment success. If you have questions, you should always feel comfortable to ask. It is your body and you should understand the intentions, benefits, and risks of each technique used on your body. Every treatment, whether medical or manual, has a risk and these should be weighed out for each individual patient. Health care should always involve open dialogue between doctor and patient; this is critical.
Q. Does chiropractic care require a referral from an MD?
A. Chiropractors are legislated as primary contact health professionals in every province in Canada. This means that patients can consult them directly. However, chiropractors often work closely with medical doctors, many of whom refer to chiropractors when they believe chiropractic treatment will help alleviate a patient’s condition. Similarly, chiropractors frequently refer to medical doctors when necessary.
Q. What should I expect during a treatment?
A. Sudbury Spine & Sport Clinic’s model of care utilizes a comprehensive approach. In a typical injury treatment, care would include addressing the soft tissue (muscles) through manual therapies, adjusting any joints that currently have a limited range of motion (if needed) and helping develop proper stability and motor control planning, strength, flexibility and endurance through rehabilitation and strength training.
Expected duration of booked appointments with Dr. Staneckyj will be approximately 30-45 minutes for an initial visit and 15-20 minutes for a subsequent visit including treatment and rehabilitation. Our goal is to show significant improvement in 2-6 patient visits with a goal of restoration of function in 6-12 visits. Patients will choose to continue their care (at a pre-determined frequency) to help prevent future re-occurrences or injuries.
Q. I don’t want to be adjusted full spine. Is this a necessary part of the treatment?
A. Every patient is unique. Chiropractic adjustments are appropriate for certain conditions, but are not absolutely necessary. The signature treatment is the education you will receive about the spectrum of treatment options that are recommended for you.
Q. Can I see you for headache pain?
A. Absolutely. Chiropractic along with postural and/or ergonomic advice is a proven approach for many headaches. Occassionally, multidisciplinary management with other specialists is required and a team approach is utilized.
Q. How long does it usually take to get better from a back pain episode?
A. While each patient is different based on their presentation and symptoms, about 80% of people with lower back pain have noticeable and marked improvement within 2-4 weeks.
Q. What is the most important thing I can do for myself for back pain?
A. Stay active! Move well and move often.