FAQ
For extended benefits we can directly bill insurance companies on your behalf. Please bring all of your benefits information for our staff to coordinate it with you.
For motor vehicle accidents (MVA) and Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) injury claims we do help you bill through HCAI directly.
Yes, Chiropractors treat patients of all ages, from infants to seniors.
Many children suffer spinal injuries from falls, improper sitting postures, texting posture, and sports injuries. These spinal injuries can impact the health of a growing child greatly if not addressed immediately.
Newborns can also be gently adjusted by a chiropractor. It is very important for infants who underwent difficult deliveries to be checked by chiropractors as they can have residual spinal problems that can impact their development. A newborn who is having difficulty latching, moving their neck, or meeting milestones should especially be checked by a chiropractor for spinal misalignments.
The best part about Chiropractic care for children is that it is a way to encourage and support the child to be his or her naturally healthy self, without the use of drugs!
Kids need Chiropractic Too!
Insure the health of the next generation with regular Chiropractic care!
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association is a great resource to explore: http://icpa4kids.org/
Stroke –
Blood flows to the brain through two sets of arteries passing through the neck. These arteries may become weakened and damaged, either over time through aging or disease, or as a result of injury. A blood clot may form in a damaged artery. All or part of the clot may break off and travel up the artery to the brain where it can interrupt blood flow and cause a stroke.
Many common activities of daily living involving ordinary neck movements have been associated with stroke resulting from damage to an artery in the neck, or a clot that already existed in the artery breaking off and travelling up to the brain.
Chiropractic treatment has also been associated with stroke. However, that association occurs very infrequently, and may be explained because an artery was already damaged and the patient was progressing toward a stroke when the patient consulted the chiropractor. Present medical and scientific evidence does not establish that chiropractic treatment causes either damage to an artery or stroke. (see below for access to the present medical and scientific evidence)
The consequences of a stroke can be very serious, including significant impairment of vision, speech, balance and brain function, as well as paralysis or death.
-The above statement is from the Canadian Chiropractic Protective Association
Here are links to the present medical and scientific evidence regarding stroke:
Chiropractic is effective.
It is amazing to experience the changes in a body after being under Chiropractic care. Chiropractors are excellent at helping your body change. If you are stuck with a health problem or challenge, chiropractic can help you change to overcome your problem. There are many incredible miracle stories with regards to patients experiencing amazing changes with respect to their health with the help of Chiropractic. Let us help you change your story into a great one!
Numerous scientific studies have shown that Chiropractic care is the treatment of choice for most spinal problems. Check out some of the research listed below on chiropractic's impact on vertebral subluxation, health, and spine related problems.
Manga Report on Chiropractic Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness for Low Back Pain
Effect of chiropractic care on heart rate variability and pain in a multisite clinical study.
Chiropractors have a minimum of 7 years of post-secondary education. After obtaining a degree at a university they spend 4 years at an accredited Chiropractic college where they are engaged in intense classroom, laboratory and clinical education. Our Chiropractors attended the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and Life Chiropractic College West. Here they learn the anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics of the body. They then learn clinical aspects and how to analyze, diagnose, and treat the spine and spine related conditions with effective and gently chiropractic care. Chiroropractors also continue to grow their skills through further training with regards to more specific adjusting techniques and clinical skills. These courses include the Activator Methods International Seminars, International Chiropractic Pediatric Association Seminars, Chiropractic Awareness Council Spring Conference, Halton Peel Chiropractic Society Monthly Meetings with local and international speakers. We are very happy to have very passionate and skilled chiropractors on our Mississauga team at Erin Mills Optimum Health.
Yes.
Many people who have had back surgeries often find themselves back to the same problems they originally had before the surgery - what they call "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome". People in this situation often find help through Chiropractic. Usually, Chiropractic care can save them from future operations. It can also support them towards better function and reduced nerve interference.
Below are my favourite exceprts from a 2016 research article regarding the help that an Activator Chiropractic adjustment can have on post operative pain:
World Federation of Chiropractic Award Winning Paper January 2016
Neuropathic and Postoperative Pain – Improved with Activator in 2016 Award Winning Paper
"Methods: We used the activator adjusting instrument, a chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy tool, to deliver force to the spinous process of L5 and L6" (in rats)
"Results: Repetitive Activator-assisted spinal manipulative therapy significantly reduced simulated neuropathic and postoperative pain, inhibited or reversed the neurochemical alterations, and increased the anti-inflammatory IL-10 in the spinal cord."
"Conclusion: these finds show that spinal manipulation mat activate the endogenous anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the in the spinal cord and thus has the potential to alleviate neuropathic and postoperative pain."
"Injury and inflammation to the nerve and tissues within or adjacent to the lumbar intervertebral foramen (IVF) can cause a series of pathologic changes, which may contribute to pathogenesis of chronic low back pain."
"Instruments such as the activator adjusting instrument (AAI) have been used to produce spinal mobilization. The AAI was developed to precisely control the speed, force, and direction of the adjustive thrust to produce a safe, reliable, and controlled force for manipulation of osseous spinal structures."
Chiropractic is not covered by OHIP but most employee health benefit plans cover Chiropractic. Work related injuries are covered by WSIB. Your automobile insurance will pay for any injuries that are caused by motor vehicle accidents. Fortunately, chiropractic care is not very expensive! In fact when comparing cost effectiveness for health challenges like back pain, chiropractic is one of the most cost effective ways to address the back problem and to stop it from coming back. Our patients also consistently show high satisfaction rates with chiropractic care and its benefits. So even though OHIP doesn't cover Chiropractic care now in Ontario, Canada, it is a great and cost effective way for you to address your health problems and reach your optimum health.
Neck pain can become severely painful and disabling. It is important to take care of your neck, especially when it is experiencing pain. Chiropractors are great at examining the neck and helping it function normally again. The longer you allow a problem to go untreated, the longer the recovery back to normal function again is.
Chiropractors are trained to specifically measure, analyze, and encourage you towards better posture and better health.
Check out Dr. Peever's blog on Why Posture is so Important to learn more
Proper alignment and positioning of the neck are of great importance while healing from neck injuries and pain. The misalignment of your neck bones is referred to as subluxations. Chiropractors are specially trained to identify the injured structures in the neck, properly adjust them, and educate you on proper healing postures; all of this can greatly help your neck pain.
Neck pain can stem from many different structures — like joints, discs, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. These pains can be caused by whiplash injuries, bad posture, or even just sleeping in an awkward position. Some of these neck problems develop over months or years before the problem becomes so severe that the patient can’t ignore it any longer. Seek treatment for your neck pain earlier in order to get the quickest response to care!
The best posture for your neck when sitting or standing is when your head is on top of your spine. As soon as your head is leaning in front of your spine, your body is in for trouble.
A good posture for your neck when sleeping is also a neutral position. Do not have your head twisted or forced in any direction. This means that sleeping on your back or side can be fine positions for your neck. Sleeping on your stomach is a bad position for your neck.
Check out these blogs for more information by Dr. Peever on the best posture exercise or Why posture is so important or the worst sleeping posture
For new injuries ice is the way to go. The goal is to reduce the amount of swelling and to numb the area.
To warm up prior to activity, heat is the way to go.
Lower back pain is a common problem for humans. It affects 84 per cent of the working population at some point in their life and is second only to the common cold as a cause of lost work time. But back pain doesn’t have to hijack your sick days - let us help.
The vertebrae want to be in their proper position. Simple motion is ideal to help a vertebrae find its right position. Unfortunately, vertebrae can still get stuck in the wrong position and move improperly. That is why a Chiropractor is important to help your spine function normally again. The process is called a chiropractic adjustment and requires a full chiropractic exam to identify which is the main vertebral subluxation creating the problem.
The vertebrae in the back move out of place because of improper lifting, sitting, or twisting movements. This movement out of place is not a complete dislocation that can occur in a ball and socket joint like a shoulder. The 26 vertebrae in the spine move together in unison with multiple joint contacts – such as discs between the vertebrae bodies and facet joints above and below the vertebrae to limit and allow movement. When a vertebrae moves out of place it is called a vertebral subluxation – less than a dislocation. This has great impact on how that spine functions and how that body will work. It is also the reason for back spasms to occur.
If one of the bones in your spine goes left instead of right because of a poor golf swing your spine has to compensate. The compensation takes a lot of effort on behalf of your spinal biomechanics. If the compensation is too great for your body to handle, and the vertebrae moves further out of place than your body expects… back spasm. Your body will stop you in your tracks and stop you from creating any more damage to the spine or nerve system. This process can actually build up over time.
Most people only focus on the muscular portion of a back spasm as that is what it feels like is creating the problem. This may be creating some of the pain, but this is not causing the problem. Back spasms are actually the body’s facilitated response to the poor biomechanics and coordination of the spine. The muscles actually grab and hold on tight in order to prevent the vertebrae in the back from moving further out of place. The muscles spasm purposefully to protect the spine and spinal cord from further damage. This is painful but it is also an important survival instinct of the body.
Chiropractic focuses on the root cause of the low back pain and does not try to numb it with painkillers. The root cause is most often the alignment on the spine affecting the function. This is specifically called a vertebral subluxation, which is due to misaligned spinal bones (vertebrae), often instigates low back pain. Chiropractors, like your doctor in Mississauga, correct vertebral subluxations with specialized and specific maneuvers called chiropractic adjustments.
Addressing the alignment of the back and teaching a patient to avoid misaligning their spine while they build up their back muscle tolerance to their life demands is optimal when managing low back problems.
There are many structures in a back that can generate pain - bones, discs, joints, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and even the organs. Recent research showed us that 90% of chronic low back pain is from the joints of the spine. A Chiropractic exam can help you determine which structures are playing a role in your injury as well as how you can help them recover. Read more about chronic back pain and what to do about it here.
The best exercise for back pain is walking.
Walking is the first thing I have my patients who are experiencing back pain do when they ask what they can do at home. Don’t walk like Frankenstein with a stiff body and arms. Instead, walk smoothly and within your tolerance level building up your walking distance slowly.
Read more about this here.
Ideally, the pain from a back pain injury should feel better after 2 weeks. Unfortunately, the healing process for the spine can drag on for months or years. The quicker someone acts to improve their condition, the quicker they’ll be able to recover.
For new injuries ice is the way to go. The goal is to reduce the amount of swelling and to numb the area.
To warm up prior to activity, heat is the way to go.
Your feet mirror your general health. Such conditions as arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet – so foot ailments can be your first sign of more serious medical problems.
Walking is the best exercise for your feet. It also contributes to your general health by improving circulation, contributing to weight control and promoting all-round well being.
Trim your toe nails straight across with toenail clippers. Leave them slightly longer than the tips of your toes, and file the edges round.
Buying shoes is best done late in the day. Your feet tend to swell a little during the day, and it’s best to buy shoes to fit then. Have your feet measured every time you purchase shoes. Many people have one foot larger than the other, so it’s best to fit the larger one.
When you walk, the pressure on your feet exceeds your body weight. When you’re running, it can be three or four times your weight.
The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. They cover several miles, which add up to about 115,000 miles in a lifetime – more than four times the circumference of the globe.
Woman have about four times as many foot problems as men; lifelong patterns of wearing high heels often are the culprit.
The foot is an intricate structure containing one quarter of all the bones in the body. 33 joints, 107 Ligaments, 19 muscles, and several tendons hold the structure together and allow it to move in a variety of ways.
Seventy-five percent of Canadians will experience foot health problems which may lead to knee and back pain.
The first consultation will take 75 minutes. Return visits take 30 to 45 minutes depending upon the treatment. The patient will be asked to complete a detailed health questionnaire, designed to help identify specific health needs. A case oriented physical will be done as required as well as diagnostic tests. After the initial consultation, physical examination and review of the case, an effective treatment program will be created to address the health concerns.
All of the vitamins, minerals and plant extracts used for this therapy are naturally occurring. The only thing that is different about IV therapy is the route of administration.
This is a common question regarding IV Therapy. The needle used for this treatment is much smaller than the one used to take blood. People are often surprised how comfortable and painless the treatment is.
The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine offers Canada’s only accredited 4 year, full-time professional program in Naturopathic Medicine. To apply, candidates must have three years of university studies with specific prerequisites. Clinical experience is an important aspect of the training of an ND. Upon completion of the program, graduates take North American licensing examinations before registration is granted to practice as a Naturopathic Doctor.
Homeopathy is the treatment of ‘like that cures like’, taking a small amount of substance to encourage the body to heal itself. Naturopathic medicine uses homeopathy as one of it’s tools in healing a person.
The best and safest way of choosing and taking these are to be advised by a health professional (Certified Herbalist or Naturopathic Doctor). The reason for this is because of the potential interactions herbs and supplements can have with medication i.e. essential fats and blood thinning drugs. Patients who are breastfeeding or pregnant should also consult a Naturopath if they are considering taking herbs or supplements.
Massage Therapists are required to drape you with a sheet so that they expose only that portion of your body on which they are working. Most people undress to their undergarments. You will not be asked to expose yourself beyond the point at which you are comfortable.
It is recommended to have an Epsom Salt bath to soothe and calm muscles, and enhance the benefits of the massage. It will help with muscle stiffness you may feel the next day. Epsom Salts are great after a workout also. Add 2 cups of Epsom Salts to a very warm bath. Drink plenty of water when you are in the tub and afterwards to keep the tissues and yourself hydrated.
We are conveniently open from 7:30am to 7:00pm Monday to Friday and from 8:00 until 12:00 on Saturdays.
If you wish to have silence, just let your therapist know at the beginning of your massage. The Therapist may, however, require verbal information pertinent to health findings during your treatment.
It is important to let your Massage Therapist know. Massage Therapy is not recommended for people who suffer from hemophilia.
It is best to contact our well-informed support staff to inquire about fees as each profession at Erin Mills Optimum Health employs different examination procedures.
When you arrive you will fill out a confidential health history form. Your Therapist will go over this with you to determine your treatment needs and goals.
It is advised that you not eat anything at least 90 minutes prior to your massage treatment. A light meal at that time is suggested. Similar to swimming and working out, during a massage your body will take all the blood away from the digestion process and take it to the working peripheral tissues therefore causing poor digestion and possibly some discomfort.
Yes, all our Therapists are registered. The receipt you receive after payment will have their registration number on it. This receipt is the one you hand into your insurance company.
A note from you Physician and/or Chiropractor may be required by your extended health insurance company for reimbursement.
Yes, with some pregnancies, woman can experience aches and pains such as lower back pain, neck pain and sciatica. Massage can help relax the muscles that support the spine.
