What is a chiropractor?

Have you ever wondered exactly what a chiropractor is? Here are some answers: chiropractors are medical professionals specialized in chiropractic. They have a variety of skills and offer a large array of treatments for neuromusculoskeletal disorders (NMS).

More specifically, a chiropractor treats bones, ligaments, muscles, the nervous system, and tendons. If you suffer from back or neck pain, tendonitis, or any other type of muscular pain, seeing a chiropractor is an option. The chiropractor is a primary care professional, who can be consulted at any time without having to be referred by another healthcare professional.

While many medical doctors will recommend physical therapy, there are a lot of other treatments, like massages, acupuncture, and obviously, chiropractic. Depending on your symptoms, chiropractic treatment could be the right solution for you. 

Find out everything there is to know about what is a chiropractor and how they can help you get closer or achieve optimal physical wellness.

How to Become a Chiropractor

Chiropractors in Montreal need to complete a 5-year doctorate of chiropractic to be recognized by the OCQ (Ordre des Chiropraticiens du Québec).

What Is a Chiropractor and What Does a Chiropractor Do

A chiropractor is a health care provider that uses the benefits of spinal manipulation. By realigning joints, a chiropractor improves the functioning of other systems throughout the body and its ability to perform. Chiropractors have the following skills:

• Perform an appropriate physical examination (postural, neurological, orthopedic)
• Prescribe and read X-rays and medical imagery (if necessary)
• Give a chiropractic diagnosis
• Develop and provide a treatment plan depending on the patient’s condition

The most important difference between chiropractors and doctors is that they do not rely on medication to fix a health problem but on the body’s ability to self-heal.

Using their hands and various tools, they realign the vertebrae and various joints in the spine in a specific direction for better alignment. Here are some of the services they offer.

What is a Chiropractor’s Chiropractic Care

• Manual, “hands-on” therapy where they pressure joints into the right position with their hands
• Soft tissue therapy
• Electronic treatments like therapeutic ultrasound and cold laser therapy
• Therapeutic exercise programs tailored to the patient’s needs
• Professional medical advice such as self-management tools and techniques (coping strategies, positions to alleviate pain)

Chiropractic Adjustments

• Treatment for back and neck pain
• Strains and sprains
• Pain associated with arthritis
• Sports injury

Reasons to consult a chiropractor

There are several reasons why someone would need a chiropractor. Chronic pains, lower back pains, neck pain, frequent tendonitis, headaches, arthritis are all valid conditions that benefit from chiropractic treatments. Chiropractic can also apply to anyone, including the elderly, newborns, and even pregnant women.

The main reason that people visit chiropractors is to avoid taking unnecessary medications. Chiropractic can also help:

• Preventing diseases
• Increasing energy levels
• Strengthening immunity
• Fostering overall healthy physical and mental wellness

The chiropractic profession is recognized and regulated by the Office des Professions du Québec (OPQ). In addition, it is administered by a professional Order, whose mission is to protect the public. All chiropractors are liable to the Loi sur la Chiropratique and must conform to a Code of Ethics and professional rules.

If you have any more questions about what is a chiropractor, do not hesitate to contact us. Our team will gladly take your call and answer all of your questions.