DEFINITIONS

– AKTIV COAST HEALTHCARE –

Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) – Chiropractors are highly skilled manual therapists with expert knowledge in musculoskeletal health. In British Columbia, they are licensed to treat and diagnose conditions of the spine, joints, and extremities.

In Canada, chiropractors are required to complete a minimum of three years of university education, followed by four years at an accredited chiropractic college. A chiropractic program includes over 4500 hours of education emphasizing differential diagnosis, patient-centred care and research. An additional 1500 hours of supervised clinical practice must be completed before completing national and provincial board exams.

Chiropractors are well trained to determine if a condition will respond to chiropractic treatment or if it requires a referral to another health care provider.

Chiropractic adjustment – A chiropractic adjustment, or joint manipulation is a precise and highly skilled therapy involving the application of force by hand. An adjustment is applied to restore motion at a restricted joint or spinal segment with the intent of reducing pain and muscle spasm in the surrounding tissues.

Spinal and joint manipulation have been extensively researched and are considered to be extremely safe and effective treatment for spine and joint pain.

Rehabilitation – goal-oriented movements and exercises used to strengthen and support the muscles and joints of the spine and extremities, correct muscle imbalances, correct joint mobility issues, and enhance control, stability, and endurance of the muscles, joints, and ligaments. The goal of rehabilitation is to aid in the recovery of a current injury.

Prehabilitation – specific movements and exercises used to correct muscular imbalances and movement limitations with the goal of reducing future injury risk and improving strength and functional capacity. In order to properly address these issues we take special consideration for previous injury history and the specific impact/demands your work/sport has on your body. The emphasis is on assessment, correction, and prevention.

Custom Orthotics – A custom orthotic is a device designed to align the foot and ankle into the most anatomically efficient position. They look like insoles, but are biomechanical medical appliances that are custom made to correct your specific foot imbalance. Custom orthotics work on your feet much like glasses work on your eyes – they reduce stress and strain on your body by bringing your feet back into proper alignment. The plastic body of the custom orthotic helps to re-align the foot by redirecting and reducing certain motion that takes place during the gait cycle. Custom orthotics fit into your shoes as comfortably as an insole – and they have the advantage of having been made from precise imprints of your feet.

– taken from the Orthotic Group

Active Release Techniques (ART ®) is a specific soft tissue technique used to safely and effectively break down adhesions and fibrotic tissues as a result of injury, overuse, and decreased circulation.

Treatment involves the application of tension under the practitioner’s hand while the patient moves the tissue from a shortened to a lengthened position.

Graston ® Technique – is a soft tissue treatment technique using specially designed stainless steel instruments to perform muscular and fascial mobilizations at the site of injury. Graston technique is used to break down scar tissue adhesions, stimulate fibroblast proliferation and enhance healing in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia.

Litecure ® Laser Therapy – LiteCure ® is the first class IV laser to be approved by Health Canada. The laser works on a cellular level, through a process known as photobiomodulation to stimulate injured cells to more rapidly produce energy (ATP). The result is an increase in circulation at the site of injury and accelerated healing. Key benefits include:

– Safe, fast, and effective pain relief

– Reduced inflammation

– A non-surgical, drug free treatment option

Physiotherapy

Registered Massage Therapy

Clinical Counseling