What Does a Chiropractor Do?

Q: Have a question about chiropractic care?

You can book an appointment online or call Whole Body Health and Wellness at 604-479-0777.

Aug 26

4 min read

If you've never been to a chiropractor before, you may be wondering what exactly we do. You might have heard that chiropractors "adjust your spine," but chiropractic care can involve much more than that.

As a chiropractor, my goal is to understand why you're having a problem, help you move and feel better, and give you the tools to help maintain those improvements.

At Whole Body Health and Wellness in Maple Ridge, I take a fairly hands-on and individualized approach to chiropractic care. What I do during an appointment depends on what you're experiencing, what I find during my assessment, and what I think will be most helpful for you.

What does a chiropractor actually do?

Chiropractors assess and treat problems involving the muscles, joints, nervous system and movement of the body. People commonly see a chiropractor for things such as:

Low back pain
Neck pain
Headaches
Sciatica
Muscle and joint pain
Sports injuries
Repetitive strain injuries
Mobility problems
Injuries from motor vehicle accidents (ICBC related)
General aches and pains that are interfering with everyday activities

Treatment isn't necessarily the same for everyone. Two people can come into my office with similar symptoms and require very different approaches.

That's why I start by listening to what you're experiencing and assessing how you're moving before deciding what treatment makes sense.

Chiropractic adjustments are only one part of what I do

Chiropractic adjustments are an important part of my practice, but they aren't the only thing I do.

When I see a patient, I will often incorporate soft tissue work into their treatment. Depending on what I find, this may include Active Release Technique (ART) or other soft tissue techniques to address areas of muscle tension or restriction.

I may also use specific chiropractic adjustments to improve joint movement and function.

The goal isn't simply to "crack" or adjust something because it feels good. I'm looking at the bigger picture and trying to understand how the different pieces are contributing to the problem you're experiencing.

Exercise is an important part of chiropractic care

One of the things I really believe in is that what happens between appointments can be just as important as what happens during an appointment.

When appropriate, I will prescribe exercises that can help improve strength, mobility, stability or movement patterns.

The exercises I recommend aren't intended to give you more work to do for the sake of it. I want them to be practical and relevant to what you're trying to get back to doing.

Whether that's getting back to the gym, playing sports, working without pain, picking up your kids, or simply being able to move comfortably through your day, the goal is to help you get there.

Lifestyle advice can be part of treatment too

Pain and movement problems don't always exist in isolation.

Sleep, activity levels, work, stress, exercise, posture and other aspects of your lifestyle can all play a role in how you feel and how your body responds to an injury or ongoing problem.

When I think lifestyle changes may be helpful, I'll talk to you about them and offer suggestions that are realistic for your situation.

I don't believe in giving everyone the same list of things they "should" be doing. The advice needs to make sense for the individual person.

Chiropractic care should be a team effort

One of the things I enjoy most about being a chiropractor is working with people rather than simply treating a body part.

I also believe strongly that good healthcare is a team effort.

My role is important, but so is your role.

I can provide treatment, give you exercises, make recommendations and help identify things that may be contributing to your problem. But what you do outside of the clinic matters too.

Sometimes the best approach may also involve another healthcare professional. Because Whole Body Health and Wellness is a multidisciplinary clinic, we have several different practitioners under one roof, including registered massage therapists, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine and counselling.

There isn't one treatment that is right for every person, and sometimes working together makes the most sense.

What happens during a chiropractic appointment?

Your first appointment will generally begin with a conversation about what's bothering you, how it started and how it's affecting your life.

I'll then perform an assessment to help determine what may be contributing to the problem.

From there, treatment might include a combination of:

Chiropractic adjustments
Active Release Technique (ART)
Other soft tissue techniques
Mobility or movement work
Exercise prescription
Lifestyle recommendations

The specific approach depends on the individual and the problem we're working on.

I don't believe in treating everyone exactly the same way.

Why did I become a chiropractor?

I genuinely love what I do.

One of the most rewarding parts of being a chiropractor is seeing someone go from being frustrated because they can't do something they enjoy to getting back to doing it.

Sometimes that means helping someone recover from an injury. Other times it's helping someone who has been dealing with the same nagging problem for months finally understand what's going on and what they can do about it.

I also enjoy the relationships that develop with patients over time. Chiropractic isn't just about making an adjustment and sending someone out the door. It's about understanding the person sitting in front of me and figuring out how I can help.

I've been practicing chiropractic for more than a decade, and I continue to enjoy learning and finding better ways to help the people who come through my office.

Do you need to see a chiropractor?

Not every ache or pain requires chiropractic care, and seeing a chiropractor isn't necessarily the right choice for everyone.

But if pain, stiffness or an injury is interfering with the things you want or need to do, an assessment can be a useful place to start.

If you're in Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Mission or the surrounding area and you're wondering whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for you, I'd be happy to discuss what's going on and determine whether I think I can help.

— Dr. Kevin Murphy, DCChiropractor at Whole Body Health and Wellness in Maple Ridge