According to the Canadian Chiropractic Association, up to 85% of working people can expect to experience low back pain during their lifetime. Some experts call back pain in Canada an epidemic. To understand more about back pain and how to deal with it, Corporita Magazine met with Dr. Isabel Griffith, Doctor of Chiropractic.
For our readers who don't know, what is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is actually one of the largest primary care professions in Ontario. It is a health care profession that focuses on the treatment of the neuro-musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors provide treatment and preventative care for disorders of the spine, pelvis, nerves, muscles and joints. Chiropractic care is hands-on and non-invasive.
The chiropractic provides hands-on treatments, as well as physical therapy modalities, exercise prescription, lifestyle education and nutritional counseling .
How many years of schooling does it take to become a chiropractor?
In Canada, the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) offers a four-year program which includes a clinical internship and leads to a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Prior to entering the program, students complete at least three years of university education.
What kind of ongoing training do Chiropractors receive?
In Ontario, our regulatory body, the College of Chiropractors of Ontario requires that all practicing Chiropractors complete continuing education credits. There are numerous specializations and certificates chiropractors can receive, such as radiology, physical rehabilitation, pediatric care. Most of my continuing education has focused on women's health because that is the demographic I am most passionate about working with.
I've always loved helping people. For me, that meant a career in health care. I remember when I was a kid playing Barbie. Barbie never participated in fashion shows.
Usually, she had some sort of accident, maybe a fall or car accident. She always ended up at the hospital, where I had the cast her arm and sometimes her leg, with Kleenex and tape. I started university with the intention of pursuing a career as a family physician. While I was in university my Aunt had a horrible case of Sciatica, and when she was told she was told our Physiotherapist couldn't see her for several weeks, a friend recommended she see her Chiropractor. As someone who had always been fascinated with how the human body works, it was an amazing opportunity to be with my aunt during her treatments. I just knew it was something I needed to experience. I quickly learned that it was a profession that fit much more closely with my ideals than conventional medicine and I loved the fact that education and preventive health care was such a large part of Chiropractic care.
What are the most common reasons people have for beginning chiropractic treatment?
The majority of people begin seeing a chiropractor due to low back and or neck pain. Other reasons are headaches, sprains and strains, and just to feel better in general.
The majority of people begin seeing a Chiropractor for a treatment of Low back and or neck pain.
You mentioned that the majority of people begin seeing a Chiropractor for a treatment of Low back and or neck pain. For those readers who are experiencing back or neck pain, could you give them some tips?
Sure. See a Chiropractor! Many of these pains are not the result of an injury – like from a fall or from lifting something heavy. Often they are the result of the repetitive activities we do every day. Most of us spend the majority of our day sitting – on the commute to and from work, at work in front of the computer, then a few hours in front of the television in the evening. It is important to be active throughout the day. Our bodies are meant to move. Take frequent breaks at work – take a walk to the bathroom or water cooler, stretch at your desk or the break room. There are some really good resources online of showing different yoga poses or gentle stretches that can be performed at your workstation . Strengthening your core muscles is also important in preventing injury, especially to the back and pelvis. You don't need to head to the gym. Simple abdominal bracing exercises, when done correctly, can help strengthen the small muscles that help prevent injury to your back.