Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors, Author at Parallel Chiropractic & Wellness Centre

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So far Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors has created 12 blog entries.

Back to School: Back to Healthy Sleep Habits

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2025-09-15T21:46:53+00:00September 15th, 2025|Back Health at Home, Health, Kids, School, Sleep, Wellness|

With kids back in school, it’s important to help them get their sleep habits and schedule back on track. Poor sleep and fatigue can lead to problems with school work, mood swings and overall health.

Alberta’s chiropractors offer the following suggestions for easing your child into a good school-time sleep schedule and helping maintain healthy sleep habits year round.

Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. Quiet time before bed allows your child to unwind. The routine should include relaxing activities, such as a bath and bedtime story for young children or reading time for older children. This signals the body and mind that it is time to settle down for sleep.
Avoid large meals before bedtime. A heavy meal may prevent your child from falling asleep as the body works to digest the food.
Avoid caffeine. Sodas and other caffeinated drinks should be limited after noon and especially at night. A good rule of thumb is to avoid any caffeine six hours before bedtime, as it can interrupt your child’s natural sleep patterns, making it difficult for them to sleep.
Maintain a relaxing sleeping environment. A dark room, comfortable bed and appropriate room temperature maximize the likelihood of good night’s sleep. Distractions such as televisions, computers or video games should be removed from your child’s room.
Proper bedtime equipment. The right mattress and pillow are essential. When choosing a mattress for your child, look for one that is comfortably supportive. The mattress should be flexible enough to adapt to the body’s shape while providing firm support. Pillows are also important. For side sleepers, the head, neck and shoulders should remain level with the mid and lower spine. For back sleepers, the head and neck should remain level with the upper back and spine. Avoid pillows that are so thick or thin they angle the head and neck away from the body.
Proper sleeping position. It is best to sleep on your back or side and not your stomach. Lying on your back or side allows your head, neck and spine to relax into their natural alignment. This helps you to avoid stiffness in the morning.
Maintain sleep schedule. Once your child’s sleep schedule is established, stick with it. Don’t use weekends to catch up on sleep.

If you or your child experience pain and discomfort at night or have difficulty falling asleep, visit your chiropractor. Chiropractors are trained to treat spinal problems that can interfere with a restful night’s sleep. They can also offer nutritional and lifestyle advice that can help improve sleep quality.

Weight lifting and back health

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2025-09-04T21:19:48+00:00September 4th, 2025|Adults, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Overall Back Health, Sports & Fitness|

For those who are looking to get into weight lifting, it is important to have the right weight lifting technique to avoid injury, especially to your back.

What kind of exercises can put my back at risk?

Any exercise has the potential to hurt your back if not preformed correctly, but back injuries most commonly result from the following movements:

Problems come from these exercises when people extend or flex the back muscles against the weight they are lifting, which could cause muscle strains or ligament injuries.

How can I prevent a back injury from happening when lifting weights?

Know Thyself
Though this is an old adage, it is a staple for all weight lifters. Nobody knows your body and your personal limits better than you do.

All weight lifters, especially beginners, should work slowly up to their maximum capacity. This means starting at a low weight, seeing how your body reacts to it, then slowly adding more weight as you see fit. Your body will let you know when you’ve reached your limit and strength will improve over time, but it will be a slow and steady progress. Think of the way grass grows, it doesn’t go from being freshly cut to 10-inches long overnight.

Other quick tips to avoid injury

Never go straight into any kind of a workout without performing some type of dynamic stretching first. This is especially true for back workouts. Getting the blood pumping with a quick warm up before you stretch will only make your stretch that much more effective as well.
Be sure to keep your back straight when bending to lift weights from the floor or squatting with weights on the upper body. Don’t be afraid to bend your knees a little as this will allow you to keep your back straight. Also, remember bending or flexing at the hips is fine, but curving the back is not.
Curving the spine is usually caused by other issues such as: tight hamstrings, pelvis immobility and pelvis or low back discomfort.
Use a spotter or a workout partner when working with free weights to protect your back from possible sudden movement or excess strain.
Beginners should try using less weight, but do more repetitions when lifting. This will help you get the hang of the movement, promote good technique, along with putting less stress on the muscle or ligament.

What can I do if I’ve injured my back lifting weights?

Seeing a chiropractor is a great place to start. Chiropractors are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the musculoskeletal system (the body’s bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, joints and connective tissue).

Your chiropractor can also help ensure you don’t reinjure your back by providing helpful stretches or advice before embarking on a weight lifting routine again.

If you’ve experienced back pain in the past, and are looking to get back to the weights, it’s a good idea to first get an evaluation from a chiropractor. They can help work with you to identify areas of weakness to work on and activities you should avoid, to keep your back strong and healthy.

Back-to-school backpack guide

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2025-08-19T19:49:00+00:00August 19th, 2025|Health, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Kids, Overall Back Health, School|

It’s back-to-school time for students! While most of your shopping for new school supplies may be complete, there’s always time to review one of the most essential items that students will use everyday – their backpacks! Finding the right backpack for your child will support proper spinal health because carrying a heavy load, especially while using a poorly designed bag, can lead to poor posture and over time, lead to muscle strain, headaches, back, neck and arm pain.

Earlier this month, Dr. Catherine Bezeau spoke with Radio-Canada to discuss how to choose the right backpack for your child to support good posture and avoid back pain. Listen below. Available in French-only.

As homework starts to pile up, binders and laptops, and lunches and snacks, can start to add up and weigh backpacks down! Check out our guide on what to what to look for in a backpack and other tips to consider.

What to look for:

Wide padded shoulders: Too much weight on the shoulders and neck can impair circulation.

A padded back: Provides extra comfort and protects oddly shaped objects in the bag.

Compartments: Multiple compartments help distribute the load evenly and keep items organized.

Try it on: Whenever possible, try the backpack on and assess how it feels when fully loaded. Adjust the straps to ensure a comfortable fit and walk around to get a sense of how it distributes weight.

Pack it light! Wear it right!

Is the backpack reasonably proportional to the size of the person? The bottom of the bag should sit at waist level.
How much does the bag weigh when it’s full? Some research suggests that backpacks should be no more than 10% of the wearer’s body¹. That means if a student weighs 130 pounds, their backpack should only weigh 13 pounds.
Pack the heaviest items closest to the back and in the middle of the backpack.

By purchasing the right backpack and wearing it correctly, you can minimize discomfort and poor posture habits. For more tips, take a look at our “Pack it light. Wear it right. : Backpack Brochure” or find a chiropractor near you to discuss your child’s specific needs.

What you need to know about falls and treating injuries from falls

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2025-07-24T17:27:39+00:00July 24th, 2025|Adults, Events, General, Health, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Overall Back Health, Sports & Fitness, Wellness|

In Alberta, falls are the leading cause of injuries among seniors. Falls account for 101 emergency visits and 27 fall-related hospital admissions each day.[i] With an average length of stay in hospital of 22 days, hospital admissions and emergency department visits due to seniors’ falls costs the healthcare system $290 million annually.[ii]

Twenty to 30 per cent of seniors in Alberta will fall once a year.[iii] In fact, 95 per cent of all hip fractures and 40 per cent of all nursing home admissions are a direct result of falling.[iv] And seniors older than 65 are nine times more likely than those younger than 65 to be admitted to hospital for fall-related concussions[v] (the most common type of traumatic brain injuries).

Slips and falls most often result in back and muscle pain. Chiropractors are highly educated and specially trained to diagnose, treat and prevent conditions related to the spine, nervous system, and musculoskeletal system. They work with patients to resolve pain, discomfort and restricted range of motion that can result from injury. If you are experiencing pain related to a slip or fall, consult your chiropractor. Find a chiropractor near you.

If you have you experienced a fall, or have a fear of falling, take these steps to maintain your independence and avoid being injured from a slip or fall:

MEDICATION USE IS ONE OF MANY RISK FACTORS FOR FALLS IN OLDER ADULTS. The more medications you are on, the higher your risk of falling.^iv Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your medications, symptoms, and potential to experience falls. They can assess you and your medications and determine the best plan of action.
PRACTICE INJURY PREVENTION. For older adults, fall prevention means injury prevention. Ask your loved ones to help you ensure that your rooms and stairways are clutter-free and well-equipped with lighting, handrails, grab bars, and nonslip mats — all of which can go a long way toward keeping you safe in your home.
HAVE YOUR VISION CHECKED. Your vision changes with age, and these changes may increase your risk of falling. Visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye exam every year.
WEAR PROPER FOOTWEAR. Shoes and boots with solid treads on the soles can help to minimize the risk of slips and falls. Click here for information on the ideal shoe for seniors’ fall prevention.

KEEP MOVING. Physical activity can go a long way toward fall prevention. Consider taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away when running errands, or walking around the house while your coffee brews. Start by exercising in three-minute bursts and work up to taking a 30-minute walk around your neighbourhood.

Falls can be prevented. For more information and resources, visit www.findingbalancealberta.ca

Heat vs. ice: which works best for treating injuries?

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2025-06-19T20:20:40+00:00June 19th, 2025|Adults, General, Health, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Wellness|

Heat vs. Ice … It may sound like the title of an upcoming blockbuster movie, but it’s a question most active people have mulled over during their life after they’ve sustained an injury. Like most dilemmas, there isn’t really an easy answer to this question. Whether to treat an injury with a hot pad or an ice pack depends largely on the situation.

Ice

How cooling an injury works

Applying ice or a cold pack works by reducing blood flow and pain sensation to a particular area. Cooling an injured area, especially a tendon or joint, can reduce inflammation and swelling that causes pain.

When is it best to apply ice to my injury?

Ice is meant to calm down damaged surface tissues that are inflamed, red, hot and swollen. Think of icing as a way to simply dull the pain, and reduce inflammation, nothing more or nothing less. Ice therapy is most beneficial in the first 24-72 hours of sustaining an injury.

After you’ve sustained your injury, you should aim to apply ice to the inflamed area as soon as possible.

Use cold therapy for short periods of time, several times a day.

It’s important not to treat an area with ice for too long. Ten to fifteen minutes is fine, but no more than 20 minutes of cold therapy should be used at a time.

Also, don’t cool an area to the point where you are shivering. If you are already shivering, you should discontinue applying ice until you warm up. The brain interprets an excess of cold as a threat and when the brain thinks there’s something wrong going on it may actually amp up your area of pain as a defense mechanism.

How to apply cooling therapy

Before you apply ice or a cooling pack to the injured area, always make sure there is some sort of barrier between the ice and your skin. Whether it be a Ziploc bag or a washcloth, it’s imperative that the barrier exists. Applying ice directly on the skin can cause damage to the skin and tissues.

Heat

How applying heat to an injury works

Heat therapy works by improving circulation and blood flow to a particular area. Heating an affected area can soothe discomfort, increase muscle flexibility and help heal damaged tissue.

When is it best to apply heat to my injury?

Heat therapy is most effective for sore muscles, chronic pain and repetitive stress injuries. A comfortable, not scalding, heat can take the edge off symptoms like muscle aching and stiffness. Heat can be most beneficial 36-72 hours after the injury is sustained.

How to apply heat therapy

When applying heat therapy to a small, afflicted area you could use small heated gel packs or a hot water bottle.

There are certain cases where heat therapy should not be used. If the area is bruised or swollen, it may be better to use an ice pack. Heat therapy also shouldn’t be applied to an area with an open wound.

Heat therapy, unlike cold therapy, is most beneficial when used for long periods of time.

Minor stiffness can benefit with only 15 to 20 minutes of heat therapy. Moderate to severe pain can benefit from longer sessions of heat therapy lasting between 30 minutes and two hours.

When to see a chiropractor
Whether you go the ice or heat route, both treatments are meant only to mask the discomfort of your injury. If your pain hasn’t subsided after a few days of either heat or cold treatment seek advice from a chiropractor.

Avoiding injury while running or jogging

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2025-06-06T20:31:15+00:00June 5th, 2025|Health, Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Sports & Fitness, Wellness|

Running or jogging can be a great exercise; however, it can take its toll on your body in particular your joints, increasing your chance of injuries all the way from your feet, up to your neck. To help ensure you don’t get halted because of injury, make sure you know the best styles and techniques for running or jogging.

Examine your running style

Everyone has their own unique running style. If you were to watch a group of joggers closely, you would see each person runs differently. There is no one, correct way to run, but there are ways to fine-tune your running technique to prevent injury.

Posture—Just like in all aspects of our lives, posture is very important when we run. Good posture will help release tension and reduce strain in your neck and shoulders. This can help prevent muscle fatigue. You can improve your running posture by following some simple, key principles:

Hold your head high, centered between your shoulders and keep your back straight. We have a tendency to lean forward and slouch when we are tired, but this can lead to fatigue and tightness in the neck, as well as the shoulders, back and even your hamstrings. A good rule is to always keep your focus 30-40 yards in front of you. This will force you to keep your head up.
Keep your shoulders relaxed and parallel to the ground. Do not pull your shoulder blades together. This can increase shoulder tension. We also have a tendency to rise our shoulders near are our ears as we tire while running, much like when we are cold. Drop your arms and shake them loosely if you feel this happening.
Pay attention to your arms and hands—It’s easy to imagine that our arms and hands are just along for the ride as we run. This couldn’t be farther than the truth. Your arms and hands are just as important as your legs when you run.
Keep your hands and wrists loose. This will help you avoid tension in your hands and arms, while using less energy and decrease the chance of tension working its way up to your shoulders.
Allow your arms to swing from the shoulders like a pendulum from front to back. Be careful to prevent your arms from crossing the midline of your body.
As you endurance improves and your speed increases, so should the rate at which your arms swing. Swinging your arms at a faster rate will help with your balance and will assist you with for faster leg turnover.

Don’t Over-Stride—When you extend your lead foot too far out in front of the body, it lands in front of your center of gravity creating a breaking effect, this is called over-striding. This can lead to injuries such as runner’s knee and shin splints. As runners become more experienced, their stride lengthens naturally. This is not due to overstretching the lead leg as many new runners do, but rather from increasing the forward motion of the rear leg.

If you run on a treadmill, you will naturally shorten your movements because of the length of the treadmill’s belt. This isn’t a problem, but if you decide to run outside, you may have to make adjustments to your stride.

Research has also shown that the biggest difference between healthy runners and ones that are often injured is stride variability. Your goal as a runner should be to repeat the same stride every time. In injured runners, the joint angles and motions were slightly different with each stride.

Setting manageable goals

It’s important for runners, especially new runners, to follow a training schedule that builds mileage and speed in a logical way. Starting a log to track your running successes is a good idea. Find a beginners schedule so that you can learn to start conditioning properly before implementing strength or speed training.

Over-training is one of the easiest ways to injure yourself. Break your training into small goals using a calendar that extends far out. If you only ran for 20 minutes last week, don’t try to run for an hour the next week. Your body isn’t equipped to handle the added stress yet.

How your chiropractor can help

If you’re gearing up to begin a new running or jogging regimen or have a concern about an injury you’ve sustained while being active, your chiropractor is a good place to start. Find a chiropractor near you now.

Many injuries can be prevented simply by being evaluated by a chiropractor. Your chiropractor will be able to identify problem areas, such as muscle imbalances, joint dysfunctions, or anything else that could lead to pain and injury. Running is a safe, fun and relaxing activity, that can help you trim up and condition your body. Let your chiropractor help lead you towards a successful and injury free running program. Any time you experience pain, muscle imbalance or joint restriction, see your chiropractor.

As part of your healthcare team, your chiropractor can also tell you if a pre-existing injury could be a concern for your new running plan.

Original post from Chiropractic Association of Alberta

Your Feet May be Causing Your Lower Back Pain

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2020-12-09T17:21:07+00:00October 31st, 2017|Healthy Living|

Originally posted by the Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors

Can’t seem to find an answer as to why your back is aching? The answer might lie right below you … your feet.

It’s easy to assume aches in pains in our backs are originating from where you are actually feeling it. So if your back hurts, it must be coming from an issue within your back, right? This is not necessarily the case. Everything in our bodies is connected through tissue and our nervous system.

How are my feet inter-connected to my back and why does this cause me pain?

Your body has three main shock absorbers: your feet, your knees and your spine. The shock of walking, running, jumping etc. is first felt by your feet. If your feet can’t handle the shock, it passes the impact absorption to your knees. When your knees are ill-equipped to handle the shock it passes the absorption to the last stop on the chain, your back. Your back will eventually fatigue and begin to cause you pain, especially if there is a misalignment in the lower region or the pelvis.

Why can’t my feet handle the shock in the first place?

Most of the problems associated with our backs caused by our feet are simply because of the surfaces we walk on. Our feet were designed to walk on grass, sand, dirt, mud and other natural terrain. Human innovation has brought us cement, tile, wood, etc. which are actually detrimental to the health of our feet and in turn our back. Natural terrain is suited to the shape and structure of our feet. This causes our arches to be supported and causes the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the foot and ankle to work in a supportive fashion.

How can I prevent this cycle of pain?

Shoes- Find the right kind of shoe to support your foot type. If you have flat feet or have a minimal arch, shoes that have a good amount of cushioning or stability will work best to absorb the shock.

If you have a pronounced arch, “Minimal” shoes are a specialized option to consider. These shoes are designed to promote the foot striking the ground with the front or middle of the foot rather than the heel.

Sorry folks, there are no high-heels on the planet that are going to do anything good for your feet or back, so try and wear them as sparingly as possible.

Chiropractic adjustment – A visit to your chiropractor can do wonders. First, they will check the joints in your feet and ankles are working properly. Your chiropractor will perform an examination, which could include examining your feet, analyzing your gait and posture, requesting an x-ray and checking your shoes for improper wear.

If it’s determined that your feet are the cause of your back pain, your chiropractor will develop a program, which may include an adjustment of the foot to stabilize your postural foundation and to help relieve related stress/pain to the rest of your body.

Custom Orthotics – Your chiropractor may also suggest individually fitted, orthotic arch supports if they’ve determined your feet to be the cause of your back discomfort.

Orthotic arch supports are heat moldable plastic shoe inserts designed to support the arch on the inside of the foot. Orthotics also help in realigning your foot’s ankle joints and bones.

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Chiropractors as Part of the Opioid Reduction Strategy in Canada

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2021-01-04T23:07:06+00:00September 27th, 2017|Healthy Living|

Originally posted by the Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors

It is hard to live in Canada and not be aware of Canada’s current Opioid Crisis. An estimated 2,000 Canadians are dying annually from prescription opioids. Our country is facing a national crisis. Currently, Canada is the second highest consumer of prescription opioids in the world. Evidence points to back pain and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions as one of the key drivers.

Headlines related to chronic pain and fentanyl overdose are rising in frequency and urgency. Many chronic pain patients have been universally mismanaged by all health professions even with the best intent and the best minds clamoring for solutions.

Chiropractic can be a piece in the puzzle in the development of an effective opioid reduction strategy. By providing prompt access to effective health care options, like chiropractic care, evidence suggests that we can reduce reliance on opioids to treat acute and chronic MSK-related pain.

In fact, new guidelines released by the Canadian Medical Association Journal, recommend a coordinated multi-disciplinary healthcare team, which includes chiropractic, be used to help manage pain and avoid the dependency of opioids.

Albertans and all Canadians deserve earlier access to conservative chiropractic care for their MSK health issues before they become chronic pain sufferers. It is now understood that current solutions in the pain management of non-cancer conditions affecting the MSK system (bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles and joints) have become too reliant on opioids.

Chiropractic is a safe, evidence informed option to treating chronic pain, and our high patient satisfaction levels make chiropractic a popular option for patients looking to address pain and improve function.

Federal and provincial governments are widely recognizing the crisis that exists with opioid addiction and overdose. The Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) has engaged in months of advocacy with the federal government and other health professions to build awareness and understanding that available evidence points to back pain and other MSK conditions as a leading reason for opioid prescribing. We have also had the opportunity provincially to discuss how conservative treatment options like chiropractic can contribute significantly to the health care of Albertans who suffer from pain.

As the national media discuss the link between over-prescribing and the opioid crisis, it appears that the public needs the expertise of chiropractic services more than ever.

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Chiropractic Care and Chronic Medical Conditions

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2021-01-04T23:06:52+00:00August 29th, 2017|Healthy Living|

Chiropractic care can be helpful for a variety of chronic, or long-lasting, medical conditions. These include spinal issues, sciatica, chronic pain, headaches, and many others. But what about non-orthopaedic chronic medical conditions – diseases that do not primarily affect the bones, joints, and connective tissue? These problems include diabetes, heart disease, mental illness, lung disease, etc. Is it safe to have chiropractic treatments if you suffer from any of these conditions?

Keeping Everyone on the Same Page

Whether you have chronic medical conditions or are completely healthy, it is important to keep your entire healthcare team apprised of your situation. This means letting your primary care physician, chiropractor, dentist, surgeon, and other specialists know your complete medical history as well as any changes. All of your medical providers should be informed of your medication types as well as dosages and frequencies, hospital admissions, surgical procedures, allergies, and other medical information.

Only by having complete information will your chiropractor and other healthcare providers be able to make informed decisions for your effective treatment and safety. For instance, your chiropractor may elect to delay spinal manipulation if you’re still healing from a surgery. You should always defer to their experience and expertise if they feel that a treatment may carry a safety risk.

However, you should know that chiropractic treatments are generally safe, even for patients with chronic illnesses. Still, let your primary care physician and any specialists know before you seek chiropractic therapy.

A Look at Two Conditions

Let’s examine two widespread chronic conditions – type 2 diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Type 2 diabetes usually appears in adults and is a systemic disease, meaning it affects your entire body. The primary symptom is high blood sugar, but this can cause other issues like increased thirst and urination, greater susceptibility to heart disease, and diabetic neuropathy – shooting pain and numbness in the hands and feet.

There is currently no evidence that standard chiropractic treatments can worsen type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, while it is not likely that chiropractic can improve the main staple of diabetes – high blood sugar – treatments may be able to help with the symptoms of neuropathy. As always, inform your endocrinologist and primary care physician that you wish to receive chiropractic treatments, and also let your chiropractor know that you’re diabetic, as well as updating them on your blood sugar control and symptoms.

COPD is a common disease among smokers and former smokers, though it may affect non-smokers as well. It manifests mainly as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Patients with COPD may have reduced lung volumes and sometimes require supplemental oxygen.

As with type 2 diabetes, a search of the published literature reveals no instances of adverse COPD patient effects with chiropractic therapy. In fact, several randomised, controlled studies found that COPD patients sometimes benefited from manual spinal manipulation delivered by a qualified chiropractor in the form of increased lung capacities, better lung function, and greater exercise capacities.

Despite these results, again, you should consult with your pulmonologist or family doctor before undergoing chiropractic treatment if you have COPD. Be sure to also let your chiropractor know about your COPD and overall health.

How Soon After Surgery Can You Have Chiropractic Treatment?

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors2025-06-06T15:28:25+00:00June 30th, 2017|Back Health at Home, Back Health at Work, Health, Overall Back Health, Wellness|

Surgical operations are a standard part of modern medicine. By many estimates, the average person will have about nine surgical procedures during their lifetime, including outpatient and in-office procedures. These surgeries may be quite minor and routine, such as a mole removal – or extremely serious, as with organ transplants.

Proper postoperative care is a critical component of recovery after a surgery. Your surgeon will often place restrictions on your activity for a period of time after your procedure, and you should always adhere to their advice. However, most surgeons do not explicitly mention chiropractic treatment in their aftercare instructions. So how long do you need to wait after surgery before having chiropractic care? Unfortunately, there is no single universal answer.

Type and Scope of Surgery

A large portion of the answer to the above question will depend on the type and scope of your surgery. This may seem obvious to some degree. For example, if you’re recovering from ankle surgery but desire chiropractic treatments for tennis elbow, this is unlikely to be a problem. Or, if you’ve had a wound on your finger recently stitched closed, spinal adjustments should not interfere with that healing process.

However, scenarios may arise where you’re unsure whether you’ve healed sufficiently for a chiropractic adjustment. This may be the case for abdominal surgeries, such as a gallbladder removal. In these cases, you should always consult your surgeon prior to undergoing any medical treatment, including chiropractic. Your surgeon is responsible for your aftercare following surgery, and you need to contact their office for any questions or concerns.

Keep Your Providers Up to Date

Whether you’ve undergone a tooth extraction or surgery to help repair a broken bone, you should make certain that all of your healthcare providers are updated on your medical history. This includes your chiropractor. As a health care provider, your chiropractor needs to know your current medical status and all procedures you’ve undergone, no matter how seemingly minor. Keeping your chiropractor up to date will allow them to make the best decisions for your health and safety.

Simply Ask

Before any surgery, your surgeon will explain the procedure and give you an opportunity to ask questions. If you’re planning on seeking chiropractic treatment during your recovery, let your surgeon know and ask about appropriate timeframes. Your surgeon will be able to clear you for chiropractic treatment when you’re ready.

Also, make sure your surgeon and chiropractor have each other’s contact information in case a question arises. This way, they’ll be able to coordinate your care and keep each other informed of your progress.

Although they are different disciplines, chiropractic and surgical care aren’t at odds with each other. By keeping your healthcare providers up to date on your medical history and asking questions, you can help ensure that your treatment team is working in conjunction to ensure your health and wellness.

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