Chiropractic Care: Separating Fact from Fiction

Written by: Dr. Evan Steinke, B.Sc. DC

Chiropractic care is a diverse health practice that has been around since the 1890’s. Since its founding it has been under intense scrutiny and the subject of many misconceptions. This can lead to confusion, misinformation, and make new patients unsure of where to begin. So, let’s discuss the big three myths about chiropractic care and the actual research that debunks them.

Myth 1: Chiropractic manipulations are dangerous

There is a common misconception that chiropractic care, particularly the chiropractic
manipulation, is dangerous. Over the years there has been an increasingly large pile of
evidence to state that spinal manipulations are safe and effective. In the case of chronic lower back pain, which is the leading cause of disability globally, the World Health Organization released guidelines in 2023 that recommended treatment with spinal manipulative therapy. Additional research has repeatedly shown that spinal manipulations are safe and do not impose an increased risk of mild or moderate adverse effects (1). In a separate study investigating stroke risk with chiropractic visits compared to primary care, they found there was no evidence of excess risk associated with chiropractic care compared to primary care (2).

World Health Organization Report: https://www.who.int/publications
Alberta Health:
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/


1) Pankrath, Natalie et al. “Adverse Events After Cervical Spinal Manipulation - A
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.” Pain
physician vol. 27,4 (2024): 185-201.
2) Cassidy, J David et al. “Risk of vertebrobasilar stroke and chiropractic care:
results of a population-based case-control and case-crossover study.” Spine vol.
33,4 Suppl (2008): S176-83. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181644600

Myth 2: Chiropractors are not considered doctors

Most often people are familiar with MD’s or Medical Doctors such as their family physician, however, other doctors have different abbreviations. In the case of chiropractors, their title is Doctor of Chiropractic, and their abbreviation is DC. Most chiropractors begin with a four-year undergraduate degree often with courses including biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy and more. From there they can apply to a chiropractic graduate program which on average is an additional four years of education covering topics from rehabilitation, neurology, and biomechanics to name a few.

Additionally, significant time is spent on the development and training of manual adjustment techniques. From there graduates undergo an additional layer of testing to become certified in their province or state which includes both written and in-person skill examinations. In Alberta, these certification requirements are enforced by the College of Chiropractors of Alberta, which also requires additional training to be performed every year to keep chiropractors current and up to date.

Source: https://www.theccoa.ca

Myth 3: Chiropractors only treat the spine

Chiropractors are perhaps best known for their treatment of the spine and are most often sought out for low back pain. However, chiropractors are trained in all areas of the body and are considered muscle, nerve, and bone specialists. Additionally, manipulations can be provided for more than the spine and can include the hips, knees, wrist, ankle and more. Therefore, if you’re experiencing anything from carpal tunnel syndrome to jaw pain you can ask your chiropractor for advice and treatment!

In conclusion, understanding the facts about chiropractic care can empower you to make informed decisions about your health. If you're seeking professional support, we invite you to experience the expertise of Active Sports Therapy's chiropractors.

At AST our Unified Team is dedicated to providing safe, effective treatment tailored to your individual needs, whether you're dealing with spinal issues or other musculoskeletal concerns.

Don't let myths hold you back—schedule a today and discover how chiropractic care can enhance your well-being!

You can find Dr Evan Steinke at AST Westman Village.

Chiropractic Consultation

7 Best Natural Anti-Inflammatory Foods

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Natural anti-inflammatory foods are key to your good health. Read below for the 7 best foods that fight inflammation.

Inflammation is an immune response to injury, toxins, infection, nutritional imbalance and allergies that causes pain, redness heat and swelling in the affected area. Acute, short term inflammation may be a warning but continual inflammation can become your enemy. Many major diseases including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression and Alzheimer's have been linked to chronic inflammation.

Since more than 70 percent of our immune system cells are found in the digestive tract our immune response is hugely affected by the foods we eat. If you want to eat for long-term health, lowering inflammation is crucial. Therefore, I recommend eating a diet focused on anti-inflammatory principles.

Start by avoiding inflammatory foods. These unhealthy foods also contribute to weight gain, which itself is a risk factor for inflammation.

Foods That Trigger Inflammation:

Introduce the Mediterranean diet, eating this way not only helps protect against disease but it also slows the aging process by stabilizing blood sugar and increasing metabolism.

Foods That Fight Inflammation:

Drink plenty of clean, filtered water and follow a balanced, wholefoods based diet, this is beneficial not only for reducing risk of disease but also for improving overall quality of life.

Here’s a link to a delicious anti-inflammatory recipe for you to try!

http://feedmephoebe.com/balanced-diet-salmon-quinoa-bowls-kale-tahini-yogurt-sauce/

By: Melanie Mathews CHN Holistic Nutritional Consultant[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

AST Winter 2014 Lecture Series Line Up

All Lectures are from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the AST Clinic

 

The Truth About Cholesterol & The Most Important Heart Tests You Should Have to Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease

Diamond Fernandes, BSc, ACSM CES®, NSCA CSCS®

Founder and Director of the Heart Fit Clinic

Over 50% of heart attacks occur with people with normal cholesterol profiles.
Learn about the truth about cholesterol and really what causes heart attacks and strokes.

In this talk, you will learn:

 

Strengthen Your Core With Breath

Dr. Jennifer Teasdale DC and Dr. Shereen Kangarloo DC

Did you know that we take approximately 24,000 breaths per day and most of us do not do it properly! Proper breathing mechanics play a huge role on our ability to active our core muscles. Without the ability to properly activate our diaphragm, we can never adequately train our core and build core strength. The ability to breathe correctly can give us that competitive advantage, decrease neck, back and shoulder pain, as well as, return to activity with a lower risk of injury.

Join Dr. Jennifer Teasdale and Dr. Shereen Kangarloo as they present to you step by step breathing techniques that will strengthen your core and help keep you injury-free in your athletic pursuits and your health and wellness goals.

This hands-on lecture is for anyone with chronic headaches, neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, all recreational and high level athletes, anyone with respiratory conditions, as well as, anyone who has ever been pregnant or has had abdominal surgery.\

Muscle Activation Technique

Sarah Kundersma

Join Sarah Kundersma as she introduces MAT – a revolutionary treatment NEW to Active Sports Therapy!

Muscle Activation Techniques™ (MAT™) is a systematic approach that targets pain at its source through a revolu-tionary set of checks and balances that result in increased stability and mobility. It resets the neuromuscular imbalances the body exhibits.

MAT™ was developed by Greg Roskoff, a biomechanics expert, who has worked as a consultant for the Denver Broncos, the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz.

WHY DOES MAT™ WORK?

MAT™ does not treat pain but rather uses it as an indicator that something is wrong. From a muscular point of view, body pain results from stronger muscles being “ tight” be-cause they are overworked to compensate for the weak there by causing misalignment. By “ reactivating” weak muscles, body symmetry is restored. The result is pain re-duction and improved performance levels, including: greater range of motion, increased joint stability, reduced muscle fatigue, and faster muscle recovery.

HOW IS IT DONE?

Certified specialists look for asymmetries in the body through a range of motion exam. The weak muscles are targeted through manual palpations and positional isometric contractions.

EVERYONE CAN BENEFIT?

Individuals can expect reduced pain, improved range of motion and the ability to return to living life as opposed to sitting on the sidelines.

 

Active Isolated Stretching

Michelle Nay BSc. PT, MCPA

Join Active Sports Therapy’s Physiotherapist, Michelle Nay for an evening of active isolated stretching. – a technique new to the clinic!

This specific technique often referred to as “Aaron Mattes” exercises, promote range of motion, restore or develop brain-muscle connectivity, and increase muscle strength, as the bodies soft tissues, including fascia, tendons, and ligaments.
These gentle stretching movements can invigorate the circulatory, respiratory, and neuromuscular systems, which help alleviate many of the symptoms of stress as well.

Flexibility and proper stretching have played a very important role for enhancing performance, rehabilitation and wellness.

Physiological benefits of optimal stretching:

Overall benefits of an Optimal Flexibility Program:

Participants will learn simple stretching techniques that can be used every day.
Let’s get stretching!!!

 

Functional Movement Screen

Dr. David Westmacott B.Kin., DC, RMT

What is your risk of injury in sport or activity? We can tell you! If you are an athlete or just love physical activity, come see if you are at risk of having an injury that could very possibly take you out!

How do we quantify your risk of injury?

THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN (FMS)

Put simply, the FMS is a ranking and grading system that documents movement patterns that are key to normal function. By screening these patterns, the FMS readily identifies functional limitations and asymmetries. These are issues that can reduce the effects of functional training and physical conditioning and distort body awareness.

The FMS generates the Functional Movement Screen Score, which is used to target problems and track progress. This scoring system is directly linked to the most beneficial corrective exercises to restore mechanically sound movement patterns.

Exercise professionals monitor the FMS score to track progress and to identify those exercises that will be most effective to restore proper movement and build strength in each individual.

What is your risk of injury?

FREE FMS SCREENS FOR ALL WHO ATTEND THIS LECTURE

 

Stress and Emotional Management in Work, Sport and Life

Learn how to De-stress in 5 minutes or less – Anytime!

Tracey Delfs BPE, RMT, CYT, CPCC

Join Tracey Delfs to learn some techniques to better manage your stress and emotions, as well as enhance your performance at work, sport and life.

During this presentation you will learn more about how stress impacts our physiology and how practicing the "HeartMath" techniques can bring your mind, emotions and nervous system back to a place of balance. Helping you to calm your mind, decrease anxiety, increase your performance and energy levels. You will also get a chance to see and try out state of the art biofeedback equipment that measures your stress level.

This talk is essential for all looking for ways to help manage stress and emotions or just to get that extra edge for better performance.

Tracey Delfs has experience working with a variety of populations using these techniques and technology. These populations include; Olympic athletes, high stressed executives, overwhelmed parents and individuals with various health conditions including anxiety, hypertension and hormonal imbalances.

 

Silent Inflammation

Its Relationship to ALL CHRONIC DISEASE & How Your GUT PERMEABILITY Plays A Role

Dr. Clare Westmacott MD, CCFP, MF(HOM)

Carole Westmacott RN

 

Special Testing – Available at Active Sports Therapy

Dr. Gayle Maguire BSc., ND

This talk will be presented by Dr. Gayle Maguire, naturopathic doctor.

Come learn about testing options available at AST, including hormones, stress (cortisol), and allergy testing.  We will discuss who may benefit from these tests, how they are performed, how they benefit patient health and guide treatment plans.  We will also cover how these tests compare to alternatives.

 

Improve Your Golf Game by Improving Your Golf Biomechanics

How to effectively increase your biomechanical advantage in golf, and improve your swing in the process. The role that both muscles and fascia have in causing stiffness and/or allowing flexibility as they pertain to golf are examined.

Dr. Corey Finan, D.C., C.C.S.P., R.M.T.

Have you tried golfing and found it difficult to improve your game? Have you sought out lessons without significant improvement to your swing? Maybe your limiting factor is not your skill, but your body’s mechanics and flexibility. In this lecture we will explore the reasons why people lose power in their golf swing, have inconsistencies, and get sore with golfing. Simple changes can lead to significant results. We look at how the biomechanics of the foot can affect your elbow, causing elbow pain with golf. Other problems such as hip pain, knee pain and shoulder pain can all have a common cause. The role that fascia and muscles have on complex movements can make or break your game. Find out why you’re not performing to your peak potential, and what simple things you can do to change that.

 

Meet Dr. Jennifer Teasdale’s Maternity Locum: Dr. Shereen Kangarloo

Dr. Jenn will be away from the clinic commencing March 31, 2014 for 8 weeks and will be returning June  2, 2014.

 

Dr. Shereen Kangarloo was born and raised in Calgary and attended the University of Alberta in Edmonton where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. She later received her Doctorate of Chiropractic degree from the University of Western States in Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Shereen is committed to optimizing function and performance through a combination of active release techniques, chiropractic adjusting, rehabilitation exercises, nutritional support, and functional taping techniques. She believes in the team approach to health, empowering her patients to become active members of their recovery.

Dr. Shereen strives to be the healthiest she can be and hopes to facilitate the transformation of her patients’ lives. As a fellow outdoor enthusiast, you can find her cycling on the many city pathways, hiking or cross country skiing in the Rocky Mountains or enjoying some quiet time in the yoga studio.

 

Dr. Kangarloo will be in the clinic during the month of February on Thursday afternoons 2-6pm getting to know Dr. Teasdale’s patients.

Active Sports Therapy is pleased to welcome Sarah Kuindersma to our team!

Active Sports Therapy is pleased to welcome Sarah Kuindersma to our team. Sarah is a certified Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT) Specialist and is currently accepting new patients. An MAT session may complement you current AST treatment plan.

Welcome Sarah!

Sarah Kuindersma MAT,  PTS - Muscle Activation Specialist

 

Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT)

When someone is compensating and unable to do certain motions, MAT will assess the limitations and get the inhibited muscles firing. MAT is a revolutionary approach to the assessment and correction of muscular imbalances. It is a straightforward and non-invasive technique, designed to balance the muscular system. Through a unique systematic format, MAT techniques are used to “jumpstart” the muscle in order for them to function with maximum efficiency.

MAT works with the communication between your brain and muscles, so you can reach your full potential.

MAT identifies weak muscles, or those that aren’t properly communicating with the brain, and walks you through exercises that target those very specific areas. Fixing the way that muscles contract and more evenly distributing work amongst muscles in a group can do a lot for the body.

When you have the muscles working together as they should, movement and function of individuals’ are optimized.

Join us in Welcoming Dr. Jennifer Teasdale to the AST team!

Dr. Teasdale grew up in British Columbia and recently moved from Portland, Oregon where she completed her chiropractic doctorate.

Dr. Teasdale is passionate about health and wellness. Before becoming a chiropractor she worked in the fitness industry for over a decade as a personal trainer, bootcamp instructor and running coach. While in Portland, she fell in love with yoga and has since completed her teacher training. Check out her teaching schedule at www.breathehotyoga.ca

When she isn't at the clinic she is out in the mountains training for the Canadian Death race, in the hot yoga studio or spending time with her two favorite men, her husband, Mike and their German Shepherd, Bo.

Welcome to our new and greatly expanded Active Sports Therapy Health Centre

Dear Patients,

We are truly excited for this opportunity to expand our Health Centre which we have build with you in mind so that we can serve you even better and more comfortably.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our loyal patients over the years for allowing us to serve you and we apologize for any inconvenience to patients for our re-location. This New Location however, is the best solution for us to finally move forward and continue the growth of our clinic.

We would like to welcome you to the new Active Sports Therapy Health Centre and we look forward to sharing it all with you.

Dr. David Westmacott and Dr. Corey Finan