Chiropratic Care

Our patients at the clinic range from newborns to 97 years old, and we enjoy working with people in all stages of life. Having been in clinical practice since 1997, we have been treating a large variety of conditions through chiropractic care. There is a wide range of reasons why people will visit our office: acute & chronic painful complaints, repetitive strains, wanting to improve a golf swing or a hockey stride, spinal check ups, looking to solve an unanswered health issue, or optimize their overall health.

It is always amazing when people experience chiropractic for the first time, and are introduced to its benefits under our care. It brings us such joy to help patients improve the quality of their life while reducing pain and promoting optimal mobility!

We deliver hands-on care with professional expertise that is tailored to the needs of each individual.

Chiropractic care is a safe and effective choice, whether you are seeking pain relief from an acute injury, a chronic condition, or preventative wellness/supportive care, we will do our very best to help you achieve the results you are looking for on your journey to great health!

Here are some of the techniques and/or other modalities used at our clinic that may be offered to obtain the best results for your treatment needs:

  • spinal manipulative therapy (also called spinal adjustments):
    A therapeutic intervention with roots in traditional medicine and has been used by various cultures. It is delivered with specific motion and force applied to the spine to restore normal joint function.
  • spinal and extremities mobilizations:
    A type of gentle passive movement applied to a spinal region or segment (or extremities such as ankle and elbow joints) with the aim of achieving a therapeutic effect. This technique may be used over spinal manipulation for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, certain spinal conditions or patient preferences.
  • modalities such as interferential current therapy & therapeutic ultrasound:
    Non-invasive therapies providing symptomatic relief. They are often used to help manage pain, edema, and inflammation due to soft tissue irritation.
  • moist heat therapy:
    Can provide natural pain relief and soothe the skin and muscles, it is often used prior to receiving spinal manipulations or mobilizations.
  • myofascial release therapy and trigger point therapy:
    Forms of soft tissue therapies that complement spinal manipulations and mobilizations. Myofascial release is a technique used by a provider who will slowly stretch the fascia by applying a force to the affected tissues. It is an attempt to bring about changes in the structures by stretching or elongation of fascia, or mobilizing adhesive tissues. The provider moves slowly through the layers of the fascia until deeper tissues are reached. Trigger point therapy is the art of applying a gradual, but sustained pressure to affected tissues or muscles. The aim of this treatment is to break-up adhesive tissue, remove toxins, and help restore better blood flow through the affected areas.

Chiropractic and children:
There is such an expression that says: “as the twig is bent, so grows the tree”
Many spinal problems seen in adults begin in childhood. For instance, many of the concepts that pertain to adults in motor vehicle accidents also apply to children. Proper spinal hygiene is an important key to better health.

Acute conditions may result from birth trauma, sports mishaps, and accidental injury. When vertebral joints are misaligned from birth or from a fall or a blow, muscles tissues and nerves can also be affected. Spinal adjustments free joints, restore motion, and can help the nervous system function better which, if malfunctioning, may be the cause of additional ailments.

While children are under chiropractic care, parents often report better sleep patterns, and successful improvement of many children’s health issues such as, just to name a few, acute earache, colic, scoliosis, headaches, as well as other muscle and joint pain. Promoting better posture and encouraging good lifelong habits are some of chiropractic’s best benefits for kids.

Chiropractic and pregnancy:
Chiropractic care can be quite helpful during all stages of pregnancy. As the center of gravity changes, so does the stress to the spine. A high percentage of expectant mothers will experience low back pain at some point in their pregnancy. Many will suffer from sciatica, upper back pain and neck pain which may or may not cause headaches. It is a period of hormonal changes, laxity of certain ligaments, and shifting of weight-bearing structures.

Chiropractic care may also help prevent or reduce ligament and muscle imbalances which can happen if the bones of the pelvis are out of alignment, creating unequal ligament support.

Chiropractic is a safe, drug-free approach that can help relieve discomfort, establish balance in the mother’s pelvis, and promote better spinal health during pregnancy.

At Renfrew Family Chiropractic, we have been offering care for pregnant patients and children since 1997.

Webster Technique
The Webster technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and diversified adjustment. The goal of this adjustment is to reduce the effects of sacral and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, therefore improving function in the pelvis.

In regards to pregnant patients, the late Dr. Webster (who started to study this technique) reported that when a mother sought care and her baby was in a breech position, the restoration of pelvis biomechanics with his technique also frequently facilitated optimal baby position for birth.

Dr. Annie Gervais has received training in this technique as part of her pediatric certification as a “Fellow of the International Pediatric Association”.