Learn to move your way out of pain: The other side of Chiropractic

There are a lot of common misconceptions when it comes to visiting a chiropractor like we only treat back pain for example. It may surprise you to know that chiropractic care is a healing discipline firmly grounded in science and it is a lot more than a simple adjustment.

I like to describe Chiropractors as human movement experts. Through our 10 gruelling semesters of Chiropractic College (usually after completing a bachelor's degree), we have the knowledge to understand how the bone, muscle, and nervous systems work, how they work together and support each other.

Chiropractors can treat more than just back pain. We can treat common ailments such as headaches, sprains and strains, whiplash, chronic pain, shoulder injuries, ankle injuries, hip issues, and even athletic injuries which is my own specialty.

So what can chiropractic actually do for you? Why should you see one? We help improve posture, provide relief from headaches, neck and back pain, help prevent work-related muscle and joint injuries, enhance athletic performance, improve flexibility and range of motion, relieve pregnancy-related backache, and correct gait, hip and foot problems. That’s on top of improving the movement and function of your spine from head to toe.

Even if you are not currently suffering from pain or an injury, a visit to your chiropractor can help maintain healthy joint function and mobility. You brush your teeth every day to maintain your oral health, why not do the same to your body? You know, that thing you spend 24 hours a day - 7 days a week in to work, move and play?

I most commonly hear that people are hesitant to see a chiropractor because of the adjustment, or the “cracking”. There is no reason to fear! An adjustment is a highly-skilled and precise movement, usually applied by hand to the vertebrae of the spine or other joints of the body. An adjustment helps restore proper movement and improves the function of a joint. When a joint is adjusted, an air bubble may escape causing a popping noise, similar to when you crack your knuckles. Depending on the nature of the problem, your chiropractor may utilize joint mobilization, muscle release techniques, muscle stimulation and therapeutic exercises to relieve your pain and get you moving again, not necessarily always using the adjustment technique. Talk to your chiropractor and they will work within your comfort level to provide you with the best quality treatment for your problem.

A visit with me ends up being different than what you may expect the first visit with a chiropractor might be. I take an extensive health history followed by a physical examination, which is standard. Then, I will observe how you move from the minute you get up from the chair in the waiting room to when you leave the clinic. During our appointment, I will assess how you sit, squat, lift, walk, and even maybe run to fully understand the limitations and movement patterns you are presenting with.

Assessing how you move tells me a lot about what we might be dealing with and what movement patterns we may need to address in your treatment and rehabilitation. I might even notice things about you that you haven’t noticed yourself.

When we work together, we will identify the underlying cause of your symptoms, because it is not usually the area you think it is. We scrape, stretch, and work on tight muscles that are working to protect the area of injury. We may or may not adjust – not everyone needs an adjustment, and there are other ways to influence pain signals, improve mobility and movement! To finish, we will work through some exercises that will help with increasing your mobility, decreasing your pain, and teaching you how to move better in general.

Learning how to move correctly and efficiently is most often the missing piece in therapy and the lack of it usually keeps you coming back. My methods focus on these missing pieces so that hopefully one day, you don’t need to come back for pain and you come back just because you know how much better you feel after a treatment with me!

When it comes to picking the right chiropractor, find someone who matches your personal preference and your desired healthcare. Here are some tips that may be helpful when you are looking for your first, or new chiropractor:

• Find someone who will understand your background. Whether it is athletics, a specific sport, or being a mom. Having someone who will listen and understand where you are coming from will help create trust within the chiropractor-patient relationship.

• Look for someone who helps you help yourself. Someone willing to provide you with education, homecare and exercises, instead of a yearly treatment plan with repeat visits. Like I mentioned earlier, you want someone who can teach you how to move correctly and efficiently so you can stop returning for treatment of your pain.

After graduating from New York Chiropractic College in December 2016 with my Doctor of Chiropractic and Bachelor of Kinesiology, I moved from Ontario to British Columbia and eventually found my way to Kelowna in the fall of 2018. In only four short years I have gained a lot of experience with athletes while travelling with the UBC Track & Field team to NAIA Nationals, becoming a member of the Simon Frasier Sports Medicine Team, and assisting the Capilano Men’s Rugby team. My practice now has a focus on weightlifters, cross-fitters and dancers, and I am working towards collaborating with some local sports teams.

I have a long history of athletic achievement which is where my passion for learning about the human body started. I’ve competed at Canadian Weightlifting Nationals, named the top 81kg Female lifter in BC and Western Canada in 2018 & 2019, played varsity soccer play, play competitive volleyball, and have had a few podium finishes at local Crossfit events. This experience helps provides me with an excellent understanding of the needs and demands of the human body and the importance of recovery and self-care.

You don’t need a referral to see a chiropractor and most insurance benefits cover chiropractic care, so what are you waiting for? Start this new year feeling better than ever, and try chiropractic care for yourself!

With my growing practice out of Affinity Family Wellness, you have the benefit of walking into a multi-disciplinary clinic, where we work as a team to provide you with the best possible care. Combining massage and chiropractic treatments, we try to exceed expectations and leave our patients feeling their best and getting back to what they enjoy.

You can find me, Dr. Christine Col at Affinity Family Wellness and on Instagram at @drchriscol, or www.drchriscol.ca.

Since moving to Kelowna, Dr. Christine Col has become an avid member of the community. She is currently a Board Director for Kelowna Women in Business, known for hosting mobility and movement workshops, leads hikes and local adventures with Women Who Explore: Okanagan Chapter, coaching weightlifting and CrossFit classes at Crossfit FYP.

When she is not in the office, Dr. Chris can be found perfecting her lifts in the gym, hiking, skiing, and spending time in or on the water. Dr. Chris makes movement part of her lifestyle, and she would love to guide you on how to make it part of yours.