What To Expect
Your first visit is known as a "Day of Discovery". Your introduction to chiropractic care will consist of a:
Complete History and Review of Paperwork
Physical Examination
Neurological Examination
Posture Examination
Examination of the Spine and Surrounding Musculature
After the examination portion with Dr. Renee is completed, you will have a spinal scan done using our CLA Insight technology (for more information on the CLA Insight, see "What's Your Score".) to help determine the proper course of correction for your spinal and nervous system dysfunction. You may be sent for x-rays in order to have a more complete picture. This will help to give Dr. Renee as much information as possible to be able to develop a care plan that suits each patient individually.
In order to have optimal conditions for your first visit we ask that prior to the first visit (at least 3 hours before)
-Minimize caffeine intake
-Avoid exercise, getting a massage, or getting acupuncture
By adhering to the instructions as best as you can, it helps to ensure that the examination procedures are performed in near optimal conditions.
Dr. Renee generally performs a 'complaint based' adjustment on the first visit, however this is not guaranteed. If she feels that imaging is warranted before adjusting, she will wait until that imaging has been done before doing any adjusting.
Your second visit to the office is referred to as a "Report of Findings".
During this visit Dr. Renee will:
Ask how you felt following your first adjustment
Review the results of your imaging (x-rays, if you were sent for some)
Review the results of your CLA scan, and PostureScreen
Discuss the care plan recommendations
Discuss technique preferences; we always give patients a non-manual option
Re-Affirm Informed Consent
Perform full adjustment
Address any additional questions, and book follow up appointment.
Chiropractic care focuses on identifying and correcting misalignments in the spine, known as subluxations, which can cause pain and discomfort. Through gentle adjustments, chiropractors restore proper alignment, reducing nerve interference and promoting the body's natural healing abilities.
Yes, chiropractic care for children is safe and gentle. Pediatric chiropractors use specialized techniques tailored to the unique needs of children. Early chiropractic intervention can help address issues like postural imbalances, colic, and sleeping difficulties, fostering optimal growth and development.
Absolutely. Chiropractic has been found to be very beneficial to the overall comfort of mom during pregnancy. It can help with the general pains associated with pregnancy, as well as help to optimize the biomechanics of the pelvis to help make delivery a bit smoother. Chiropractors will usually alter their adjusting technique to accommodate the changes to the body during pregnancy.
Absolutely. While manual adjustments certainly are the most common, instrument adjustments are widely utilized in Dr. Renee's practice. She will always give the patient the option to get a non-manual adjustment, which eliminates the "cracking" noise.
Most appointments can be made for the same day or the following day, depending on patient care hours, and availability. Specific blocks are available for an Initial Consultation every day, meaning availability can vary. Online booking is available, with booking accepted until 1 hour before the appointment time. If you are trying to book within the hour cut-off, please contact the office to book your appointment over the phone.
Yes, appointments are required. If you are in the area and are looking to get onto the schedule, just call the office and they will see what Dr. Renee's availability is like.
Credit cards are required to book as a way to guarantee your appointment. This was made necessary by the number of no-show visits that have occurred over the last several years. The card is merely an insurance policy, and will only be charged without explicit patient consent if there is a no-show for an appointment.
Dr. Renee has a variety of different techniques that she uses, see "Techniques Used" for information about them. Dr. Renee always takes patient comfort into account when deciding on a particular course of care, and values patient feedback. If a patient is uncomfortable with a certain manner of adjusting, or has any significant health history that could be worsened by a specific type of adjustment, Dr. Renee is always willing and able to make changes to her techniques.
Dr. Renee will typically perform a complaint-based adjustment on the first visit, however that is not a guarantee. If she decides that imaging is required prior to any adjusting, she will postpone the adjustment until she has had the chance to review that imaging. Dr. Renee does reserve the right to decide on a case-by-case basis if an adjustment on the first visit is appropriate.
The frequency of appointments is initially determined based on the exam findings, the spinal scan results, and Dr. Renee's professional experience. Through the course of your care plan, re-evaluations will dictate the decreases in your frequency with the ultimate goal of transitioning you to a wellness plan or a "maintenance plan" that requires very few appointments. In order to get to this phase, a higher frequency of visits may be required initially, though this is not always the case. If you have any concerns about potential plans of care, please speak to Dr. Renee.
After the initial visit, the progress of each patient will be reassessed periodically. Typically a re-evaluation is performed by Dr. Renee every 12 visits. Re-assessments must be performed within 24 visits as per College of Chiropractors of Ontario standards of practice.
It is recommended that you check with your insurance company to see if you have coverage for chiropractic. We do not directly bill extended benefits companies on behalf of the patient; however, we can provide you with an invoice that you can submit to your insurance company and be reimbursed if you do have coverage. You should also check with your extended benefits about whether a medical referral is needed to have care covered.
There is no penalty for cancelling an appointment; we only ask that you give us a call to inform us that you no longer need the appointment. A credit card number is required to book any visit online to deter no-shows, which have unfortunately been rising recently. If a patient no-shows, they will be charged.