Chiropractic
Dr. Ken Alexander
Do you have back pain and are looking for relief? Our chiropractic approach may be just what you need to get back to feeling good. Did you know that our chiropractor, Dr. Ken Alexander, does a lot more than "cracking backs"? His approach is to take the time to thoroughly assess your biomechanics and find whatever is driving your pain. We don't believe in quick fixes or band-aide solutions. This is why he also uses other techniques like myofascial release, soft tissue mobilization, shockwave therapy and more.
Dr. Alexander strongly encourages his patients to participate in the therapeutic process by incorporating and teaching you therapeutic exercises, strengthening and stretching exercises, mindfulness techniques and lifestyle modifications. The end goal, is that you don't need to be adjusted regularly in order to feel great. You will have some tools to use at home to help you maintain your gains and prevent other problems down the road.
Did you know that chiropractic isn't just for back pain? Dr. Alexander is highly qualified to help you with any kind of pain such as neck pain, headaches, shoulder injuries, wrist and hand pain, hip pain and sciatica.
Not sure if we can help? A complimentary consultation can be scheduled online or over the phone. Dr. Alexander also works closely with our registered massage therapists, acupuncturists and clinical counselors so he can point you in the right direction for the best place to start.
Dr. Alexander strongly encourages his patients to participate in the therapeutic process by incorporating and teaching you therapeutic exercises, strengthening and stretching exercises, mindfulness techniques and lifestyle modifications. The end goal, is that you don't need to be adjusted regularly in order to feel great. You will have some tools to use at home to help you maintain your gains and prevent other problems down the road.
Did you know that chiropractic isn't just for back pain? Dr. Alexander is highly qualified to help you with any kind of pain such as neck pain, headaches, shoulder injuries, wrist and hand pain, hip pain and sciatica.
Not sure if we can help? A complimentary consultation can be scheduled online or over the phone. Dr. Alexander also works closely with our registered massage therapists, acupuncturists and clinical counselors so he can point you in the right direction for the best place to start.
Motor Vehicle Accidents and Chiropractic
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If you've been in a car accident, you may be experiencing some back pain, neck pain and headaches, among other common injuries. Early intervention with treatment has been shown to significantly improve the chances of walking away with no lasting pain or disability.
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries in which the head and neck are forcefully accelerated and then recoil in the opposite direction. This results in hyperextension/hyperflexion syndrome, commonly called whiplash, and it typically occurs when you get rear ended. Most injuries from MVA's involve over-stretching/straining of the muscles which stabilize the area (spine, shoulder, hip, knee, etc.) and if the impact was high velocity there could also be strain of the joint capsule which surrounds each joint, the ligaments between the joints and the vertebrae, and/or the vertebral disks. |
This means the area has lost its structural integrity and is now unstable. In cases of untreated whiplash, the neck loses it's natural curve due to the laxity of the ligaments. This can lead to deposits of extra bone, which over time can develop into osteoarthritis. Some of the symptoms you experience may include neck pain, headaches, TMJ dysfunction, brain fog, nerve pain into the arm (s), pain that radiates into the back or arms, stiffness and/or reduced range of motion.
Chiropractic treatment is an excellent place to start whether you've recently been in a car accident, or are still dealing with the symptoms years later. We also have RMT's, Acupuncturists and Clinical Counsellors in house so we can provide a well rounded approach to care. Fortunately, ICBC covers chiropractic treatment (and more) within the first 12 weeks from the date of your accident. Your extended health plan will also typically cover 80-100% of chiropractic treatments (call your provider to confirm your coverage). We direct bill both ICBC and most extended health plans such as Pacific Blue Cross, Great West Life, Sunlife, Veterans Affairs, RCMP, Chamber of Commerce, etc. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. We're here to help.
Chiropractic treatment is an excellent place to start whether you've recently been in a car accident, or are still dealing with the symptoms years later. We also have RMT's, Acupuncturists and Clinical Counsellors in house so we can provide a well rounded approach to care. Fortunately, ICBC covers chiropractic treatment (and more) within the first 12 weeks from the date of your accident. Your extended health plan will also typically cover 80-100% of chiropractic treatments (call your provider to confirm your coverage). We direct bill both ICBC and most extended health plans such as Pacific Blue Cross, Great West Life, Sunlife, Veterans Affairs, RCMP, Chamber of Commerce, etc. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. We're here to help.
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is probably the most common reason that people seek chiropractic care. This is probably because lower back pain is the leading cause of disability and time off from work. Clinical studies have shown that spinal manipulative therapy resulted in improved outcomes compared to patients who were prescribed bed rest, medication, traction or ultrasound. Our goal is to determine the underlying cause of the back pain, so it can be effectively treated, and avoid a recurring problem. How do we do this? We start by reviewing your health history and looking for any red flags or things that stand out. We discuss your symptoms, lifestyle and talk about when it started and was there an obvious injury/incident/activity that preceded the pain. We then move on to some orthopedic testing and postural assessment, which helps us to determine what the cause may be. Mechanical lower back pain, facet syndrome, disc lesion, cancer and sprain/strain all have a similar presentation/symptoms, so the assessment part is actually very important. This is why Dr. Alexander spends up to an hour with you in your first visit.
In many cases the underlying dysfunction and cause of pain is improper mobility of the lumbar vertebrae. This can be a result of injury, postural habits or lifestyle (prolonged sitting and/or inactivity). Dr. Alexanders job is to figure out what the major factors are so he can restore mobility to the area, and also teach you to maintain that mobility on your own. Depending upon how long someone has been dealing with the problem, there can also be compensatory areas of excessive (hypermobile) or inadequate (hypomobile) motion above and/or below the area of complaint which must be dealt with as well. It is not uncommon for the painful area to be a location of compensation rather than where the actual problem is. So even simple joint dysfunction is not always to simple and the actual cause of the complaint must be found with a professional examination and history-taking. The issue then becomes how to relieve back pain and chiropractors accomplish this by spine adjustment (or some like to call manipulation) to effect a change in the vertebrae’s mobility. The vertebral joints and surrounding muscles share the same nerves, so by improving mobility to the vertebrae, the muscle spasm will also diminish and make you more comfortable.
Dr. Alexander will also teach you some exercises and ways to avoid a relapse of the back pain.
In many cases the underlying dysfunction and cause of pain is improper mobility of the lumbar vertebrae. This can be a result of injury, postural habits or lifestyle (prolonged sitting and/or inactivity). Dr. Alexanders job is to figure out what the major factors are so he can restore mobility to the area, and also teach you to maintain that mobility on your own. Depending upon how long someone has been dealing with the problem, there can also be compensatory areas of excessive (hypermobile) or inadequate (hypomobile) motion above and/or below the area of complaint which must be dealt with as well. It is not uncommon for the painful area to be a location of compensation rather than where the actual problem is. So even simple joint dysfunction is not always to simple and the actual cause of the complaint must be found with a professional examination and history-taking. The issue then becomes how to relieve back pain and chiropractors accomplish this by spine adjustment (or some like to call manipulation) to effect a change in the vertebrae’s mobility. The vertebral joints and surrounding muscles share the same nerves, so by improving mobility to the vertebrae, the muscle spasm will also diminish and make you more comfortable.
Dr. Alexander will also teach you some exercises and ways to avoid a relapse of the back pain.