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chiropractic care after a car accident

Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident

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5 Reasons to Consider It

A collision can disrupt far more than your commute. It may change how comfortably you turn your head, sleep, work at a computer, lift a child, or check a blind spot. Chiropractic care after a car accident gives you an opportunity to have those concerns assessed, understand your options, and build a recovery plan around the activities that matter to you. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and it should never replace emergency care when serious symptoms are present. For many people with stable muscle and joint complaints, however, a chiropractic assessment can be a practical starting point.

Even a seemingly straightforward collision can leave you uncertain about what to do next. Some people feel sore immediately. Others first notice stiffness, headache, shoulder tension, or limited movement later that day or over the next few days. The timing and intensity of symptoms do not tell the whole story, which is why a proper examination matters more than guessing from the condition of the vehicle or comparing your experience with someone else’s.

At Oliver Chiropractic Wellness Clinic, a chiropractor assesses each new patient before recommending care. The resulting treatment plan is informed by the examination and shaped around the patient’s particular concerns, health history, comfort level, and goals. Depending on the findings, the plan may include chiropractic treatment, rehabilitation exercises, an in-house referral for massage therapy or acupuncture, or a referral to a physical therapist when necessary.

What Happens to Your Body During a Vehicle Collision?

A vehicle can stop or change direction faster than the body can adapt. The head, neck, trunk, and limbs may move at different moments, placing sudden demand on muscles, joints, ligaments, and other soft tissues. A rear impact is one possible cause, but side impacts, angled collisions, and abrupt braking can also produce discomfort. Seat position, head-restraint position, whether you anticipated the impact, previous injuries, and your general health may influence how you feel afterward.

The familiar term whiplash describes a rapid acceleration-and-deceleration movement of the neck. Clinicians may use a broader diagnosis such as a neck pain-associated or collision-related disorder after considering the symptoms and examination findings. The label matters less than identifying what is limiting you, screening for concerns that need medical attention, and choosing care that fits the clinical picture.

Why Symptoms May Not Be Obvious Immediately

The first minutes after a crash can be noisy, stressful, and full of decisions. Adrenaline, shock, distraction, and concern for other people can make it difficult to notice every physical change. Irritated tissues may also feel different as the hours pass and normal activities resume. You might discover the problem when you reach for something, sit through a meeting, wake during the night, or try to drive the next morning.

Delayed discomfort does not automatically mean that serious damage was hidden, but new or worsening symptoms deserve attention. Keep a simple record of when symptoms began, what movements aggravate them, and how they affect sleep, work, driving, exercise, or household tasks. This information can help the examining practitioner understand the pattern and establish a useful baseline.

Five Reasons People Consider Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident

A focused musculoskeletal assessment.

A chiropractor can review the collision, your health history, current symptoms, and functional limitations. The examination may include posture and movement observation, range-of-motion testing, palpation, orthopaedic testing, and a neurological screen. Findings that fall outside the chiropractor’s scope or suggest a more serious condition should lead to referral or co-management.

A plan built around the individual.

Two people in similar collisions may need different approaches. One may be limited mainly by neck rotation; another may have upper-back stiffness, jaw tension, headaches, or low-back discomfort. Treatment should reflect the examination, the patient’s preferences, and realistic goals rather than follow a preset number of visits or techniques.

Support for restoring comfortable movement.

When clinically appropriate, care may use joint mobilization or manipulation, soft-tissue methods, education, and gradual movement. The objective is not to force a painful area back into place. It is to help the patient tolerate movement, improve function, and return to daily activities at a sensible pace.

Practical strategies between visits.

What happens outside the clinic often matters as much as what happens during an appointment. A chiropractor may recommend rehabilitation exercises, activity modifications, pacing strategies, or ergonomic changes. Instructions should be specific enough that you know what to do, how often to do it, and what response means you should stop and contact the clinic.

Progress that can be reviewed and adjusted.

Recovery rarely follows a perfectly straight line. OCWC uses re-examinations to measure whether the patient is improving. Changes in range of motion, activity tolerance, symptom behaviour, sleep, work capacity, and other meaningful goals can help the chiropractor decide whether to continue, modify, broaden, or conclude the plan.

How Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident May Support Mobility

Chiropractic care involves more than a single technique. After assessing the patient and discussing consent, a chiropractor may choose gentle mobilization, an adjustment, soft-tissue work, movement coaching, or exercise. The selected approach should account for symptom irritability, examination findings, previous health conditions, medications, and the patient’s comfort with each option.

Evidence-informed guidelines for neck pain and collision-related disorders commonly emphasize multimodal care. That means combining suitable hands-on care with education, exercise, and self-management rather than expecting one intervention to do all the work. Recommendations in this field vary in strength, so an honest treatment conversation should include expected benefits, possible risks, alternatives, and the option to decline or modify a technique.

Some patients may benefit from another discipline as part of the plan. OCWC can refer patients in-house for massage therapy or acupuncture when those services fit the patient’s needs. Rehabilitation exercises may be provided, and a referral to a physical therapist may occur when necessary. Coordinated care should have a clear purpose: helping the patient reach agreed functional goals without adding services simply for the sake of doing more.

What Safe, Individualized Collision Care Should Include

A good first appointment should feel thorough, clear, and collaborative. Expect questions about the direction and timing of the impact, your position in the vehicle, immediate and delayed symptoms, previous injuries, current medical conditions, medications, and the activities you are struggling to perform. Bring any relevant reports and a medication list. If another practitioner has already assessed you, share what you were told and any restrictions you received.

The chiropractor should explain the examination findings in plain language. If treatment is appropriate, you should understand what is being recommended, why it may help, what alternatives exist, and how progress will be evaluated. Ask how many visits are proposed before the first re-examination rather than assuming the initial schedule will continue indefinitely. A plan can change as your response becomes clearer.

Imaging is not automatic after every collision. The decision to request or refer for imaging depends on the history, examination, validated clinical rules, and whether the result is likely to change management. A responsible provider will also recognize when symptoms require urgent medical assessment or input from another health professional before hands-on care begins.

When Emergency Medical Assessment Comes First

Seek urgent medical assessment for serious or worsening symptoms such as loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, marked confusion, seizure, severe or rapidly worsening headache, significant weakness or numbness, difficulty speaking, trouble breathing, severe chest or abdominal pain, uncontrolled bleeding, or a suspected fracture. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint, confused, visually impaired, or otherwise unsafe to drive.

Headache, dizziness, nausea, visual changes, balance problems, and difficulty concentrating can occur with a concussion. These symptoms should not automatically be treated as a neck-only complaint. The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends assessment by a doctor or health care provider when concussion is suspected. Chiropractic care may be considered later for suitable musculoskeletal concerns, but emergency and medical priorities come first.

Building a Recovery Plan Around Your Daily Life

Pain intensity is useful, but it is only one measure. A meaningful plan also considers what you need to regain: looking over your shoulder while driving, completing a workday with fewer interruptions, sleeping more comfortably, returning to the gym, carrying groceries, or playing with your children. These activities turn a vague goal such as “feel better” into outcomes that can be discussed and rechecked.

Early recovery often requires balance. Complete inactivity can make some people feel stiffer, while pushing through sharp or escalating symptoms may aggravate the problem. Follow the advice given after your assessment. Use prescribed exercises as directed, change positions regularly, pace demanding tasks, and report any unexpected response. The right amount of activity depends on the person and may change as recovery progresses.

The administrative side can also add stress. OCWC keeps motor vehicle accident forms available in the office and can direct bill eligible care through a patient’s MVA claim. Coverage and claim requirements depend on current Alberta rules, the injury classification, the insurer, and the individual claim. Patients should confirm details with their adjuster and provide requested forms promptly. The Government of Alberta advises injured people to see a primary health care practitioner for assessment and to complete the applicable claim steps.

Questions to Ask Before Beginning Treatment

A short list of questions can make the care discussion more useful:

  • What did the assessment identify, and is there anything that requires medical referral?
  • Which treatment options are being recommended, and what are the alternatives?
  • What benefits and risks should I understand before consenting?
  • Which activities should I continue, modify, or temporarily avoid?
  • What exercises should I do, and what response means I should stop?
  • When will my progress be re-examined, and which measures will be compared?
  • Could massage therapy, acupuncture, or physical therapy have a useful role in my plan?
  • What forms or insurer information should I bring for direct billing?

Clear answers help you participate in decisions instead of feeling as though recovery is simply happening to you. They also make it easier to notice whether the plan still matches your needs.

Take the Next Step With a Personalized Assessment

There is no universal timetable after a collision. The most useful next step is an assessment that considers your symptoms, health history, daily demands, and recovery goals. From there, care can remain focused, measurable, and responsive to your progress.

If you are dealing with stable muscle or joint symptoms after a motor vehicle collision, book an appointment online with Oliver Chiropractic Wellness Clinic. A chiropractor will assess your concerns, explain the findings, and discuss an informed treatment plan tailored to you. Book online with OCWC.

herniated disc injury

Herniated Disc Injury

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Chiropractic Care for Herninated Disc In Edmonton

Back or neck pain can change quickly when a spinal nerve becomes irritated. An ache that once stayed near the spine may begin travelling into a leg or arm, accompanied by tingling, numbness or weakness. If you are searching for a solution for a herniated disc injury, you may be wondering whether conservative care is appropriate, whether you need an MRI and whether a herniated disc injury automatically leads to surgery. The reassuring answer is that many people begin with a careful assessment and a nonsurgical plan, provided they do not have symptoms that require urgent medical attention.

A disc-related diagnosis can sound alarming, but the words on an imaging report do not tell the entire story. Your symptoms, strength, sensation, mobility, medical history and daily demands all help determine what should happen next. A thoughtful plan focuses on the person living with the problem, not simply the picture of the spine.

This article explains what a herniated disc is, what a chiropractor assesses and how conservative care may support a safe return to comfortable movement. It offers general education and does not replace an individual diagnosis or emergency care.

What Is a Herniated Disc?

Discs sit between the vertebrae and help the spine absorb load while allowing movement. Each disc has a tough outer ring surrounding a softer, gel-like centre. With time, repeated loading or an injury, the outer layers can weaken. When material from the centre pushes through a tear in the outer ring, clinicians describe the change as a disc herniation.

People often use “bulging disc,” “slipped disc,” “ruptured disc” and “herniated disc” interchangeably, but they do not mean exactly the same thing. A bulge usually involves a broader portion of the disc extending beyond its usual boundary. A herniation is more focal. “Slipped disc” is an informal expression; the disc does not literally slide out of place.

These distinctions can matter clinically, but symptoms matter just as much. Some disc changes appear on imaging without causing pain. In other cases, displaced tissue and local inflammation irritate a nearby nerve root. That irritation may produce pain, altered sensation or weakness along the path of the nerve.

Herniations commonly affect the lower back or neck. A lumbar disc problem may cause pain through the buttock and leg, often called sciatica. A cervical disc problem may send symptoms through the shoulder, arm or hand. The location of the symptoms gives the clinician useful information, but it does not provide a complete diagnosis on its own.

Common Herniated Disc Symptoms and Pain Patterns

Disc-related symptoms vary widely. Some people experience a deep ache near the spine, while others notice sharp, electric or burning pain away from the spine. Symptoms may worsen with sitting, bending, lifting, coughing or sneezing. They may ease when walking, lying in a particular position or changing posture.

Common symptoms include:

  • Neck or lower-back pain that limits normal movement
  • Pain travelling into one arm or one leg
  • Tingling, pins and needles or areas of reduced sensation
  • Muscle weakness or unusual fatigue in an arm or leg
  • Pain that changes noticeably with posture or repeated movement
  • Difficulty sitting, sleeping, lifting, driving or working comfortably

Not every case follows a textbook pattern. Hip, shoulder and peripheral nerve conditions can mimic disc symptoms. Muscle and joint pain can also occur at the same time. That is why self-diagnosing a herniation from pain location alone can lead to the wrong strategy.

When to See a Chiropractor for Herniated Disc Injury

A chiropractic assessment may be reasonable when neck or back pain is affecting your mobility, work, sleep or preferred activities and no emergency warning signs are present. It may also help when radiating symptoms are mild or stable and you want to explore conservative options.

Assessment should come before treatment. The chiropractor needs to understand when the symptoms began, how they have changed, what positions aggravate or relieve them and whether you have noticed numbness or weakness. Previous injuries, medical conditions, medications, imaging and treatments also shape the clinical picture.

You do not necessarily need an MRI before seeking an assessment. Imaging can be important when the result is likely to change management, when symptoms are severe or progressive, or when the history suggests a more serious condition. At the same time, imaging findings must be interpreted alongside the examination because structural changes can exist without matching a person’s pain.

A chiropractor should explain the working diagnosis, the proposed approach, expected benefits, material risks and alternatives. You should also understand how progress will be measured. If the assessment suggests that chiropractic care is inappropriate or insufficient, referral to a physician or another regulated provider is part of responsible care.

Herniated Disc Injury Chiropractic Checklist

A disc-focused examination may include several elements:

  • Symptom history: where symptoms begin, where they travel and how intensity changes during the day
  • Movement testing: which directions feel limited, comfortable or provocative
  • Neurological screening: strength, reflexes and sensation in the arms or legs
  • Functional testing: walking, changing position, lifting or other movements connected with daily life
  • Orthopaedic tests: carefully selected procedures that help distinguish possible sources of symptoms
  • Safety screening: questions and findings that indicate a need for imaging, medical evaluation or urgent care

The goal is not to “prove” that every symptom comes from a disc. It is to build the most reasonable explanation from the available evidence and choose an appropriate next step. Reassessment matters because the response to care provides additional clinical information.

How Conservative Disc Care May Support Recovery

Conservative care does not mean ignoring the problem and hoping it disappears. It means beginning with lower-risk, nonsurgical strategies when the clinical picture supports that choice. The plan may include chiropractic treatment, exercise, education, activity modification or collaboration with another healthcare professional.

For some patients, carefully selected manual care may help reduce pain and improve short-term function. Evidence is stronger for spinal manipulation in nonspecific low-back pain than it is for confirmed disc herniation, so claims should remain measured. A 2025 evidence review prepared for New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation characterized evidence for chiropractic interventions in disc herniation as inconsistent and weak. That does not mean no patient can benefit; it means treatment decisions should be individualized and progress should be monitored rather than promised.

Treatment should match irritability and tolerance. A person in a highly sensitive acute episode may need gentler positioning, limited loading and simple movements. Someone whose symptoms have stabilized may be ready for progressive strengthening and a more active rehabilitation plan. The technique should serve the patient, not the other way around.

Adjustments, Gentle Techniques, Exercise and Daily Habits

A personalized plan may draw from several approaches:

  • Manual or instrument-assisted techniques: chosen according to the diagnosis, comfort and safety findings
  • Mobility exercises: intended to restore tolerable motion without repeatedly provoking radiating symptoms
  • Progressive strengthening: focused on the trunk, hips, shoulders or other areas that support daily function
  • Movement coaching: practical ways to bend, lift, sit and change position with greater confidence
  • Activity pacing: balancing recovery with enough movement to avoid unnecessary deconditioning
  • Home strategies: short, manageable actions that fit the patient’s work and family routine

Heat or cold may provide temporary comfort for some people. Short walks and regular position changes are often easier to tolerate than prolonged sitting or bed rest. The right choice depends on how symptoms respond, so a clinician may ask you to track whether pain is moving farther into an arm or leg, returning toward the spine, becoming less intense or affecting strength.

Symptom location can be especially useful when choosing and progressing movement. If leg or arm pain begins to retreat toward the spine during or after an exercise, clinicians sometimes call that response centralization. It can be an encouraging sign, even if some discomfort remains near the back or neck. Pain that consistently travels farther into the limb, new numbness or declining strength deserves reassessment. Patients should not force a movement simply because it appeared on a generic online exercise list.

Work and recreation also need a gradual plan. A warehouse employee, office worker and golfer may share the same diagnosis but require very different preparation. Rehabilitation can break a demanding activity into smaller parts, build tolerance to each part and then reconnect them. For example, a return-to-lifting plan might begin with hip and trunk control, progress to light loads close to the body and eventually include the positions and weights required at work. This approach gives patients practical milestones and reduces the fear that every sensation signals fresh injury.

Recovery is rarely a perfectly straight line. A demanding workday or an unfamiliar lift may briefly increase symptoms. The more useful question is whether function and symptom tolerance are improving across several days or weeks. A plan should evolve as capacity returns.

Recovery Expectations, Warning Signs and Your Next Step

Healing time varies. The duration and severity of symptoms, degree of nerve involvement, sleep, general health, smoking status, work demands and confidence with movement can all influence recovery. The goal of care is not simply to chase a pain score. It is to help you regain meaningful abilities, such as sleeping through the night, sitting through a commute, carrying groceries or returning to recreation.

Useful progress markers may include:

  • Symptoms travel a shorter distance into the arm or leg
  • Numbness or tingling occurs less often
  • Strength remains stable or improves
  • Sitting, walking or sleeping tolerance increases
  • Daily tasks require fewer workarounds
  • Flare-ups become less intense or easier to settle

If reasonable progress is not occurring, the plan deserves another look. That may mean changing the treatment approach, requesting additional evaluation or coordinating care with a physician, physiotherapist or specialist. Conservative care should have clear checkpoints rather than continuing indefinitely without measurable benefit.

A Safety Checklist Before Beginning Treatment

Some symptoms should not wait for a routine appointment. Seek urgent medical care for new loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin or saddle area, rapidly worsening weakness, or an inability to urinate. These symptoms can indicate severe nerve compression.

Prompt medical evaluation is also important when spinal pain follows major trauma or occurs with fever, chills, unexplained weight loss, a history of cancer, significant immune suppression or severe unrelenting night pain. New neurological symptoms deserve careful attention, particularly when they are progressing.

For non-emergency symptoms, prepare for your appointment by noting when the problem began, where symptoms travel, what movements change them and which activities you have stopped. Bring relevant reports and a current medication list. Choose clothing that allows comfortable movement during the examination.

Living with radiating pain can make the future feel uncertain, but a careful evaluation can replace guesswork with a practical plan. To discuss whether conservative care fits your symptoms and goals, book an assessment with a herniated disc injury at Oliver Chiropractic Wellness Clinic. Call 780-455-2112 or contact the clinic online.

whiplash injury

Whiplash Injury

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Symptoms, Assessment and Treatment in Edmonton

A whiplash injury can change an ordinary day in a matter of seconds. You may step out of a vehicle feeling shaken but relatively comfortable, then notice neck stiffness, a headache, shoulder pain or restricted movement later that day or the next morning. Those symptoms deserve a thoughtful assessment, especially when they follow a motor vehicle collision.

At Oliver Chiropractic Wellness Clinic (OCWC) in downtown Edmonton, chiropractic care begins with understanding what happened, how you feel now and what daily activities have become difficult. Dr. Kent Ferguson has practised in Edmonton for more than 20 years and has experience assessing and managing motor vehicle collision injuries. When appropriate, OCWC can coordinate chiropractic care with massage therapy, acupuncture, rehabilitation exercises, shockwave therapy or referral to a physical therapist. The goal is an individualized plan that supports function and recovery, not a standard package given to every patient.

What Is a Whiplash Injury?

Whiplash injury describes an acceleration-deceleration movement of the neck. It most often occurs during a motor vehicle collision, but a sports impact, fall or other sudden force can create a similar movement. Health professionals may use the term whiplash-associated disorder, or WAD, to describe the group of symptoms and functional limitations that can follow.

The movement can affect muscles, ligaments, joints and other structures around the neck and upper back. The exact presentation varies. One person may mainly experience stiffness and headaches, while another may have pain extending toward the shoulder or arm. The apparent amount of vehicle damage does not, by itself, determine what happened to the people inside it. A clinical assessment matters more than assumptions based only on the collision.

What Happens to the Neck During a Collision?

During a rapid impact, the torso and head may move at different times. The neck must control that motion while muscles react to protect the area. This can leave tissues irritated, movement guarded and ordinary tasks such as checking a blind spot, working at a computer or sleeping comfortably more difficult. An assessment looks beyond the label “whiplash injury” to identify the symptoms, movement limitations and safety concerns that apply to you.

Common Signs and Symptoms After a Motor Vehicle Collision

Symptoms differ in intensity and timing. Common concerns include:

  • neck pain, stiffness or reduced range of motion;
  • headaches, often accompanied by upper-neck discomfort;
  • shoulder, upper-back or arm pain;
  • muscle tenderness or a feeling of tightness;
  • dizziness, fatigue, sleep disruption or difficulty concentrating;
  • pain that increases with driving, desk work or sustained positions; and
  • tingling, numbness or weakness, which requires careful evaluation

Some symptoms may also point to concussion, nerve involvement or another condition that needs medical assessment. Tell your practitioner about all symptoms, even if they do not seem connected to your neck.

Can Whiplash Injury Symptoms Be Delayed?

Yes. Pain and stiffness may appear immediately, but they can also develop over the next several hours or days. Adrenaline, stress and the body’s initial protective response can affect what you notice at the scene. Delayed symptoms do not automatically mean that serious damage occurred, but new, persistent or worsening symptoms should not be ignored.

When Should You Seek Immediate Medical Attention?

Seek urgent medical care when symptoms suggest a medical emergency. Examples include loss of consciousness, confusion, repeated vomiting, a severe or rapidly worsening headache, difficulty speaking, new vision changes, seizures, chest pain or trouble breathing. Severe neck pain after significant trauma also warrants urgent assessment.

Prompt medical evaluation is also important for new or increasing weakness, extensive numbness, difficulty walking, loss of coordination, bowel or bladder changes, or pain and neurological symptoms affecting the arms or legs. A chiropractor screens for concerns that fall outside conservative musculoskeletal care and refers or co-manages when necessary. Chiropractic care does not replace emergency evaluation for a suspected fracture, spinal cord injury, concussion or other serious condition.

Why an Early, Thorough Assessment Matters

An assessment helps establish what appears to be contributing to your symptoms, how the injury affects your function and whether conservative care is appropriate. It also provides a baseline for tracking meaningful change. The purpose is not to predict recovery from a single test or to order imaging automatically.

Current Canadian chiropractic guidance supports a person-centred process that includes safety screening, health history, physical examination, education, active rehabilitation, progress monitoring and referral or co-management when needed. X-rays, CT scans and MRIs answer specific clinical questions; they are not routine requirements for every collision-related neck complaint.

What Your OCWC Assessment May Include

Your chiropractor may ask about the direction of impact, seat position, symptoms at the scene, changes since the collision, previous injuries, health conditions, medications and the activities you want to resume. The physical examination may assess neck and upper-back movement, tenderness, strength, sensation, reflexes, balance or other neurological findings as appropriate.

The chiropractor will explain the findings, discuss reasonable care options and obtain your consent before treatment. If the examination raises a concern that requires medical testing or another professional’s expertise, OCWC can recommend the appropriate next step. Your plan should evolve as your symptoms, function and goals change.

Chiropractic Care for Whiplash Injury at OCWC

Chiropractic treatment after a collision is not limited to an adjustment, and an adjustment is not automatically appropriate for every patient or every visit. At OCWC, clinical findings, comfort, preferences and stage of recovery guide the plan. Care may include joint mobilization or chiropractic adjustments, soft-tissue techniques, movement advice and rehabilitation exercises when indicated.

Your chiropractor may initially focus on comfortable movement, symptom control and the daily tasks most affected by the collision. As you improve, the plan can progress toward mobility, strength, endurance and confidence in normal activity. Treatment frequency and duration depend on your presentation and response; they should not be decided by a universal timetable.

An Active, Measurable Recovery Plan

Progress means more than a lower pain score when talking about whiplash injury. OCWC may track your ability to turn your head, sleep, drive, concentrate, work, exercise or complete household responsibilities. Rehabilitation exercises may support mobility and control when they suit the stage of recovery. Your practitioner can modify an exercise if it aggravates symptoms and can refer you to a physical therapist when that expertise would add value.

Many people improve with time and appropriate care, but recovery is individual. More intense initial symptoms, sleep disruption, previous health concerns and difficulty returning to activity can influence the course. If progress stalls or the clinical picture changes, reassessment is more useful than continuing an unchanged plan indefinitely.

When Multidisciplinary Care May Be Helpful

Some patients benefit from more than one discipline, while others do well with chiropractic care and a home plan alone. OCWC offers massage therapy and acupuncture within the clinic, allowing providers to coordinate recommendations with your consent. Co-management should have a clear purpose, avoid unnecessary duplication and be reviewed according to your response.

Massage therapy: An OCWC massage therapist may address muscle discomfort, guarded movement or tolerance for activity using techniques suited to the patient and stage of recovery. Massage is an adjunct, not a replacement for safety screening or active rehabilitation.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture may be considered as an optional component of symptom management when appropriate. The acupuncturist and chiropractor can coordinate goals while monitoring whether the addition is useful to the patient.

Shockwave therapy and outside referral: Shockwave therapy is not a default treatment for an acute neck injury. OCWC may consider it later when an assessment identifies a suitable soft-tissue problem and no contraindication. The clinic can also refer to a physical therapist or another health professional when the patient’s needs fall outside the current plan.

What to Do After a Collision: Alberta’s Current Claims Process

In Alberta, you do not need a physician’s referral before seeing a chiropractor after a motor vehicle collision. The Government of Alberta identifies chiropractors, medical doctors and physical therapists as primary health care practitioners for this process. You may choose a chiropractor as the first practitioner to assess your injury.

The province currently advises injured people to report the collision as required, notify the automobile insurer, complete the required accident-benefit paperwork and arrange an assessment as soon as practical. For eligible sprains, strains and WAD I or II injuries managed under Alberta’s Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols, the primary practitioner may begin protocol care without waiting for the insurer’s prior approval once the claim requirements are met. Coverage always depends on the injury, policy and applicable rules, so confirm your circumstances with your insurer or adjuster.

OCWC’s administrative team works with patients and their adjusters to make the process as smooth as possible. Required forms are available at the office, and direct billing to automobile insurers is available when the claim qualifies. Bring your insurer’s name, adjuster contact information, claim number if available, collision date and any relevant medical records to your first appointment.

Important 2027 update: Alberta has announced that its Care-First automobile insurance system will begin January 1, 2027. The process and benefits described above reflect the system in effect in August 2026. Confirm current requirements with your insurer, and OCWC should review this section when the new system takes effect.

Frequently Asked Questions and Your Next Step

Do I need a referral?

No. In Alberta, you can choose a chiropractor as your first primary health care practitioner for a collision-related assessment.

Will I need imaging?

Not necessarily. Your history, examination and safety screening help determine whether imaging or medical referral is indicated.

Will I receive every service OCWC offers?

No. Care should match your findings and goals. Massage therapy, acupuncture, rehabilitation, shockwave therapy or physical therapy referral may be added only when appropriate.

How long will recovery take?

There is no single timeline. Your practitioner will monitor symptoms and function, explain expected progress and revise the plan when needed.

A motor vehicle collision can leave you with pain, uncertainty and paperwork at the same time. A clear first assessment can help you understand what needs attention and what the next step should be. Book your initial appointment online with Oliver Chiropractic Wellness Clinic in downtown Edmonton to meet with an experienced chiropractor and begin a care plan built around your needs.

Ever Wonder: Why Does My Neck Hurt?

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Why Does My Neck Hurt?

Why does my neck hurt? Your neck has a tough job. It has to hold, stabilize, and move the weight of your head every day for a lifetime. Holding up 11 pounds may not seem like a lot, but the seven bones and 20 muscles of your neck need to work together in perfect harmony for you to move your head around and keep that weight balanced. Postural changes, sudden injuries, and arthritis are a few of the primary causes of neck pain.

Pain can often be traced to a problem with either the muscles, bones, discs, or nerves in your neck.

Why it Matters:

If you’ve ever wondered why does my neck hurt? If you’ve ever been unable to turn your head for a day or two, you know how debilitating and life-changing neck pain can be. The sharp muscle spasms that restrict your ability to move can happen when your body tries to protect a spinal joint that isn’t moving correctly.

Almost every bone in your neck has a pair of sliding joints towards the back called facet joints. If an adhesion forms or the joint is stuck, your body will try to compensate or work around the issue for a little while. But, over time, this compensation can cause a cascade of additional challenges.

  • Sudden injuries, arthritis, and postural issues can all contribute to neck pain.
  • The small sliding joints (facet joints) of your neck can become stuck and cause muscles spasms and pain.
  • Gentle spinal adjustments combined with daily stretching can help restore the motion of your facet joints and reduce pain.

Pain in your neck is your body’s way of saying “pain attention”! Even if it eases up by the end of the day, it’s a smart idea to have us evaluate your motion. Movement assessments are a part of our examination and provide us with an incredible amount of information about your body. By taking a proactive approach today, you may be able to prevent future episodes of neck pain and stiffness in the future.

Stenosis: How a Pinch in Your Neck Can Affect Your Whole Body

Here’s a potential answer to question – why does my neck hurt? Have you been told that you have spinal stenosis? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people suffer from spinal stenosis each day, and it’s the number one reason people over 65 years old have spine surgery. Spinal stenosis is the compression, or pinching, of your spinal cord. It can occur due to a disc herniation, bone spur, or ligament overgrowth. But, drugs and surgery are not the only way to find relief.

Why it Matters:

For many people, the most significant challenge associated with spinal stenosis is the decreased ability to get up and move! Severe pinching in your neck can cause issues with your arms and legs. One of the best ways to relieve the symptoms associated with spinal stenosis is to open up the spinal canal and take the pressure off the nerves and spinal cord. Many chiropractic techniques focus on decreasing the pressure on your spinal cord, relieving the symptoms associated with spinal stenosis.

  • Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine.
  • Spinal stenosis is most commonly caused by degenerative changes in the spine related to osteoarthritis.
  • Relief can often be found by building up your strength while improving the flexibility and stability of your spine with chiropractic care.

After chiropractic care, many patients report having a decrease in their symptoms, the ability to walk further without pain and find an improvement in their overall quality of life. If you have been slowed down due to spinal stenosis, do not hesitate to schedule an evaluation with us. We will provide a complete evaluation and guide you towards the best treatment options to find relief.

Is My Arm Pain Coming from My Neck?

Pain in your hand, wrist, or arm can be frustrating. You don’t realize how much you use your arms and hands until pain, numbness, or tingling gets in the way. Most of us don’t usually think that an issue in our neck may cause our arm pain. But it’s very common that arm pain can be traced back to a nerve issue in your neck.

Why it Matters:

Hand, wrist, and arm pain often starts with a neck problem. When a spinal disc in your neck irritates or presses on a nerve, it can result in arm pain. Just like the power lines that bring electricity to your house, your brain and spinal cord split into individual nerve roots that deliver information to every part of your body. The nerves in your neck are specifically focused on providing strength and sensation to your head and arms.

  • A bulged or herniated disc in your neck can irritate or compress the nerves that travel to your hands, arms, and shoulders
  • A recent study of people with cervical (neck) disc herniation showed improvement in over 86% of people who received chiropractic adjustments.
  • Improving spinal mobility, decreasing inflammation, and improving your posture may help prevent future episodes of neck and arm pain.

A painful arm as a result of a pinched nerve in your neck very rarely requires surgery. Most people can find long-term relief with conservative care, such as chiropractic.

Getting rid of the inflammation and giving the disc time to heal are part of a complete plan we use each day to help our patients reduce their symptoms and get their lives back.

Neck Pain: How To Find Relief

An episode of neck pain can quickly hamper your everyday activities. The answer to the question – why does my neck hurt can be varied. Whether you began experiencing pain due to injury, degenerative spinal changes, or poor posture, it can be difficult to think about anything except the pain when you’re struggling. It’s estimated that 70% of people experience neck pain in their life, but you should know there is a path towards relief.

Why it Matters:

Neck pain can create everything from headaches to pain in your arms and hands to pain directly on your neck. Different types of pain indicate different issues. The most common reasons for neck pain are strained muscles and stuck spinal joints. Each of these challenges can cause a lot of pain and may have you fearing that you have a more significant issue. But, with a proper examination, our team can pinpoint the cause of your pain and provide a complete plan of care to help you reclaim your life from neck pain.

  • Facet joints are small spinal joints at the back of your spine which can become fixated or stuck and cause pain.
    • Muscle strains can occur due to poor posture at your desk or sleeping in an awkward position.
    • Motion heals: relief typically begins by reducing the inflammation and improving your range of motion.

A small adjustment can make big changes in your quality of life. Our practice is focused on helping you feel (and function) better by improving your spinal motion and then providing you with the stretches and exercises you can do at home to continue your improvement. If neck pain has got in the way of you enjoying your life- give us a call. Or check out the clinic @ ocwc.ca. Our team is here to help.

Science Sources:

Intervertebral Kinematics of the Cervical Spine. The Spine Journal. 2018. Spinal Stenosis. The Mayo Clinic. 2022.

Cervical Nerve Root Injections or Spinal Manipulative Therapy. JMPT. 2016. Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Exercise. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2012. 5 Healthy Habits That Prevent Chronic Disease. Cleveland Clinic. 2020.

What Chiropractic Patients Want To Know About Text Neck

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Text neck is a very real condition that is caused by staying in a prolonged “texting” position – hunched shoulders and neck tilted forward. As a result, the back, neck, and shoulder muscles become overworked and your spinal structure is actually changed. Many people who spend a lot of time on their mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, develop this condition (and others including “cellphone elbow” and tendinitis of the wrist and hand) and it can be very painful, even causing mobility problems.

What Exactly is Text Neck?

A normal human neck has a slight curve to it that travels along the spine. It is part of the intricate system that supports the head and body. However, a person with text neck will have a straight cervical spine. Their neck will not have that slight curve and that is a problem.

The cause of the absence of the curve is because of the position that the head stays in for such long periods of time. The average adult human head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds. When the head is upright, the neck supports it and the slight curve gives it the stability that it needs.

When you keep your head tilted forward, such as when you are hunched over your smartphone or mobile device, your head is thrust forward instead of sitting over the balanced curve of the cervical spine. The gravitational pull is greatly increased and the neck is already in an unnatural position. This combination places unnatural and damaging stress on your neck. It is like carrying around an additional 60 pounds on your neck.

Symptoms of Text Neck

In the early stages of text neck, a person may feel some tightness in their shoulders, neck, and upper back. This may progress to discomfort in those areas and eventually pain. If left untreated, you can develop pinched nerves and herniated discs.

Your central nervous system begins at the base of your skull, so it extends down your neck and upper back. When you put unnatural pressure on your neck, you are also affecting your nervous system, causing it to malfunction. This can lead to pain throughout your body, stiffness, headaches, low back pain, and problems with your hands and arms.

How to Prevent Text Neck

Text neck is surprisingly easy to prevent. Your first step is awareness. Over two or three days, take some time to be very aware of your body’s position. Carefully examine your posture while you go about all of your daily activities. It is important to remember that text neck is not strictly confined to texting. You can get it any time you have your head bent down for an extended period of time, such as when looking at a laptop screen or even writing for a long time.

The best way to avoid the problem is to keep your devices at eye level. If you have a handheld device, hold it up at the level of your eyes instead of bending your neck to look down. The same goes for your laptop; arrange it so that your screen is at eye level.

Chiropractic for Text Neck

If you are already suffering from the effects of text neck, your chiropractor can help reverse the condition if it hasn’t progressed to disc degeneration (even then he or she can help with associated pain). Regular chiropractic treatments, along with following expert recommendations for screen heights, can help reduce the pain and discomfort. It is smart to address these issues before they become a bigger problem. Your chiropractor can help. Learn more about our clinic @ www.ocwc.ca

3 Stretches Chiropractic Patients Can Do For Neck Pain

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Stretching is often an outstanding complement to chiropractic care. Blood flow to the muscles is increased and it helps lower the risk of injury and improves physical performance. More importantly, stretching is good for the joints, helping them function through their full range of motion.

Additionally, some studies show that muscles work and move more effectively when they are stretched regularly. These benefits of stretching make it a great practice to incorporate into your daily routine, especially between chiropractic treatments.

The muscles all along the spine respond well to stretching. However, sometimes it is difficult to manipulate specific muscle groups and get an effective stretch.

The cervical spine is a prime example. Although the neck turns in so many ways, finding positions that provide an effective stretch are surprisingly difficult.

These three stretches effectively work the muscles through the neck and shoulders, and are simple enough to do at home whether you are between chiropractic appointments or if you wake up with a crick in your neck.

Before You Stretch

If you are under a chiropractor’s care, you should check with him or her before you start a stretching program. This is especially important if you have a neck injury or have a spinal condition that causes deterioration or pain.

When you begin stretching, you may feel a little discomfort, but it is important to note that it should never cause pain or worsen it. If this occurs, or if it just doesn’t feel “right,” you should stop immediately and call your chiropractor.

Neck and Trap Stretch

If standing: Stand up straight with your pelvis slightly tucked (not swayback), feet shoulder’s width apart, knees soft.

If sitting: Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor.

1. Drop your shoulders and roll them slightly back. Let your arms hang down.

2. Reach behind your back and, with your left hand, grasp your right wrist. If you can’t reach to grasp your wrist, grab your fingers. If you can’t reach your fingers, sit in a straight back chair and put your right arm as far behind you as you can and slide your right hand under your right buttock to provide stability.

3. If clasping your hands behind you, gently pull your arm behind you to the left. If unable to reach behind you, drop your right shoulder.

4. At the same time, tilt your head to the left, bringing your ear to your shoulder but don’t raise your left shoulder. You will feel the stretch all along the right muscles of the neck.

5. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.

6. Do the same movement for the left side.

7. Repeat the full move 3 to 5 times.

Gentle Neck Extension

If standing: Stand up straight with your pelvis slightly tucked (not swayback), feet shoulder’s width apart, knees soft, hands relaxed and at your sides.

If sitting: Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor, hands relaxed and at your sides.

If lying down: Lie flat on the floor. If necessary, put a pillow under your knees to take pressure off of the lower back. Stretch your arms down by your side.

1. Push your shoulders down towards your feet.

2. Tuck your chin to your chest but don’t let your shoulders lift.

3. Slowly raise your chin, feeling the stretch along the front of your neck. Hold the position for 20 to 30 seconds.

4. Return your head to its normal, upright position for 30 seconds. Repeat the entire movement 5 to 7 times.

Stretch for Traps

If standing: Stand up straight with your pelvis slightly tucked (not swayback), feet shoulder’s width apart, knees soft, hands relaxed and at your sides.

If sitting: Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor, hands relaxed and at your sides.

If lying down: Lie flat on the floor. If necessary, put a pillow under your knees to take pressure off of the lower back. Stretch your arms down by your side.

1. Start with your head in the normal, upright position.

2. Bend your neck to the right side, moving your ear towards your shoulder.

3. Raise your left hand to your head and apply gentle pressure to facilitate the stretch while drawing up your left shoulder. Hold for 20 seconds.

4. Return to your starting position.

5. Repeat the same movement on the right side.

6. Do 3 to 5 sets.

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Cervical Spine Anatomy

Anatomy 101 – The Cervical Spine: What Chiropractic Patients Need to Know

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Neck pain is one of the most common sources of pain and chronic pain worldwide. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, each year, around 30% to 50% of the general population experiences neck pain and around 15% will, at some point in their lives, have chronic neck pain. Women seem to experience it more often than men and it is most prevalent at around middle age. Neck pain can be debilitating, impacting a person’s home life as well as their work performance. It can also trigger migraines and limit range of motion. Understanding the cervical spine is integral in understanding how to manage pain in that area.

What is the Cervical Spine?

There are seven vertebrae that make up the cervical spine: C1 through C7. They protect the spinal cord and are part of the system that makes up the neck.

C1 is located at the base of the skull and C7 sits at the beginning of the thoracic spine. While C1 is the smallest vertebrae, each subsequent one is slightly larger as you move down the spine. This is necessary because the farther down the spine, the more weight it must bear.

The vertebrae C3 through C6 are called “typical vertebrae.” Like other vertebrae in the spine, they have a similar construction. The top vertebrae, C1 and C2 are “atypical vertebrae.” Their construction is somewhat different from typical vertebrae due to their specialized function and location.

The atlas, C1, is the only vertebrae that has more of a ring shape than a shape resembling a vertebra. It is what connects the skull to the spine and is responsible for about half of the head’s backward and forward range of motion.

The axis, C2, is the second vertebra and has a special construction that connects it to C1 at the atlanto-axial joint. It is responsible for around half of the head’s rotation. The vertebra prominens, C7, is much larger than the vertebrae that sit above it and its shape is different to facilitate its connection to T1, at the beginning of the thoracic spine.

Neck Pain

The cervical spine has several critical functions. It houses the spinal cord and protects it, supports the head and facilitates its movement, and facilitates the flow of blood to the brain.

The human head is around 10 to 13 pounds and the cervical spine, along with an intricate network of muscles, tendons, and ligaments support it. This is what also allow flexibility to the head so that it can move up and down, backwards and forwards, rotational, and side bending. This job alone puts a great deal of stress on the neck and can lead to neck pain. Common causes of neck pain include:

  • Whiplash (whipping the head forwards and then backwards very suddenly)
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Pinched nerve
  • Age related conditions
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Sleeping in certain positions
  • Neck strain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Keeping the neck in one position too long, such as looking down at a mobile device
  • Herniated disc
  • Neck injury
  • Fibromyalgia

Chiropractic Care for the Cervical Spine

A chiropractor will typically treat a patient with neck pain using cervical spinal manipulation, cervical spinal mobilization, or a combination of the two techniques. Cervical spinal manipulation is what most people think of regarding chiropractic treatment. It involves brief, quick thrusts that focus on a single joint at a time so that range of motion is returned to that area. Cervical spinal mobilization is a gentler, lower impact adjustment that does not use as much force but does move the joint to its correct position.

Other treatments the chiropractor may employ include the application of cold or heat, massage, and exercises to strengthen and stretch the neck. The doctor will carefully consider the patient, their lifestyle, habits, and current level of fitness then create a plan that is tailored specifically for them that will help them manage their pain and return flexibility and range of motion as quickly as possible.

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Cervical facet chiropractic benefits

What Chiropractic Patients Want to Know About Cervical Facet Joint Pain

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Facet joint problems are among the most common sources of lower back and neck pain. They can cause debilitating, chronic problems with the neck and back and can lead to other more serious conditions and symptoms that can be disabling.

Cervical facet joint syndrome, or cervical facet osteoarthritis, is a degenerative condition marked by stiffness and pain in the cervical region (neck) of the spine. Patients are able to gain relief from various types of treatment, including chiropractic care.

What is Cervical Facet Joint Pain?

The spine is comprised of a chain of bones known as vertebrae. Each one has two facet joints on the back side and a large disc on the front side. This allows the vertebrae to stack neatly, one on top of the other, providing stabilization for the entire body.

The facet joints are synovial joints, like other joints in the body and sometimes they can become inflamed or injured, causing pain and stiffness. Cervical facet joint pain is, quite literally, a pain in the neck. It means that the joints in the neck area have become injured or inflamed. Pain from this condition can make it difficult for the patient to turn their head from side to side, or to move it up and down.

The cervical facet joints are almost always working. They undergo repetitive, constant motion and over time they can become torn or worn down. Problems within the joint can cause movement to be restricted or it can have too much movement, both of which can cause pain.

Injury, such as whiplash, to the area can also cause problems. If the condition is not treated appropriately, it can be degenerative and the patient can lose both flexibility and mobility, as well as suffer from chronic pain.

Symptoms of Cervical Facet Joint Pain

The symptoms of cervical facet joint pain tend to vary from patient to patient. A patient may experience one or several of these symptoms:

  • Tingling, weakness, or pain in the hand and arm
  • Neck pain
  • Upper back pain that can affect the shoulders
  • Pain between the shoulder blades
  • Headaches, typically located in the back of the head
  • Swelling and tenderness at the site of the inflamed facet joint
  • Decreased range of motion and flexibility in the neck

Treatment for Cervical Facet Joint Pain

When a patient is diagnosed with cervical facet joint pain the treatment is usually fairly conservative. Their doctor may recommend soft tissue massage, physical therapy, and posture correction. This is usually combined with medications such as an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen, or muscle relaxers to ease muscle spasms in the muscles that surround the affected joint.

If those methods do not give the patient relief, the doctor may take a more aggressive approach, prescribing facet joint injections that use steroid medications injected into the affected joint. This approach is intended to keep the pain localized while reducing it. The procedure can be performed in an outpatient setting and has a good record of being effective, but the results are temporary.

Chiropractic for Cervical Facet Joint Pain

Chiropractors have had much success in treating cervical facet joint pain. They are able to manipulate the areas that are affected, restoring painful, restricted facet joints to a point where they are able to move much easier and without pain. Over time, with regular chiropractic treatments, they can help to reestablish a normal range of motion in the neck area for their patients. This is all done without any medications or injections. It is a natural, gently, effective method for relieving the pain and helping the patient enjoy a better quality of life.

Our clinic can be reached at (780)455-2112. Give us a call to schedule your chiropractic assessment and address any questions or concerns. We’re happy to help!