At the Whyte Avenue Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, we invite you to:

• enjoy the benefits of reduced pain and maximized physical function and well-being
• learn about spinal health in a professional but non-intimidating, stress-free, and caring environment
• choose the most comfortable combination of traditional chiropractic care and the newer impulse instrument adjustment method, which delivers gentle, focused adjustments
• feel empowered to make informed health care choices for yourself or your family

Low Back Pain?

New medical practice guidelines recommend spinal manipulation (chiropractic adjustment) as the only non-drug first line option with proven benefits for acute low back pain, which comprises 80-90% of all incidents of low back pain. For chronic low back pain, medical practice guidelines recommend rehabilitation and exercise therapy, spinal manipulation, massage therapy, and acupuncture. All these services are provided at our clinic and may be part of your comprehensive treatment plan.

See the new guidelines for low back pain from The American College of Physicians and The American Pain Society.

Did you know? The US Consumer Reports Health Rating Center surveyed over 14,000 people to determine their preferred method of care for back pain. According to results reported in May 2009, chiropractic was the top-rated treatment method. 59% of those surveyed chose chiropractic, ranking it higher than physical therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, or care from an M.D., physician specialist, or primary care physician.

Neck Pain?

			Chiropractic treatment is covered under many private and workplace health-insurance plans. Chiropractic is a WCB-approved method of treating spinal and back pain. Your insurance covers chiropractic care if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident.

Our chiropractic clinic offers a variety of treatments for neck pain, including laser therapy, spinal decompression, impulse therapy, education, exercise, massage therapy, and acupuncture. Depending on your needs, your practitioner will suggest an individualized treatment plan.


What About Neck Adjustments?

Respecting that some patients have personal preferences regarding neck adjustments, our clinic offers alternatives. We do try to inform people that the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and its Associated Disorders has released a report concluding that neck manipulation and mobilization are safe, effective, and appropriate treatments for people with Grade 2 neck pain (pain that limits daily activities). This report is the most authoritative report to date on neck pain and stands to influence healthcare systems internationally.

Read more about the 7 year Task Force on Neck Pain.

Although we are confident in the report's findings, our chiropractic clinic respects patient choices regarding neck adjustments, and offers non-forceful therapeutic alternatives to manual neck adjustments when such alternatives are indicated or requested. Patients may choose low force instrument (neuromechanical impulse) manipulation of the neck as an effective alternative to manual neck rotation. Patient requests to avoid the neck in treatment are respected. (Read about the safety of neck adjustments.)

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

Chiropractic is an effective treatment for many kinds of injury-related or chronic pain, including:

• back pain, neck pain, and headache
• shoulder and other upper-body joint pain
• knee, hip, and leg pain
• foot pain

Patients usually experience relief within the first 1-2 weeks of treatment. Typically, your doctor will recommend a two-week trial basis of care. Based on the results seen during that time, your doctor may recommend a treatment plan, which will generally involve 6-12 treatments over a 6-week period. In long-standing, chronic conditions, or in cases of more serious injury, treatment plans may be longer.

Once out of pain, many patients choose chiropractic preventive and maintenance care. The way we walk, sit, work, and sleep are affected by gravity, and the spine bears much of this stress. For some people, chiropractic treatment is like a regular physical tune-up to deal with the daily wear and tear of life.

Our patients enjoy a professional but non-intimidating, stress-free, and caring environment where they can learn about spinal health and feel empowered to make informed health care choices for themselves or their families.

What Will a Chiropractor Do?


Your body is designed for motion. Improper joint motion in the spine or body leads to changes such as strain or sprain, muscle spasm, scar tissue formation, joint shortening, pain, disc injury, and damage to joint cartilage (arthritis). Your chiropractor is trained to use skillful adjustments to restore joint function and reduce pain.

Maximum chiropractic benefit is attained when joint function is maintained through all phases of healing. Preventive stretching and strengthening exercises (rehabilitation) may be prescribed to maintain proper function during and following treatment.

Related treatments such as low-level laser therapy, spinal decompression, ultrasound therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, myofascial release, and ice/heat may also be used, depending on your individualized treatment plan. Dr. Mana Azizi also provides anatomical acupuncture as an adjunct to chiropractic adjustments.

What To Expect At The First Visit

Your first visit will include an assessment and treatment.

During your first visit, your chiropractor will want to know about your current complaint and health history. Your chiropractor will diagnose your condition using a variety of techniques, which may include physical examination, orthopedic and neurological testing, examination of your spinal muscle tone and symmetry with surface electromyography, examination of posture and range of motion, and direct palpation of spinal joint movement. In some cases, X-rays (covered by Alberta Health Care) may be ordered. Less often, your chiropractor may recommend more advanced imaging. When indicated, your chiropractor may order bone scans and bone density scans (covered by Alberta Health Care) or private MRI and CT scans (not covered by Alberta Health Care).

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