Why you should see an Athletes’ Village Chiropractor.
Chiropractic treatment covers a wide variety of services designed to help patients who are suffering from pain or injuries. A common misconception about chiropractic care is that all we do is perform spinal manipulations when in reality it refers to a profession that focuses on the treatment and recovery of any musculoskeletal injuries.
The Athletes’ Village is a clinic that has the goal of providing superior chiropractic care. In an effort to separate ourselves from traditional chiropractic, I (Dr. Chris) have taken a significant amount of continuing education courses to be better prepared to manage a wide variety of injuries. I work off of three main pillars of treatment. The chiropractic adjustment, soft tissue (muscle) work, and individually tailored rehab plans. I provide a natural alternative to injury recovery that is centred around movement, exercise and hands-on therapy instead of surgical intervention or medications.
Patients seek care from The Athletes’ Village for any number of musculoskeletal injuries such as":
Back pain (with or without radiating symptoms)
Neck pain (with or without radiating symptoms)
Headaches and Migraines
Sciatica
Postural pain from excessive sitting
Hip Pain
Ankle injuries
Plantar Fasciitis
and any other number of injuries.
When should YOU seek care from The Athletes Village Chiropractic and Sports Injury?
There are many different reasons patients come to see us. If you have been suffering from pain, we are a great place to begin your journey to recovery. At The Athletes’ Village, every patient receives a thorough examination to determine the root cause of their pain. Due to our extensive examination process, we are able to help patients diagnose and address a wide variety of complaints. Many patients present after sustaining injuries from working out or participating in sports. Additionally, we are experts in treating pain that stems from less obvious sources such as postural disorders, poor workplace ergonomics, and others.
What can you expect at your first appointment at The Athletes’ Village?
At your first appointment, you will be brought to a treatment room to meet with Dr. Chris. We begin every new patient exam with an in-depth health history to establish a clear understanding of any medical events that could be contributing to your chief complaint or any contraindications to your care. Taking the time to learn your health history allows us to understand things at a deeper level.
The next step is to perform a detailed history specific to the chief complaint. At this time, you can provide us with any additional information or medical studies that may be pertinent to your case such as radiology reports or diagnostic imaging. Once we have a thorough understanding of what you are dealing with, we will help establish goals for your recovery. At The Athletes’ Village not only do we want to help you get out of pain, but we also want to help you achieve any goals you may have.
After completing your thorough history, we will take you through a series of neurological, orthopedic, and functional movement tests to help us determine what treatment will yield the best results for your individual case.
Based on the examination results, the doctor will create a report of their findings for discussion. Our recommended treatment options will be outlined and with your consent performed on your first visit. Once treatment is complete the doctor will discuss the projected timeline for recovery, expected progressions, and when you should schedule your next appointment.
Our flexible appointment times are designed to accommodate your busy schedule. We encourage patients to schedule 2-3 appointments at a time to allow them to book their ideal time slot.
How does a chiropractic adjustment help me?
Chiropractic adjustments are synonymous with the profession. For most individuals it is the first and only thing they think of when they think of chiropractors. We are often asked how it is used, how it helps patients with pain, and if it is right for everyone.
The adjustment is a powerful tool that we use on the majority of our patients. The goal of the adjustment is simple. Restore proper motion to an area that has been compromised. When we are evaluating you for an adjustment we will palpate (push) your spine and feel for any joint restriction. Joint restrictions can manifest from an injury, muscular imbalances, sitting with poor posture or any other number of causes. When there is a joint restriction in the spine it means that the joint does not move the way it was designed to. Picture a door hinge that no longer opens the way it was designed to. When we perform an adjustment or manipulation to the areas with aberrant motion, we are reintroducing the proper joint motion and mechanics. To continue to door metaphor, picture the adjustment as WD-40 on the door hinge.
FAQ
Q: What is the “popping” sound?
A: The popping sound results from little gas bubbles that form in the synovial fluid of a joint. When you are adjusted, the joint opens up and allows those bubbles to escape.
Q: If there is no noise when I’m adjusted, does that mean it didn’t work?
A: No! As a matter of fact, most of the benefits of chiropractic adjustment are a result of reintroducing movement into a restricted joint and have nothing to do with sound. Although many find the sound satisfying, it is not essential for the benefit of our treatment.
Q: Once I start seeing a chiropractor will I have to continue forever?
A: Absolutely not. Our goal at The Athletes’ Village is to help you get better and back to your life. We design our treatment plans to help patients go through all the steps of recovery. These include decreasing in pain, increasing their strength and mobility, and in many cases, training them for a return to sport. Many patients choose to come in for regular maintenance care because of how great they feel after treatment however, this is a choice the patient makes based on their lifestyle and needs.
Q: Can chiropractic benefit me if I don’t have any injuries or obvious pain?
A: Yes! Chiropractic care can truly benefit everyone. Even those who are not suffering from pain may benefit from a proper functional assessment and chiropractic care. This is because biomechanical imbalances can lead to injuries in the future. We are trained to perform a full functional exam and determine any imbalances that may predispose you to sustaining an injury in the future. If we can proactively address those issues, we can help you perform at your highest level and keep you injury free.
Q: I came in with knee pain and you treated mostly my hips. Why?
A: Everything in the body is connected and even though your symptoms manifested in your knee, your hip may be the source of the pain. In many cases, the dysfunction that leads to your symptoms is either above or below the actual point of pain. Our functional assessments guide us to the root cause of your problem. If we only treated the symptoms directly, the pain would continue to return.
Q: I am not comfortable getting my neck adjusted, can you still help my neck pain?
A: Absolutely! We understand that some individuals would prefer they don’t get their necks adjusted. Soft tissue muscle work, and rehab exercises are all very powerful tools to help manage neck pain. They can be used in addition or on their own to help you overcome any neck pain you might be experiencing.
Testimonials from my previous clinic.
I had been suffering from debilitating headaches for over a month when my husband suggested I make an appointment with Health-Fit Chiropractic & Sports Recovery. Dr. Chris Gouveia provided excellent and well-rounded care. I am happy to say that in a very short amount of time I was feeling back to 100% and productive again. Dr. Gouveia is absolutely wonderful, caring individuals who will listen and plan with you for complete wellness.
