We're glad you asked! Chiropractic care is a drug-free, non-surgical approach to healing and wellness. Chiropractic care restores health and prevents injury by improving the structural integrity of the body, primarily the spine. The brain communicates with the rest of the body via the spinal cord and nervous system. When functioning perfectly, this communication is uninterrupted, and the messages go to and from the brain without interference.

Addressing the Root of the Problem

The nervous system serves as the body's wiring. If this wiring is inhibited, the signal does not reach the intended body part, and illness may result. Such interferences can manifest anywhere along your spine. Pain in your arm or hand may actually be caused by a problem in your neck, where the nerves connecting to that hand originate. A qualified chiropractor can examine the spine for interferences and remove them through controlled techniques.

Established Practice

According to The Association of Chiropractic Colleges, chiropractic care focuses on the relationship of structure and function (as coordinated by the nervous system), and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of your health. Qualified chiropractors are professional medical practitioners, delivering long-term care at a fraction of the cost of drug treatments and surgery.

Chiropractic

is widely recognized as one of the safest, drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of head-ache, neck and back pain, and arthritis. This natural therapy enables your body to heal itself by treating the cause of your condition and not just your symptoms. Chiropractic adjustment unblocks your nerves, relieves tension and strengthens your immune system, enabling the body to function optimally.

Chiropractic adjustment (or manipulation)

is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed by Dr. Sheppard during his 5 years of post-secondary education and clinical internship at the New York Chiropractic College. He uses his hands, specialized equipment, and extensive knowledge of the neuro-musculo-skeletal system to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain, and restore or enhance joint mobility. His primary goals in treating you are to: decrease your pain and discomfort; improve areas of reduced movement in the joints and supporting tissues (particularly of the spine): and decrease muscle tightness or spasm through the restoration of normal mechanics and improved functioning of the spine, extremities, and supporting soft tissue structures.
 
Conditions Chiropractic Treats

Whiplash               

Headaches               

Neck Pain               

Back Pain               

Sciatica               

Scoliosis               

Extremity Pain (legs, arms, hands, feet) 

Dr. Sheppard has invested in complementary therapies to speed his patients’ recovery and maintain their health, including Low-intensity Laser Healing, Registered Massage Therapy, and Electro-Reflexology. He will assess your condition and setup a treatment modality tailored to your special needs.

Dr. Sheppard works closely with many of the primary family physicians in the area and most health insurers cover chiropractic services.

Safety & Efficacy of Chiropractic
Over the years, chiropractic has undergone rigorous evaluation from researchers within the profession itself, and from the legislative, healthcare and scientific communities, which has resulted in a significant body of evidence around the efficacy of chiropractic care. Chiropractic today is one of the largest primary-contact healthcare professions in Canada with more than 6,000 practicing chiropractors. Approximately 4.5 million Canadians use the services of a chiropractor each year. In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the primary method of treatment. Where other medical conditions exist, chiropractic care may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition. Chiropractors and primary family physicians often work in tandem and many health insurers cover chiropractic services.

The Facts about Neck Adjustments
A few years ago there was a big media scare about neck adjustments, prompting the medical and chiropractic professions to conduct extensive research into the treatment modality.  A neck adjustment (known as a cervical manipulation) is a precise procedure applied to the joints of the neck for which your Chiropractic Doctor has received extensive training (a five-year, full time post-graduate program following university studies). All chiropractors must pass national qualifying examinations and be provincially licensed in order to practice in Canada. Dr. Sheppard is trained to take your medical history and perform an examination to determine if a cervical manipulation is necessary. He will determine the best treatment or combination of treatments including adjustment, massage and/or laser healing.
The most recent study into the safety of neck adjustment* confirm the safety of this procedure. Conducted in 2007, the study looked at more than 19,000 chiropractic patients and tracked more than 50,000 neck adjustments. It found no instance of serious adverse effects. By comparison, neck adjustment is significantly safer than other commonly used health remedies, such as long-term use of non-prescription pain relievers.

Safety of Chiropractic Manipulation of the Cervical Spine; a Prospective National Survey, Thiel HW, Spine, October 1, 2007, 32:21, American College of Gastroenterology.