Absolute Health and Rehabilitation

General information

Chiropractic and physiotherapy are primary health care professions concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuro-musculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractors and Physiotherapists are trained to diagnose as well as treat conditions that are related to the nerves, muscles, and joints throughout the body.

Chiropractic:
In order to become a doctor of chiropractic in Canada, a student must complete at least 3 years of a university-level undergraduate degree, followed by a 4 year accredited Doctor of Chiropractic program. Dr. Rossi and Dr. Rebeiro are both Canadian-trained and stress an evidence-based approach to care.

Physiotherapy:
Registered Physiotherapists in Canada are required to complete a 4 year bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy at an accredited University. Upon graduation they are required to pass the national Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) to work as a registered Physiotherapist in Canada.

Our physiotherapists (Philipe Lachance and Ashley Shelswell) at Absolute Health, use an evidence-based approach to treatment and provide client-centered one-on-one care that you require.

Our chiropractors and physiotherapists specialize in treating:
• Low Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Headaches
• Joint Pain (Knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, etc.)
• Radiating Arm and Leg Pain
• Whiplash
• Arthritis
• Sciatica
• Frozen Shoulder
• Rotator Cuff Tendonitis and Tears
• Sports Injuries
• Tennis Elbow
• Achilles Tendonitis
• Sprained Ankles
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• TMJ (Jaw) Pain
• Pregnancy-related pains
• Muscle Tension
• …. And more!

What to expect on the first visit?
- Initial consultation where we discuss your health history as well as the full history of your current complaint
-Comprehensive physical examination
-Ordering X-Rays (if indicated, according to standard guidelines (Canadian C-spine rules, Ottawa ankle rules, etc.))
-Report of findings and explanation of diagnosis
-Multimodal therapy – Manual and physical therapies, all applied with an evidence-based approach.

FAQs:
“What will my treatment include?” - Treatments are based on your specific findings and are determined after the physical examination. The Doctors and physiotherapists are trained in a multitude of different techniques and utilize a variety of approaches that include, but are not limited to, soft tissue therapy, spinal manipulative therapy and/or spinal and peripheral joint mobilization, TENS, ultrasound, acupuncture, orthotics, patient education, and exercise. Treatments are typically 30 minutes in length, but vary depending on what your treatment is comprised of.

“I don’t want to be adjusted” – our chiropractors only perform adjustments if they deem an adjustment to be necessary, but most importantly, they will only perform an adjustment if the patient is comfortable with it. There are many alternatives available in place of adjusting.

Is chiropractic and physiotherapy covered by health plans? Most third party insurance policies (extended health benefits) such as Manulife, Sunlife, Blue Cross, Claim Secure, Great West Life, Group Medical Services, etc. cover chiropractic treatments. Motor vehicle accident and work related injuries (WSIB) cover chiropractic and physiotherapy services as well.

Do I need a referral letter from an MD to see a chiropractor or a physiotherapist?
No. Chiropractors and physiotherapists are legislated as primary contact health professionals in every province in Canada. This means that patients can consult them directly. However, chiropractors and physiotherapists often work closely with medical doctors, many of whom refer to chiropractors and physiotherapists when they believe chiropractic or physiotherapy treatment will help alleviate a patient’s condition. Similarly, chiropractors and physiotherapists frequently refer to medical doctors when necessary.

What is Medical Acupuncture?
Taken from mcmasteracupuncture.com: Medical Acupuncture is a precise peripheral nerve stimulation technique, in which fine solid needles (acupuncture needles) are inserted into anatomically defined neurofunctional sites, and stimulated manually or with electricity for the therapeutic purpose of modulating abnormal activity of the nervous system and/or the endocrine, exocrine and immune systems, in pain syndromes, functional problems, and any diseases in which these modulatory mechanisms are available.

In more simple terms, the needles are placed in specific sites on your body to help decrease pain and improve function.

Dr. Rossi and Dr. Rebeiro are both certified Medical Acupuncture providers, and received their training at McMaster University.